Hotel St. Paul

The landmark Beaux-Arts exterior of the ten-story St. Paul Hotel, in the heart of the historic district of Vieux Montréal, is utterly at odds with what’s inside—an modern and minimalist hotel, something light and ethereal, straight from the pages of a design magazine. Stylish contemporary furnishings decorate the lobby, surrounding a fireplace of translucent alabaster, an effect that must be seen to be believed. And like many of the converted buildings in Old Montreal, the St. Paul benefits from sprawling spaces, high ceilings and large picture windows.

Rooms are just as stunning as the lobby, with traditional materials like polished hardwoods, raw metal and exposed stone, and clean, crisp modernist lines. Windows expose the space to natural light and make for panoramic views of the old quarter, and the bathrooms feel like little museums, with square marble sinks and stylish fittings. Animal skins drape over designer chairs, and closets and desks are generous and functional.

Wi-fi is free, as it should be, and the hotel’s meeting facilities are suitable for a conference (up to 85 delegates). Leisure travelers are taken care of as well; the hotel’s bar is the sort of place where in-the-know locals mix with hotel patrons, with the bars, restaurants and shops of Vieux Montréal are just outside.