Hotel le St-James

 

For five star, old world opulence, Hotel Le St-James in Old Montreal comes highly recommended. Nestled fittingly on the second oldest street in the Montreal (coined Rue St. Jacques or St. James by 17th century French and English citizens, respectively), it is one of the most classic and refined boutique hotels of the city.     

photo credit: www.hotellestjames.com

In the 19th century, the original Hotel Le St-James is said to have accommodated the Prince of Wales and Edward VII during an official visit to the country. Now, it ranks highly among the likes of established and dignified guests who enjoy its 18th century classic decor, complete with Venetian dressers, Russian armoires, and Victorian paintings which fill their spacious suites.

For me, staying at such a property is on the "later-in-life" to do list, as I currently tend to opt for slightly more modern (slash budget!) hotels in lively areas. However, I think Le St-James would be perfect for any seasoned traveller who is looking for timeless elegance during their stay in Montreal, or even a quintessentially young couple who want to whisk themselves away from a busy household for a romantic weekend together.

If you're a local in the city and not looking for accomodations, you can still take advantage of the hotel's beautiful interior by booking an appointment at their spa. Their treatment room - housed in the vault of this former Merchants bank building - is absolutely stunning and makes for an amazing experience. (I've been on two separate occasions and each required an exceptional amount of restraint to conceal my giddiness and excitement with the space! I felt so lucky to be there and was happy as a lark during my entire treatment session...and there was, of course, some day dreaming involved about discovering some secret vault within the vault... but I digress).

Rates from $340/night.

Hotel le St-James   |   355 Rue Saint-Jacques O   |    Montreal, Quebec   |   H2Y 1N9   |

(514) 841-3111

www.hotellestjames.com