Inside the Return of a Victoria Icon
Morning light leads the way as you step into The Bengal Lounge, the sun already streaming through tall windows and spilling across the room from every side. The space feels quietly alive at this hour. Soft conversation drifts upward beneath the soaring ceiling, tempered by the gentle clink of porcelain and glass. The air carries warmth and promise — fresh coffee, citrus brightness, toasted hazelnuts, buttery pastry, and a subtle trace of spice touched with cardamom and orange blossom — aromas that feel grounding and transportive all at once.
The room reveals itself in layers. Dark cinnamon-coloured wood anchors the space, while intricate South Asian inspired screens add rhythm and texture. Palm planters soften the architecture, and emerald green velvet banquettes catch the light with a richness that feels inviting rather than formal. Rattan-backed chairs introduce an organic contrast, and diamond-shaped sconces cast a warm, golden glow that balances the natural daylight. Patterned tapestries frame each window, allowing the surrounding gardens to feel present, as though indoors and out are quietly conversing.
There is an effortless harmony here — West Coast ease meeting South Asian sensibilities, heritage layered with modern refinement. Before you even sit down, the intention is clear. This is a space designed for immersion, where the experience unfolds slowly through RAW, ATTRACT, and ENGAGE, guiding the day from morning ritual to evening indulgence.
The return of The Bengal unfolds within the storied walls of Fairmont Empress, Canada’s Castle on the Coast. Dating back to 1908, the National Historic Site has long defined Victoria’s Inner Harbour with its stately presence and enduring sense of occasion. Over more than a century, the hotel has evolved with care, preserving its architectural legacy while embracing thoughtful renewal. Recognized in 2025 as the number one City Hotel in Canada by Travel + Leisure, featured on the Travel + Leisure Top 500 list, honoured by Condé Nast Traveler as one of Western Canada’s top hotels, and awarded a Michelin One Key designation for the second consecutive
year, Fairmont Empress continues to set the standard for timeless hospitality.
Breakfast at The Bengal feels ceremonial in the best sense. Under glass domes, flaky glazed pastries rest atop hand-carved wooden trays, their sheen catching the morning light on the servery. An array of fresh-squeezed juices glows nearby, thick pulp floating unapologetically at the top. The presentation is abundant yet restrained, inviting you to linger rather than rush.
The menu encourages indulgence with intention. The Mimosa Experience elevates the morning ritual, from a Classic Mimosa to a MARKET FRESH variation infused with herbal tea syrup, citrus blend, rhubarb bitters, and prosecco, with the option to upgrade any glass to Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Coffee is poured proudly from Salt Spring Coffee, fair trade, organic, and locally roasted, while tea selections curated from Metropolitan Tea Company include Orange Pekoe, Imperial Breakfast, Creamy Earl Grey, Egyptian Chamomile, and Kyushu Japan Sencha. Even hot chocolate feels considered, crafted with 58 percent dark chocolate, alongside Masala Chai that quietly echoes the room’s cultural layering.
Breakfast dishes arrive with equal thoughtfulness, blending West Coast classics with subtle spice and global influence. The Bengal Tartine is layered generously on seven-grain toast with whipped tofu, spiced lentils, tomato chutney, and pistachio dukkha, offering depth, texture, and warmth in every bite. Mango Lassi Chia Pudding layers mango and coconut yogurt into something cooling and balanced, while assorted viennoiseries present as a trio of daily petites pastries, delicate yet satisfying. The Bengal Spiced Potato Patty delivers comfort lifted by
mango tamarind chutney, and the Warm Cinnamon Bun, finished with cardamom and orange blossom frosting, feels indulgent without excess.
For those drawn to familiar favourites, the menu delivers with confidence. An Egg White Frittata arrives folded with roasted squash, hen of the woods mushrooms, and smoked gouda. Classic Benedicts anchor the breakfast offerings, while sweet-tooth cravings are answered with golden pancakes, crisp waffles, and French toast designed to linger over coffee and conversation.
Later, when evening calls and the day deepens, dinner service introduces a confident West Coast culinary voice. RAW selections set the tone with freshly shucked West Coast oysters, beef tartare, and scallop crudo, each dish clean, precise, and respectful of its ingredients. ATTRACT offerings add depth, from Crab & Butter layered with maltaise espuma, citrus gel, brown butter crumb, and nasturtium, to the Truffle Soup enriched with hen bone velouté, parmesan shortbread, and chives.
ENGAGE selections anchor the experience with substance and finesse. You choose between some of the West Coast’s best salmon, Pacific sablefish, or a creamy garlic Queen’s Risotto. For those drawn to shared moments, the Pork Tomahawk arrives generously portioned with lemon asparagus, yeasted fingerlings, and wholegrain mustard jus, designed to slow the table and encourage conversation.
Customization is offered with restraint and clarity. Add-on sides include black garlic and grana butter mushrooms, crispy Brussels sprouts, or indulgent enhancements such as Northern Divine caviar, seared foie gras, Hokkaido scallop, or an Atlantic lobster tail. Each addition feels deliberate, never performative.
The reopening of The Bengal signals a new chapter within a hotel that continues its journey of refinement and quiet evolution. Yet what lingers most is not the accolades, but the feeling. From the first wash of morning light to the final moments of an evening meal, The Bengal invites you to stay longer, notice more, and let history, hospitality, and modern elegance unfold at their own pace.