Golden Square Mile / Sherbrooke

The Ritz-Carlton Montreal

★★★★★

The Ritz-Carlton Montreal is the city's most storied luxury hotel and the address for a special occasion. It opened in 1912 on Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, in the heart of the Golden Square Mile, the district of mansions where Montreal's merchant and railway barons once lived, and it set the standard for luxury in Canada for a century, hosting royalty, politicians and film stars; it is often said that Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton married here in 1964. After a major multi-year renovation, the hotel reopened in 2012 with modernised rooms and suites and residences above, while preserving the Beaux-Arts facade and the elegant public rooms. The dining is a highlight. Maison Boulud, led by the celebrated French chef Daniel Boulud, serves refined French cuisine with Quebec ingredients in a light-filled dining room that looks onto a garden courtyard, with a terrace in summer. The Palm Court, the hotel's lobby lounge, is known for its afternoon tea and also hosts a Dom Perignon lounge experience. Spa St. James offers treatments in a calm setting of waterfalls and fireplaces, and an indoor saltwater pool with a view over the city completes the wellness offer. Rooms are classic and luxurious, with marble bathrooms, heated floors in many categories and high-quality bedding, and the suites are among the most elegant in the city. Service is formal, attentive and personal. The location is ideal for art and shopping: the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a few blocks west, the boutiques of Rue Sherbrooke and Rue Sainte-Catherine are close, and Mount Royal rises just behind. Old Montreal is a twenty-minute walk or a short taxi ride. Rates are at the top of the Montreal market.

Living the Ritz: this is a hotel for those who value tradition, discretion and impeccable service. Rooms are generous by downtown standards, decorated in a refined classic style with modern technology, and the higher floors offer views over the Golden Square Mile and toward the river or the mountain. The residences above the hotel give the building a quiet, residential feel. Families are welcome, but the atmosphere is best suited to couples, special celebrations and travellers who appreciate a grand setting.

Eating, drinking and relaxing: Maison Boulud is one of the city's top hotel restaurants, perfect for a celebratory dinner or a long weekend brunch, and its courtyard terrace is one of the prettiest outdoor dining spots downtown in summer. Afternoon tea in the Palm Court is a Montreal institution, ideal on a winter afternoon. Spa St. James and the saltwater pool provide a restorative pause after a day of walking or skating.

Location: 1228 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, at the corner of Rue Drummond, a short walk from the Peel metro station on the green line. The Museum of Fine Arts, McGill University and the McCord Stewart Museum are nearby, and the paths up Mount Royal start a few blocks north. For a romantic weekend, a milestone anniversary or a first trip where the hotel is part of the experience, the Ritz is the natural choice; travellers on a tighter budget or wanting the cobbled charm of the old town may prefer Old Montreal.