W Montréal
"Why did this hotel catch your attention? Sleek, sexy, posh—words that can be overused when it comes to contemporary-style hotels, but are fitting for W Hotels' Montreal outpost. Enter through the sliding glass doors and up a short flight of stairs into the energetic lobby, and you're transported into a microcosm of the Montreal of today: an of-the-moment, diverse nexus where design lovers, food lovers, art lovers, and just plain old lovers come together. What's the backstory? The hotel is located on Square Victoria inside the old Banque du Canada building. But as we said, once you step inside, the hotel is decidedly modern. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book? We splurged on a "WOW" suite which was, irrefutably, a "wow moment." These bi-level suites feature sweeping park and city views, as well as a private terrace. The bed was pillowy, the shower was spacious, and while the living area's couch could've been softer (the hotel definitely chose style over comfort in that case), the overall feeling was everything one would want from a contemporary city hotel: sexy, sophisticated, urbane. We've heard the "atrium view" rooms can get a little dark, unlike the park-facing rooms, which flood with natural light. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? Unfortunately there is a charge, except for Marriott Bonvoy members. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? Off the lobby you'll find Tbsp., an Italian-inflected restaurant with homemade pastas, antipasti, and share plates. Thanks to the number of banks and offices in this neighborhood, there is a thriving power breakfast scene—get the boozy French toast with Grand Marnier syrup. But we'd be remiss not to mention the hotel's infamous bar. It's gone through a number of iterations over the years, from doorman-guarded nightclub, to bottle service hovel, to its current iteration, Bartizen, where gin flights and handcrafted concoctions take center stage. Make sure to stop here before checkout—having a drink at the W is a rite of passage in Montreal. And the service? It all begins with the doormen, who are adept at swooping you off the city's frigid streets and through those sliding glass doors into the lobby. The good thing about W Hotel is the emphasis on friendliness and their signature "Whatever, Whenever" approach to customer service. Have any questions about where to eat, drink and play while you're in town? The resident "W Insider" is on hand to answer all your questions, and for some reason feels infinitely cooler than other hotels' often stodgy concierges. What type of travelers will you find here? Expense accounters and Bonvoy loyalists on a business trip to Montreal. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene? The hotel at once has an ideal yet slightly odd location in a business district, yet a short walk away from all of the city's best restaurants and neighborhoods. So you're not exactly in the middle of the action, but walk five minutes in any direction and you'll be in the action. Make sense? That being said, it occupies a prime block along Square Victoria, an ideal public space to grab a croissant and pretend you're in Europe for a minute—the Metro station, over which the hotel sits, even features a classic Art Nouveau sign like you'd see in Paris. Is there anything you'd change? As with many W Hotels, late-night noise can be an issue. But that's why the concierge has ear plugs on hand to deliver as needed. Any other hotel features worth noting? The delightfully scented Bliss bathroom amenities are the kind of things you'll definitely want to bring home—and might even pilfer from the housekeeping cart if nobody's looking. Bottom line: Why are we choosing the W? It's a cosmopolitan, contemporary experience that would cost you two or three times as much in New York. We say go for it." - Todd Plummer
