449 Sainte-Helene, Montreal, Canada | (877) 220-1032
Located in a 19th-century building in Old Montreal
Trendy, industrial-chic interior design
Spacious, high-tech rooms with big TVs, loaner iPads, and comfortable beds
Bathrooms have heated floors and Molton Brown products; Suites have standalone soaking tubs
Two blocks from Square
Victoria metro station
Restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch; 24-hour room service available
Small 24-hour gym
Cozy living
room area with fireplace and library of loaner books and DVDs
Free
local calls and iPads are available on request
Free Wi-Fi
Pet-friendly (daily fee per pet)
Restaurant
not open for dinner (but cheese plates may be offered at bar)
No spa and a tiny gym
Lack
of bathroom counter space around the vanity sink
The Hotel Gault isn't just one of Montreal's best upscale boutique hotels, it is one of its best hotels, period. It's housed in a 19th-century building with Haussmannian architectural influences in Old Montreal, and interiors are trendy and streamlined, with industrial-chic influences. Rooms are high-tech (with big flat-screen TVs and loaner iPads among other amenities), and work by local Canadian artists is showcased throughout the property. With only 30 rooms, the hotel is able to provide truly personalized service. The features aren't as impressive as those found at larger properties -- the gym is tiny, the restaurant is closed for dinner, and there is no spa -- but for most guests the hotel's upsides more than compensate. If those features are important, consider the W Montreal.
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Scene
An industrial-chic boutique hotel in a historic five-story building
In the late 1800s, the five-story building that's now home to Hotel Gault housed the headquarters of a textile import-export company. Some industrial features have been preserved in the interiors, and influenced the hotel's trendy, industrial-chic design approach. Details such as cast-iron columns in the lobby (painted white), exposed brick or stone walls, concrete floors, and reproduction tin ceilings create a hip, urban feel that wouldn't be out of place in New York City's SoHo neighborhood. Furniture is high-design and streamlined; much of it feels mid-century modern. Art is a major focus here, and work by Canadian artists is displayed throughout, including in the guest rooms, giving some of them the feel of the lofts of successful artists. (In fact, entry-level rooms are appropriately called Lofts -- though some rooms have no artwork displayed and feel a touch bare.) Though the hotel mostly draws couples in town for leisure, families may appreciate the adjoining rooms or the kitchen-equipped Apartments.
Location
In Old Montreal, near public transportation, restaurants, shopping, and the Old Port
Hotel Gault has an excellent location in Old Montreal, one of the city's most popular tourist neighborhoods, thanks to its many restaurants, shops, museums, and beautiful historic architecture (to which Hotel Gault's facade contributes). It's a bit south of some of the main sights, but still within walking distance; the Palais de Justice de Montréal, which marks the neighborhood's center, is a nine-minute walk north. It's a three-minute walk to Square Victoria (and its Orange Line metro station), a three-minute walk to the World Trade Center (right at the neighborhood's border with downtown, the city's business district), a 12-minute walk to Place Jacques Cartier, a square of shops, and a 13-minute walk to the Old Port. The
Montreal Trudeau International is a 25-minute drive away.With a history dating back to 1642, Old Montreal is, well, old. This well-preserved neighborhood might be one of the prettiest and most fascinating quarters of the city. While summers give way to lively street festivals and restaurant terraces brimming with energy, winters offer a much more mellow and relaxed pace.
Rooms
High-tech, industrial-chic rooms start at a spacious 350 square feet (about 33 square meters)
The Hotel Gault's modern rooms have streamlined decor mostly in shades of gray and white, as well as oak cabinetry; some have local artwork on display while others have little adornment and can feel a touch bare. All of the Junior Suites have exposed brick or stone walls, which adds interest. The space and amenities impress at every level; the standard Lofts start at a spacious 350 square feet (32.5 square meters), and all rooms have flat-screen TVs starting at 40 inches (some have Blu-Ray and 3D functionality); free Wi-Fi, free local calls, loaner iPads (upon request), and comfortable FLOU beds (queen- or king-size). Bathrooms have heated floors, robes, Molton Brown toiletries, and walk-in showers; upgrading to a Suite also gets you a standalone soaking tub. Minibars are stocked with beers, mini liquor bottles, juices, and a few snacks. Suites with big terraces are available, as are kitchen-equipped Apartments. Housekeeping is provided twice a day, indicative of the hotel's high level of service. Turndown service includes chocolates, Gault water bottles, and the weather forecast.
Features
A small 24-hour fitness center, a restaurant, and 24-hour room service
The restaurant at the Gault serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch, but not dinner, though room service is available around the clock. Breakfast options typically include fruit, pastries, omelets, crepes, and bagels, among other items. Food can be served in the lounge, by the fireplace, or in-room. The bar also serves coffee, teas,
wine, and cocktails daily until midnight. There is a 24-hour gym (which is tiny in size, essentially housing two machines) accessed by elevator -- no need to foray into the lobby. Towels and water
bottles are provided. There is not a spa on the property but the hotel has a relationship with the nearby Spa By Valmont. Valet parking is offered for a fee, and pets are allowed for a fee.