Griffintown / Lachine Canal

Alt Hotel Montreal Griffintown

★★★★★

Alt Hotel Montreal is the best-value design hotel in central Montreal for travellers who want comfort and style without paying for spas and restaurants they will not use. It is part of Alt Hotels, the more affordable sister brand of Germain Hotels, and it opened in 2014 at the corner of Rue Peel and Rue Wellington in Griffintown, a former industrial district beside the Lachine Canal that has been transformed in the last two decades into one of the city's most dynamic neighbourhoods, with new apartments, restaurants, cafes and bars. The Alt formula is simple and well executed: rooms are modern and bright, with comfortable beds, good showers and big windows, and corner rooms offer views toward the downtown skyline. There is fast, free Wi-Fi throughout, a gym open around the clock, and a lobby where specialty coffee and fresh croissants are available in the morning. Water stations encourage refilling bottles with the city's safe tap water. A covered terrace on the seventh floor is reserved for private group events. Booking directly gives the best prices, flexible check-out when available and free cancellation under certain conditions, and the hotel offers breakfast and spa packages with partners. The location is the hidden strength. The Lachine Canal and its cycling and walking path are a few minutes away, with Atwater Market a pleasant walk west along the water; Old Montreal is about fifteen minutes on foot to the east; downtown, Central Station and the Bell Centre are a short walk north; and BIXI bike-share stations make it easy to reach Parc Jean-Drapeau or the Plateau in the warm months. The airport is less than half an hour away by car. Rates are budget to mid-range, among the lowest for a quality hotel this central.

Rooms and style: the design is contemporary and functional, with a calm palette, smart storage and everything you need for a city break. The beds and linens are of the same quality standard as the Germain brand. Corner rooms are the most spacious and have the best views. There is no restaurant or room service, so plan to eat out, which in Griffintown is no hardship, with many restaurants and cafes within a few blocks.

The neighbourhood: Griffintown was once a working-class Irish district of factories and rowhouses beside the canal, and traces of its industrial past remain among the new towers. Today its streets, especially Rue Notre-Dame Ouest toward Saint-Henri, are lined with restaurants, bakeries and bars, and the canal path is a favourite for walkers, runners and cyclists from spring to autumn. In winter the area is quieter, and the walk to the Underground City or the Bonaventure metro station is short.

Who it suits: budget-conscious couples and solo travellers, young travellers, cyclists and anyone who would rather spend money on food and experiences than on hotel extras. Families on a budget can be comfortable in the larger rooms. If you want a pool, a spa or a grand lobby, look downtown; for a clean, stylish and well-located base at a fair price, Alt is a smart choice.