Hotel Zed Tofino — Attraction in Tofino

Here are the pros and cons of our 24 hours in the westcoast at Hotel Zed Tofino. It was supposed to be two nights, and we left a day early because our experience was so poor.

FIRST PROS !!! STAFF WAS KIND, FRIENDLY, AND PROFESSIONAL. The hottub/sauna was a very neat amenity, which was nice and warm. lol - Hidden arcade super neat - the esthetic was far out, and I dug it. Once at the beach, IT WAS HEAVEN ON EARTH. WE LOVED EVERY SECOND THERE AND IT WAS FORSURE THE STAR OF THE SHOW. The hotel made our fur baby feel at home and loved. Excellent pet friendly feelings. - lots of neat little things to look at and be interactive with. Tons of neat photography sets (it would be an instamodels heaven)Check-in was really the issue that set a terrible tone for our stay. Booked online but ended up calling the number online to confirm some details. We don't have credit cards, we have a Debit Visa so I verified the deposit etc and she stated that the deposit was $100 and would be held once we did our pre-authorization at the front desk. We were told upon check-in that the deposit being held would be 500 on top of the room amount preauth'd. Which I embarrassingly had to explain we wouldn't have any funds left available to, use for food /gas, if they held that amount... we were told it was 100 dollars. Well, they said it was because we didn't have a credit card. With a credit card, it would be a 25 per night deposit. Make that make sense, please, because if I didn't have a family member willing to help me out with a credit card number, we literally would have had to leave and travel the 2 hours back home. I was so EMBARRASSED I had to devoldge our finances. And then call someone else and explain it and ask for the use of their credit..🙄Now the room and the reason we decided to end our trip early. SkyBunk Rm is small/awkward. The curtains are difficult to open/close, and I had to get up on the bench below the and open by hand. The bathroom is completely odd & very inadequate for a family. The toilet is in a small room on its own. There's no way to clean your hands (bring hand sanitizer to keep in there). You have to leave this room to reach the sink, in the main area. The toilet clogged immediately, literally from the first flush - I had to ask for a plunger - I wasn't even unpacked, lol. The toilet room was FREEZING COLD. and the room heat register was set to 25... I honestly don't think the heat register was able to heat the room properly for the low temperatures. The shower that is open. It's divided from the room with a thick velvet curtain and shower curtain. Being a family in the same room, there is no privacy. The top bunk seemed cool for our teen son, but two tvs in one small room didn't work at all - and tossing around up there sounded like stirring around a soft drink cup filled with ice, below. The restaurant seemed very convenient and since the hotel is very much kid friendly, we expected that to be the case with Roar but we looked at the menu and it was far too upscale for your average family meal. Not very kid friendly. The hotel boasts online a 5 minute foot walk to Chesterman Beach, but we timed it, and we're walking at a decent pace, It took 13 mins from the beach to the hotel property. Also, walking past a sani dump station was a bit gnarly. Although if the bathroom issues were nonexistent, we wouldn't have ended our trip early. The worker - Wes - on staff was understanding and did try to fix our issue/change our room to a separate 3 piece washroom BUT with 1 king bed. Well.. there are 3 of us & a doggo... so sadly, we decided to check out. All in all, we definitely won't be coming to this hotel our next time in the westcoast. This is unfortunate because it seemed incredible online. I would like to see more transparency with each rooms floorplans. The heating in this room was extremely inadequate during these low winter temperatures. Lastly, please, at the very least, have a sanitizer in each seperated toilet space. That way, when you're finished, you can at least sanitize...

Arrived at 320pm (check in at 4) bc I had a massage booked. Of course I assumed our room would be ready at 4, for check in. It was not. I went for my massage and asked the front desk to call my husband as soon as it was ready- assuming it wouldnt be long- when I came back from my massage- he was still sittion in the car with our 2 dogs after a 5 hour drive- bc he had gone in at 430 and the room still wasnt ready. I went to the desk at 530 and it was ready- no one had called my husband. There was open mic going on in the lobby, and I had to literally YELL over it to check in and talk to my husband.

Came here for my birthday. My husband let them know in advance that it was a birthday trip. (the said they did something special for bdays) we got a post card when we finally checked in, for a "chocolate torte" in ROAR.. but when we went for dinner, they "didnt have any made" and there was no alternative attempted or offered. Booked a pet room- nothing different about it, no pet amenities (poop bags, bowls, treats) literally nothing setting them apart, nothing making the experience special. We went down to ROAR for dinner the 1st night, (the brussel sprouts were HARD & risotto was gross.) had breakfast the next (take out in our room) it was greasy and disgusting. and dinner our last night. The food is mediocre at best. The atmosphere both nights was LOUD and full of kids. We had made our res at 8ish on purpose to avoid this. The wait staff although most are friendly, look like they havent slept, showered or worked in a restaurant before. Our orders were mixed up, left on the counter, and took over 30 mins.

Building itself is neat. But thats where it ends. We tried the hot tub / sauna in the afternoon on our 2nd day and I was disgusted buy the state of the hot tub. its clear no one checks on it, or the chemicals all day. It was FULL of foam and brown scum all around the edges. it was disgusting to look at let alone sit in. As a pervious owner of a hottub, there are many things that remedy those 2 problems.. but you have to maintain it often to avoid those problems building up. Which the obv arent. Gross.

My massage was, lack luster. And for almost 200$, not worth it at all. Nice that its in a tent, but that's about it. I was in the lobby when I got a text saying "your practioner is waiting for you in the lobby" and there was no one around. reception told me to go stand against a wall and they'd see me. My appt was at 4pm, we didn't get there or started until 415.

The hotel is SO busy, loud and there is no where to relax or escape. You literally have to leave. Its messy and almost every area needs attention. It doesnt seem like a priority at all. We were not offered anything for the late check in, and were basically ignored until we left.

This place will always draw guests bc the building itself is neat. But the "vibe" they boast and the "super cool" staff etc is non existent. Sad I don't have a great story from this milestone bday trip that cost over $1000 for basically 1 full day. I will be staying somewhere else next visit. There is no shortage of accommodations in Tofino that get that the experience...

We just finished our stay at Hotel Zed Tofino, and all I can say is—WOW! This wasn’t just a hotel stay, it was an experience. If you’re ever thinking of visiting Tofino and want something fun, unique, cozy, and totally unforgettable—do yourself a favour and book this place at least once.

From the moment we walked in, we were struck by the hotel’s incredibly hip retro vibe—bold colours, 70s-inspired design, and funky touches everywhere you look. The whole place feels like you’ve walked into a Wes Anderson film set, in the best way possible. Think shag carpet conversation pits, disco balls, lava lamps, and even a vintage VW bus parked outside!

The rooms are minimalist but stylish, with intentional decor that makes them feel modern yet retro-chic. We loved the rotary phones, quirky alarm clocks, and thoughtful little extras like French press coffee kits and upcycled furniture. They keep things simple without sacrificing charm—and it works so well.

One of the best parts of the stay? The endless fun tucked into every corner of the property. There’s a secret arcade hidden behind a bookshelf (yes, really!), a mini-disco with mirrored walls and light-up floors, a sunken lounge with a fireplace and board games, and outdoor features like ping pong tables, shuffleboard, hammocks, and even surfboard-shaped showers. They also have a bike-through lobby, the first of its kind, and direct access to local bike trails and beaches. Everywhere you turn, there’s something surprising, playful, and photo-worthy.

We also had the chance to eat breakfast at their on-site restaurant, ROAR, and it was just incredible. The vibe is rustic-meets-modern with open-fire cooking and a creative, local menu. Our brunch was delicious—great coffee, fresh pastries, and vegetarian-friendly options too. ROAR Coffee & Shop also serves locally roasted Rhino coffee and some cool local merch.

The staff were super friendly, welcoming, and genuinely seemed to love the space they work in. You can feel the passion and pride in how everything is run—from check-in to the restaurant to the amenities.

A few other unique features worth mentioning: • Barrel sauna and hot tub tucked in a mini rainforest • A peaceful trail to the nearby Tofino Inlet Bird Sanctuary • The quirky Psychic’s Den with tarot cards and a celestial vibe • Their commitment to inclusivity and local community support—Hotel Zed is Rainbow Registered and a proud Tribal Parks Ally

This place is family-friendly, couple-friendly, solo-traveler-friendly—basically perfect for anyone looking for a break from cookie-cutter hotels and into something with soul. We’re already planning to come back again, and I can’t recommend it enough. Whether it’s the design, the surprises, the vibe, or the staff—you’ll leave with a smile and a whole camera roll of great memories.

Thank you, Hotel Zed Tofino, for such...