Luxury Hotels in Montreal | Stylish Sojourns in Canada's Sin City

Towering proudly above René-Lévesque Boulevard is the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Check into your boldly decorated room in this Montreal icon, where contemporary mirrored end-tables and sleek leather sofas blend with tasteful retro touches. You can step back in time to the Swinging Sixties in the musically-themed John Lennon and Yoko Ono Suite, where the song “Give Peace a Chance” was composed and recorded. Or for a different vibe, nature lovers can book the St-Henri Suite, an urban oasis draped in green area rugs and sunshine-coloured pillows.

Make your way down to Rosélys in the morning—one of the Fairmont’s many dining venues—to devour dishes like fresh yogurt with seasonal fruit or made-to-order omelettes. Fully fuelled, step across the street to Place Ville-Marie and into the Underground City, a network of well-lit tunnels that wind their way through the downtown core. Follow the tunnel west and emerge to high-end shops at Les Cours Mont-Royal. You’ll discover dazzling designer collections at Maison 1455, where floral-patterned Ted Baker dresses are as bold as they are elegant.

Back at the hotel, end the afternoon on a peaceful note at the Moment Spa in the recently updated Wellness Centre. The Water Garden Body Wrap—a skin-quenching concoction of water lily, bamboo and lotus—will leave you feeling ready to melt right into your mattress at bedtime.

When you step into the cathedral-like lobby at Hotel Le St-James Montréal, you’ll know you’re in the company of true luxury. Tucked in the heart of Old Montreal, the building’s grand staircase, soaring ceilings and marble-filled en-suites reflect its European origins. For an ultra-posh stay, choose a suite from the Heritage Collection and spend your days in original 19th century architecture. Or if you really want to go all out, shell out for your own 3,500 square-foot terrace apartment in the Penthouse Suite.

When you wake, glide across hardwood floors and into the master bathroom to let the jets in the glass-walled rain shower dance over your skin. Once you’re ready, take a seat at XO Le Restaurant for a smoked salmon St-Viateur bagel topped with cream cheese, capers and onions. Post-brekkie sightseeing can be had at the Notre-Dame Basilica, just a seven minute stroll from the hotel. From the sunlit stained glass, to the cavernous frescoed ceilings, you’ll marvel at every inch of unworldly beauty inside this city gem.

Old Montreal is home to many of the city’s most beloved dining destinations, but you might just find yourself drooling over the succulent menu at XO Le Restaurant. With dishes like fresh oysters and cod amandine with black rice pilaf and toasted almonds (not to mention the treasure trove of wine), you can dine decadently right at home.

Reaching an impressive 31 storeys above downtown Montreal, it’s no surprise that many of the stylishly simple, light-filled guest rooms at Hotel Omni Mont Royal come with city views that pack a punch. The little things count here, too: choose from feather or foam pillows on the in-room menu, and enjoy a complimentary newspaper in bed with your morning Nespresso coffee brewed fresh. If it’s a view that you’re looking for, unpack in the Hospitality Suite on the 29th floor. You’ll be greeted by two king bedrooms, a living room and wall-to-wall mountain views.

No visit to Montreal would be complete without a visit to its largest museum, so freshen up with designer toiletries in your marble en-suite before heading out. Amble down Rue Sherbrooke Ouest and into Musée des Beaux-Arts, where you’ll find some 50,000 square metres of exhibition space housing an eclectic heritage collection of more than 40,000 works of art.

Once you’ve built up your appetite from all that artistic exploration, make your way back to the hotel for some authentic French cuisine in the on-site bistro, Le Petit Opus Café. Daydream about the vibrant works you’ve seen over colourful plates like maple-glazed Atlantic salmon and seasonal veggies, then retire to the hotel’s retro-inspired Alice Bar for an after-dinner cocktail—a classy cap on any day.

Behind a soaring, conservatory-like glass wall on Rue de la Montagne is Loews Hôtel Vogue. You and your designer pup can stay in this pet-friendly space, where sleek cylindrical reading lamps, plush white ottomans and ash-grey sofas lend a contemporary feel. Look out over downtown from the homey interior of the Premium King Room, or luxuriate in the billowy depths of your Grand King Bed in a suite. No matter what you choose, you’ll get to soak away the day in your own Jacuzzi tub.

Take a break from unpacking with a cup of Keurig-made coffee, or dip into your well-stocked minibar for something fizzy. For sophisticated sustenance, head beneath the stained glass dome of La Société. Here you’ll dine on Parisian cuisine with a North American twist, like la bouillabaisse with shrimp, scallops, fish, mussels, clams and anchovies.

You won’t need to go far to fill your day after lunch: the hotel is right on Montreal’s Golden Square Mile, an area rich with architectural heritage spots like the McCord Museum of Canada and jewellery tycoon John Henry Birks’ mansion. Round out the day with a stroll through Mont-Royal Park, and as the sun starts to set head back to the hotel’s outdoor terrace for a warm summer night beneath the glow of patio lanterns.

The rooms are as endless as the views at Hôtel Birks Montréal. Curl up in a custom king-size bed in the Deluxe Terrasse Suite, host a dinner party in the spacious Montblanc Suite Birks or step inside the marble-tiled walk-in shower in the Grand Montreal View. Luxury comes thick here, with gleaming modern fireplaces next to grand pianos and soaring cityscape views.

For a tranquil start to your stay, Le Spa offers indulging and refreshing treatments like the hotel’s own signature pedicure. During this customized treatment, your feet will be pampered with an herbal bath and a sea salt scrub before your nails topped with a fresh coat of polish. Take your newly painted toes on parade at St. Phillips Square, an ideal place to while away the afternoon without going far. Located just outside the hotel doors, you can expect this city square to be bustling with artisans selling souvenirs, maple syrup and trinkets in the summer months. If there’s a chill to the air when you’re here, continue on to Rue Sainte-Catherine and you’ll find yourself in the middle of one of the city’s best shopping districts.

When you’re down to recharge with some comfort food, find your way into the chic surroundings of on-site Restaurant Henri. Start with a main like homard vadouvan, a lobster, cauliflower and buckwheat bisque, then dip your fork into lemon tart topped with hazelnut crumble and yogurt sorbet for a sweet finish.

Step in through the doors of Hotel Epik Montreal, where the heritage vibes of the exposed wood beams and stone walls mix with mod touches like mirrored furniture and stainless steel. Up in your room, swing open oversized windows for a breath of fresh air and a dose of urban history: the hotel sits along rue Saint-Paul Ouest, right in the Old City’s heart.

Cozy up with a book on the sleek leather sofa for a couple of hours before surrendering to the embrace of your king-size bed for a sumptuous night’s sleep. In the morning, the scent of warm chocolatines, fresh quiche and hot coffee will coax you out from under the covers and into your en-suite rainfall shower before heading downstairs.

After your Epikurean breakfast, wander over to the Old Port to take in the view from Canada’s largest observation wheel aboard La Grande Roue de Montreal. If you visit in the wintertime, add the Natrel Skating Rink to your list of festive Montreal experiences. You can perfect your double axle before settling down to a plateful of ricotta and spinach ravioli in a white wine sauce back at Epik’s on-site Italian eatery. Enjoy your meal on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace, an elegant and intimate setting known to host the occasional live music performance.

From the polished concrete floors to the neon sign and exposed ductwork, Hotel Boxotel is a glowing example of cool industrial design. Whether you choose an ultra-modern studio or loft-style suite, you’ll have your own kitchen for feasts at any hour. Groups away on a Stag and Doe can bunk into the Comfort Loft, or you can make the Suite Apartment your pick if hanging out on your own private balcony and sinking into a soaker tub are more your style.

While your friends doze in cushy quilted bedding, start your morning with a trip to the sauna and a workout at the mini-gym, or swim some lengths in the turbo-jetted pool. After your sweat session, let the baristas at Boxotel’s Café Nomade brew you a frothy pick-me-up. Follow the sun up to the rooftop terrace, where you’ll see just how close you are to the hotspots in Le Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal’s lively entertainment district.

You’ll want to make Cadet Restaurant on Boulevard Saint-Laurent a stop your day out. The laidback vibes here will encourage you to take your time over a plate of beef ribeye with smoked paprika, fried egg and confit onions. Once you’ve had your fill, make your way back down the street to Bar Pamplemousse and let the night begin with a fun signature cocktail. In the morning, you’ll wash off the night’s indulgences with Boxotel’s eco-friendly bodycare products in your private bathroom, then revive with a tall glass of fresh juice and a granola-topped yogurt parfait down at Café Nomade.