Hotel Zed Victoria - Where 1970s Swank Meets Radical Self-Expression

Canada's first hotel room intentionally designed for sex. A retrofitted Airstream trailer in the parking lot. A water slide that runs year-round. Hotel Zed Victoria – a riot of neon, velvet, and unapologetic fun – operates far outside the standard business hotel playbook.

Working rotary phones sit beside QR codes explaining how to use them. Typewriters await letters home while a high-tech media hub offers Wii and Wi-Fi. You can borrow free bikes, roller skates, or longboards to explore the city, or descend into "Grandma's Basement," a 1970s lounge inspired by the CEO's actual grandmother's rec room. The hotel shuttle is a restored 1967 Volkswagen bus. And then there's the Zedinator water slide, shooting riders onto a hot pink landing tray year-round, because apparently Victoria's winter weather shouldn't stop anyone from having ridiculous amounts of fun.

Location

The former Blue Roof Inn sits between Uptown Shopping Centre and downtown Victoria, a five-minute drive from the city center. More importantly for cyclists, it's right on the Galloping Goose trail, the bike path that winds through Greater Victoria.

Free bike rentals – including tandems and kids' bikes – mean you can pedal to the Parliament Buildings or ocean without touching a car. No bike? They'll loan you one. There's also free parking if you're less committed to two-wheeled transport.

Rebellion as Business Model

This is what happens when a BC-based, family-owned business decides boring hotels need opposition. CEO Mandy Farmer created Hotel Zed as a rebellion against beige walls and corporate uniformity, celebrating the unordinary with 1970s swank in most rooms and bodacious 1980s neon in others.

The property is Rainbow Registered – the first hotel chain to achieve this across all locations – meaning it meets stringent standards set by Canada's LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce. It's also genuinely pet-friendly: bring as many dogs, cats, or feathered creatures as you want, with $1 from each pet fee going to the BC Humane Society.

The Lobby

Forget passing through on your way to somewhere else. The lobby wants you to stay awhile. Board games are stacked for the taking. Typewriters sit ready for actual use. There's a vinyl-record listening station, retro knick-knacks scattered across surfaces, and working rotary phones with QR code instructions beside them – vintage meets ultramodern without irony.

You can set up your laptop in various nooks, browse the Zed Official Store, or simply absorb the time-travel atmosphere while keeping your modern comforts intact.

Grandma's Basement

Downstairs, you'll find what feels like it was lifted directly from the 1970s – because it was inspired by CEO Mandy Farmer's actual grandmother's basement. This groovy lounge has a pool table, retro seating that's actually comfortable, TVs, and a bar (you'll need to supply your own refreshments).

It's ideal for killing time, taking a Zoom call, or letting kids burn energy while you sink into a vintage armchair. The vibe is authentic enough to feel transported, kitschy enough to remain fun.

Zed 2 Bed

Two queen beds fill this straightforward room, which includes a 50-inch LED TV, mini fridge, microwave, and upholstered chairs that don't torture your back. You'll also find a rotary phone, retro alarm clock, comic book, and yo-yo – because why not? The full bathroom and small table round out a space designed for families, friends, or anyone whose wardrobe requires its own sleeping surface.

Rebel Room

The 1980s aesthetic gets full expression here: neon lights and murals that channel Miami Vice without shame. This compact room targets budget-conscious travelers with a queen bed, stand-up shower stall, separate toilet room, and vanity area.

The mini fridge, microwave, and 50-inch TV cover basics, while the Rubik's Cube and retro phone maintain the theme. It's cozy bordering on tiny, perfect for solo travelers or couples who don't mind close quarters.

The Sweet Suite

Finally, a room that accommodates an actual family. The separate living room holds a queen bed and pull-out couch, both facing a 50-inch TV. The bedroom has a king bed and its own TV. The kitchenette includes a two-burner stove top, larger built-in fridge, microwave, and cooking equipment – meaning you can skip some restaurant bills.

A full bathroom, upholstered chair, and luggage bench with drawers complete the space. When kids discover they get their own room and TV, they'll likely forgive the retro decor they don't yet appreciate.

Love Nest

Here's where Hotel Zed stops being quirky and becomes genuinely radical. After 18 months of design meetings, the hotel created Canada's first room intentionally built for sex – no shame, no judgment, just thoughtful design supporting intimacy for all bodies and relationship configurations.

A custom replica of the 1970s Playpen Sofa features washable velvet upholstery and modular units that rearrange endlessly. The tantric chaise has ergonomic design for exploring positions comfortably across different body types, reducing pressure on joints and muscles.

The tucked-away suite evokes a speakeasy: exclusive, unexpected, secretive in the best way. Mirrored walls in the bedroom come with velvet curtains if you'd rather not watch.

Then there's the wet room: a massive space with a two-person tub, five shower heads, grab bars everywhere, and a peek-a-boo window to the bedroom. A dance pole offers opportunities for expression. The sexy library stocks instructional books and games for exploration. There's even a kitchenette for necessary rehydration.

The Love Nest works for long-term couples rekindling things, new connections, or anyone craving bold adventure with their partner or partners. It's designed for all genders, orientations, and relationship styles – polycules welcome. Available for birthdays, anniversaries, date nights, or honeymoons, though with only one Love Nest, you'll need to book ahead.

Zedstream

A completely retrofitted vintage Airstream trailer sits in the parking lot, offering the full Hotel Zed experience in 150-ish square feet of aluminum. An outdoor deck leads into a space with a queen bed and couch converting to a double bed.

Two TVs (40-inch in the living area, 32-inch in the bedroom), a mini fridge, and surprisingly spacious stand-up shower stall with separate toilet and vanity area prove you can fit more than expected into a trailer. The rotary phone and retro alarm clock maintain consistency. You still access all hotel amenities; you're just sleeping in a rockstar tour bus fantasy.

Pool

Open year-round from 9am to 10pm, the pool area offers hot tub soaking, sauna sweating, or actual swimming – choose your own adventure. The real attraction is the Zedinator, a water slide that twists through a tunnel before shooting you onto a hot pink landing tray. It runs year-round and welcomes all ages, which seems ambitious for Victoria's climate but admirably committed to fun.

The Backyard

Behind the hotel, a backyard exists for morning yoga, afternoon lawn games, or evening drinks by the fire pit. It's the kind of amenity that sounds minor until you're actually traveling and realize how rare outdoor space is at hotels. No elaborate features, just grass and fire and room to exist outside your room.