Downtown (Place Bonaventure)

Hotel Bonaventure Montreal

★★★★★

Hotel Bonaventure Montreal is one of the city's most unusual hotels and an excellent choice for families and anyone who loves swimming outdoors in winter. It was built in 1967, the year of Expo 67, on the roof of Place Bonaventure, the giant exhibition and office building that was planned as part of Montreal's new Underground City, so the hotel sits seventeen storeys above street level, wrapped around 2.5 acres of landscaped gardens with fountains, streams and a koi pond. The centrepiece is the heated outdoor pool, open all year: in the coldest months guests enter the water from inside the hotel, then swim out into the open air surrounded by snow and the downtown towers, one of the most memorable hotel experiences in Montreal. A lifeguard is on duty during opening hours, typically from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., later on Friday and Saturday nights, and the pool is reserved for hotel guests. The hotel has been modernised in a major makeover by Montreal design firm Lemay-Michaud, with rooms, studios and suites refreshed in a contemporary style that nods to the building's mid-century roots, many with views over the gardens. Dining options include Le Bisco and Le Kube, plus a lounge area. The hotel promotes itself as a family hotel, with family packages and services, and the indoor connection to the Underground City makes it a practical winter base. Rates are mid-range for downtown.

Rooms and gardens: rooms facing the gardens are the most pleasant, with views of trees and water that make it easy to forget you are in the middle of downtown. Studios and suites offer more space for families. The gardens are open to guests and are a lovely spot for a morning coffee in summer, while in winter the snow-covered landscape around the steaming pool is unforgettable.

The pool experience: swimming in winter is the reason many people choose the Bonaventure. The water is heated, the entrance from inside spares you the cold walk, and the contrast between the warm water and the freezing air is exhilarating. The hotel also runs special experiences and offers, such as floating sessions in the pool, so check the current promotions.

Location and who it suits: the hotel is at 900 Rue De La Gauchetiere Ouest, connected to the Underground City and close to Bonaventure metro station and Central Station, which makes it convenient for travellers arriving by train. Old Montreal is about a ten-minute walk south, and the Bell Centre and downtown shopping are close by. It suits families, winter visitors, train travellers and anyone who wants a resort-like experience in the city at a fair price.