Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
Hotel · Downtown Montreal ·
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Suite; elegant bistro; chic cocktail lounge
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Suite; elegant bistro; chic cocktail lounge
"Despite the city's reputation as North America’s most French city, the mood at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth skews unmistakably British (perhaps the name tipped you off?). Spanning an entire city block on René-Lévesque Boulevard, this 950-room grande dame nods to the 1960s with pops of bold color, geometric light fixtures, graphic rugs, and Eero Aarnio–style ball chairs. The most sought-after key? The 17th-floor suite where John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent a week on their honeymoon in 1969, staging their famous Bed-In. For dining, guests can tuck into casual bistro fare at Rosélys, or graze at the 8,000-square-foot Marché Artisans, home to an artisanal bakery, a doughnut counter, a pizza oven, and crêpe and ice-cream stations, among other temptations. The spa is a highlight: swim a few laps in the heated indoor pool, then indulge in an anti-aging facial using Swiss brand Valmont or Sothys Paris." - Siobhan Reid
"After a 2017 renovation by Sid Lee, the classic 1960s Fairmont felt young and playful to me—built literally on top of the city’s Gare Centrale, it serves as a true hub where locals stroll through the lobby for a bit of glamour; book the famous room where John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their Bed-In, or choose renovated Fairmont Rooms with geometric wood furnishings and colorful abstract wallpaper for a refreshed downtown stay." - Todd Plummer
"The city’s first luxury hotel, opened in the 1950s across from the train station and retaining midcentury glamour after a 2017 renovation of its roughly 950 rooms; it also houses the famous suite once occupied by John Lennon and Yoko Ono during their 1969 bed-in for peace." - Julia Eskins Julia Eskins Julia Eskins is a writer and editor covering travel, design, and culture. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, National Geographic, and more. She’s traveled to more than 50 countries, lived in five, and currently calls Toronto home. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth is family- and pet-friendly and connected to The Underground City, offering access to a labyrinth of shops, restaurants, and walkways. The large property sees a lot of foot traffic due to its prime location." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"A historic midcentury landmark that was fully renovated and relaunched in 2017, famous for hosting John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 “bed-in” (suite 1742 is now a specialty, music-history suite). The 950-room property features suites inspired and named after Montreal neighborhoods, lively lobby and bar scenes, and rooftop dining; signature bites and cocktails include inventive offerings such as boreal-flavored foie gras macarons and absinthe-grilled octopus." - Catherine Maisonneuve, Nicholas DeRenzo