The Best Hotels to Book in Downtown Montreal

It hardly gets more central than this: you’re in the same building as Montreal’s main rail station, connecting the city to the airport, Toronto and further afield. Yet Hotel Bonaventure feels miles away from the commuter rush, with a lobby set off by contemporary loungers and floor-to-ceiling windows that let the sunshine pour in. Guest rooms are smartly dressed in creamy or slate hues, but the highlight? A rooftop pool, where you can swim until late, gazing across to the shimmer of Montreal’s high-rises.

Looking to channel some old-world vibes on your trip? Book into the downtown Hotel Gault, a collection of rooms and apartments set in a cream-fronted building dating to 1871. Inside, original exposed brick walls and steel columns contrast with striking modern stylings: minimalist chairs, sleek kitchen spaces and industrial-chic lighting. Kick off your evening with cocktails in the stylish lobby bar, take dinner in the surrounding Old Port neighborhood, then snuggle up in the library with a book and a nightcap.

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites is perfectly placed for two things: shopping and nightlife. Head out from your crisp-white and polished-wood room to take in the stores lining Sainte-Catherine Street or the buzzy bars of Crescent Street. A rooftop pool, open in warmer months, gives you top-notch views of the Montreal skyline, while a fitness center lets you work off the calories gained from heaps of poutine (cheese curds, fries and gravy).

If what you’re seeking is a Montreal stay with a slick vibe – the kind of place you can party as well as unwind – then the W is a no-brainer. During the day you can work in the Living Room, sipping coffees until cocktail hour comes round. On warm evenings, drain sangrias or mai tais on the terrace, then bed down in rooms dressed in clean whites with pops of flashy gold and black. You’re just a short walk from the central station, so the sights are at your fingertips, too.

Here’s a Montreal pad that has something for everyone. Culture vultures will appreciate the location of Le Nouvel Hôtel and Spa, just a short walk from the city’s must-see Museum of Fine Arts. Fans of a good pampering will love it too, thanks to the on-site spa which offers muscle-melting massages, serene yoga classes and steams in a sauna. In town for work? Make use of the free business center, dedicated meeting spaces and traditional rooms with seating areas and desk space.

It might not be quite as extravagant as the French palace that inspired its name, but Montreal’s Chateau Versailles still has plenty to recommend it. At the base of Mount Royal Park, moments from the Museum of Fine Arts, this historic, stone-fronted building has both presence and intimacy. Enter to a roaring fire, and sink into a comfy armchair; fall asleep under molded ceilings and grand chandeliers. Extra perks include an exercise room, sauna and a traditional afternoon tea.

Le Mount Stephen is set in an opulent 1880 building that was once home to an exclusive members club. These days, it feels just as fancy, with an atmospheric cocktail bar and a spa menu offering anti-aging facials and energizing massages. Rooms are elegant yet classic, with underlit beds and, in suites, double-decker lounge areas. Book in for weekend brunch of pain perdu or caviar-topped crumpets in the wood-lined dining room.

The exterior is eye-catching: splashes of dramatic rainbow, more than half a dozen stories high. Inside, things are a bit more subdued, but just as contemporary, with round beds and hanging pod chairs. Other ways Le Germain will get your attention? Dinners of beef tartare in the restaurant; a 24-hour fitness center overlooking the city; flexible checkout so you can build a stay that suits you. The location, near McGill University and bustling Sainte-Catherine Street, is also ideal.