Hotel Gault is a small boutique hotel at 449 Rue Sainte-Helene in Old Montreal, rated four stars, with 30 units spread over five floors. Its scale is its charm: far fewer rooms than the big chains, with apartments, lofts and suites rather than a single standard room. The location is practical, with the Underground City one minute away, the Montreal Convention Centre three minutes, and Place d'Armes, Notre-Dame Basilica and the Old Port each about five minutes on foot. Square-Victoria metro station is also five minutes away. The room list runs from Deluxe Rooms with a terrace to Junior Suites, Corner Suites, Lofts and Deluxe Lofts, plus Apartments and Deluxe Apartments for longer stays. There is a restaurant, The Gault, and a bar and lounge, a 24-hour gym and free Wifi in rooms. Local-cuisine breakfast is available for a fee. Covered valet parking is charged by the night with in and out privileges. Pets are accepted, up to two per stay, for a fee per pet per night. Check-in starts at 4 pm, with a minimum check-in age of 21, and check-out is before noon.
What to expect
Staying in a hotel of this size is a different experience. Service tends to be personal, with the staff able to recommend restaurants and book tables, and the building has the feel of a private residence rather than a large lobby operation. The loft and apartment categories give you space and, in many cases, a more residential layout, which suits stays of several nights. The terrace rooms add outdoor space in warm weather, a rare feature in the old town.
Location in practice
Rue Sainte-Helene is a quiet side street on the western edge of Old Montreal, which is a plus for sleep and a short walk from the livelier Rue Saint-Paul and Place Jacques-Cartier. The Underground City entrance close by gives a winter link to downtown. Square-Victoria metro takes you quickly to the Plateau or to Mount Royal. There is no pool, so the gym is the main fitness facility.
Who it suits
Couples, design-minded travellers and anyone who prefers a small hotel to a large one. It is less suited to travellers who need a pool, a spa or a big property's facilities. Because the hotel is small, book early for summer and festival weekends, and check the rate details for breakfast, parking and the pet policy before you book. For a longer stay, consider the apartment categories, which give you more room to spread out than a standard hotel room, and ask the hotel about the layout of the category you choose.
The small size also means the property can feel quiet and private, which suits travellers who prefer calm to bustle. Because Old Montreal is compact and walkable, you may find you do not need a car at all, in which case the valet parking charge is one you can skip.
Why stay here
- ✓Four-star boutique hotel
- ✓30 units on five floors
- ✓Lofts, suites and apartments
- ✓Terrace rooms
- ✓The Gault restaurant and bar
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓Covered valet parking
- ✓Underground City one minute away
Good questions
How big is the hotel?+
Small: 30 units over five floors, with rooms, suites, lofts and apartments.
Does it allow pets?+
Yes, up to two per stay for a fee per pet per night; service animals are exempt from fees.
Is it near the metro?+
Square-Victoria station is about five minutes on foot.
