The Best Montreal Hotels

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Old meets new at this 127-room boutique hotel on a quiet street in Old Montreal. Built into two 18th-century greystone structures, this hotel includes a modern, eight-story tower as well. Opened in 2016, the Hôtel William Gray draws guests with its elegant decor: the gray-and-white rooms feature concrete ceilings, light hardwood floors, mustard armchairs, and works by local artists on the walls. The marble bathrooms are stunning, too. As for public spaces, you won’t want to miss the rooftop bar Terrasse William Gray, which has great views of the St. Lawrence River; the delicious Maggie Oakes restaurant, loved by locals and visitors alike; Jacopo, an Italian restaurant; and Perché serving fresh, California inspired cuisine. Plus there’s the Living Room, a shared space with a library, a bar serving cocktails and bites, and a pool table, as well as a fourth-floor terrace overlooking Place Jacques-Cartier. And if that weren’t enough, the Hôtel William Gray also has its own spa.

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Located in the trendy but not touristy Le Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood, right across the street from the beautiful Parc La Fontaine, the Auberge de la Fontaine is the best affordable stay in Montreal. With just 21 modern rooms of varying size (the suites with private balconies are particularly lovely), the inn is an intimate property, and the staff will likely know you by name before too long. While breakfast isn't included, it's worth purchasing: it features pastries, cereal, cheeses, salmon, and quiche, among other things. Guests do, however, have access to free coffee, tea, and cookies in the kitchen at any hour of the day. While there’s no formal bar or restaurant on site, the inn does serve wine and beer, which can be taken on the rooftop terrace or in the dining room. That said, there are plenty of cafés, restaurants, and bars within walking distance to keep you entertained. As a bonus, there are a few free parking spaces behind the hotel — a rarity in Montreal.

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With just 30 rooms and suites, the Hotel Gault in Old Montreal is an intimate boutique property housed in an 1871 historic greystone that’s maintained its original façade. There are four room types — Lofts, Suites, Terrace Suites, and Apartments — which range in size from 350 square feet to a massive 1,020 square feet and share a minimalist-meets-mid-century aesthetic. (As you might guess, the Terrace suites have terraces, while the Apartments are residential-style with kitchenettes.) The hotel’s hub is an open-plan lobby-lounge, off of which is a library space as well as The Gault restaurant, which serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and cocktails, as well as 24-hour room service for guests. While there’s a small but adequately equipped fitness center here, there’s no spa on site. However, guests can book special packages at the nearby Scandinave Spa. The hotel is also great for business meetings, as it has several beautifully designed meeting rooms that stray far from the corporate stuffiness you might find elsewhere.

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In Montreal, it doesn’t get more luxurious than The Ritz-Carlton. Opened in 1912, the 129-room grande dame in the city’s Golden Square Mile has hosted numerous prodigious guests from Queen Elizabeth II to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who were married on site. But despite its long history, the hotel is anything but old and outdated, thanks to a recent $200 million renovation that saw its rooms and public spaces restored and modernized with new furnishings that still speak to the hotel’s classic charm. When it comes to amenities, The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal has them all. Chef Daniel Boulud has his Maison Boulud here for a fine dining affair; the Palm Court hosts a legendary afternoon tea; and there’s a Dom Pérignon bar for drinks in the evening. There’s also the Spa St. James, which is one of the finest in the city, an indoor pool and sauna on the rooftop, and a 24/7 fitness center.

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With 164 large suites with full kitchens — and some even with separate or loft-style bedrooms — the Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites makes for a perfect stay for families, offering everyone plenty of personal space. For the largest rooms, pick a Family Suite with multiple beds plus a pull-out sofa. The decor might be nothing to write home about, but the rooms are modern and clean and have flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. The hotel’s location in downtown Montreal is ideal with a number of tourist attractions, like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Notre-Dame Basilica, within walking distance. Amenities are also top-notch here; there’s a free continental breakfast served daily, a rooftop indoor pool and sundeck, a business center, a fitness center, and self-service laundry (a huge plus when you’re traveling with young kids!). Plus, the hotel offers babysitting services for a fee if the adults need a night on their own. 

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If you want to stay at a hotel with a beautiful riverfront view, choose the Auberge du Vieux-Port, which is actually the only hotel on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Located in the romantically European Old Town, the 45-room property is housed in former 19th-century warehouses, and details like old stone or brick walls, beamed ceilings, and arched windows add to its Old-World charm. Rooms have plenty of up-to-date amenities, however, like marble baths with jetted tubs, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Guests can order à la carte breakfast in the mornings either in their rooms or on the terrace, and they can dine at the hotel’s Taverne Gaspar for lunch or dinner. There’s also a seasonal rooftop bar that’s popular in the warmer months. As there’s no fitness center on-site, guests are offered free passes to use a nearby gym. There’s also no formal spa, but in-room treatments can be arranged.

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Unlike many of the other hotels in Montreal’s Old Town, the W Montreal takes on a contemporary look with colorful LED lights in the former Bank of Canada building. It’s certainly one of the edgier, trendier properties in the city with a club-like vibe, and it draws a crowd to match. (You’ll find plenty of bachelor and bachelorette parties staying here.) The 152 rooms feature contemporary black-and-white decor with gold elements, though there are some touches to remind guests they’re in Montreal, like French Rococo–inspired wallpaper. Dinning options include Tbsp., an Italian restaurant, and Living Room for tapas. There is also the bar Terrasse W MTL. Of course, it’s just as easy to take the party off the property, as a number of nightclubs and watering holes are within walking distance of the hotel. After a raucous night out, work up a sweat in the fitness center.

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If you’re in Montreal to get work done, there’s no better place to do so than the Sofitel Montréal Golden Mile, a sophisticated and sleek downtown hotel that caters to business travelers. Its location on Sherbrooke Street means that the Financial District is about a 15-minute walk away, with McGill University right next door. If you’re planning on having meetings on-site, the event space seats up to 400, plus a small self-service business center. After hours, head to Renoir for a French fine dining experience, or grab a cocktail at the swanky Le Bar. (You can also order food and drinks to your room 24 hours a day.) There’s also a fitness center and sauna should you want to decompress with a sweat. Eventually, you’ll want to head back to one of the 256 rooms and suites featuring modern but warm decor and luxe Hermès bath products.

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Though the Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth is by no means the oldest hotel in Montreal — it opened in 1958 — it’s one of the city’s most historic, particularly for art and music lovers. John Lennon and Yoko Ono famously staged their second “Bed-In” here to promote world peace in 1969, during which they recorded the song “Give Peace a Chance.” And yes, you can book a stay in that suite on the 17th floor, which has a virtual-reality experience related to the famed Bed-In. Following a $140 million renovation in 2017, the downtown hotel’s 950 rooms and suites now feature modern furnishings in a range of palettes from soothing blues to neutrals to black-and-white with brightly-hued wall decorations. The renovation also updated the hotel’s amenities: Quebecois restaurant Rosélys, restaurant RE Le Traiteur, cocktail bar Nacarat, coffeeshop Kréma, grab-and-go market Artisans, 85,000 square feet of event space, and a wellness center with an indoor pool, to name a few.