Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

Similar to other buildings in this business district, Hotel Le Cantile Suites is set in a boxy high-rise dating back to the 70s. Indeed, its entrance canopy gives the impression of an older property, but once through the doors, a bright, high-ceiling lobby offers an air of elegance, with marbled floors, wood-paneled accent walls, and stylish white leather seating. A mezzanine level is home to the hotel's restaurant and bar, the main common space for hanging out when the rooftop pool isn't open. Some parts of the interior have dated older aesthetic and the decor can feel somewhat generic, but for the most part updates and renovations have kept this property contemporary. The central location is a draw for a range of travelers from business guests to tourists, including families who can take advantage of the roomy accommodations and kitchen facilities. 

One of this hotel's biggest draws is its location in the heart of Montreal's lively downtown core, where the business district shares space with shopping centers, and the many cafes, restaurants, and bars cater to tourists as well as students from McGill and Concordia universities. It's right on a main thoroughfare, Sherbrooke Street, so it's not the quietest place to stay, but with attractions nearby, a bus stop right outside the hotel, and a metro station only a three-minute walk away (Peel), it's an ideal place from which to explore the city. Three-minute walk to McGill University

• Five-minute walk to Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 
• 10-minute walk to the Bell Center
• 11 minutes to Rue Saint-Denis via public transit
• 20 minutes to Notre Dame Basilica via public transit
• 25-minute walk to Old Montreal (20 minutes by public transit)
• 25 minutes to Bonsecours Market via public transit
• 25 minutes to the Old Port of Montreal via public transit
• 25 minutes to the Biodome via public transit
• 60 minutes to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport via public transit

Guest rooms are available as roomy studios or suites, spacious and equipped with wet bars. kitchenettes, or full-size kitchens. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light, and some rooms enjoy scenic views of Montreal or Mont Royal (though others look out on less inspiring back streets). Thanks to 2016 room renovations, decor is sleek and contemporary, if somewhat sterile, with brown wall-to-wall carpeting complemented by walnut-colored furniture, chrome accents, and frosted glass tables. 

Guests have the choice of small but functional closet-size wet bars (with sinks, microwaves, and mini-fridges), galley-style kitchenettes, or full-size kitchens with stove tops, ovens, and full-size fridges. Handy appliances are also included, like electric kettles and coffeemakers. Other standard amenities found across room categories include flat-screen TVs, free basic Wi-Fi (high-speed Wi-Fi costs extra), and irons and ironing boards. Bathrooms are modern, with black vanities featuring stylish basin sinks and white-tiled shower/tub combos, and all come with hairdryers and free Bio2 Swiss Formula toiletries. 

Hotel Le Cantile Suites offers a satisfying number of amenities and on-site perks. Most notable is the rooftop swimming pool, perched on the 28th floor and worth a trip just for the panoramic views of the city skyline. While the pool isn't huge or luxurious, it's nice, surrounded by a patio with loungers, but it's only open seasonally. City views are also offered from the fitness center, situated one floor below the pool, which is equipped with treadmills, weight machines, stationery bikes, free weights, and exercise balls, though the brown carpeting is a little drab, and some of the equipment is outdated.

The mezzanine-level Le Mezz Restaurant and Bar is a pleasant space, with wood floors, lounge spots, and tables set next to big windows that look out on bustling Sherbrooke Street. Guests have a choice of a standard buffet breakfast  with hot and cold items or a la carte options, though both cost extra. The hotel also serves lunch, dinner, and drinks, or guests can eat at the restaurant attached to the hotel, Restaurant Alba, which is open from early afternoon into the evening. Room service is available from the morning into the evening.

The hotel offers other handy services, like a business center with computers, a printer, and photocopying, a self-service laundry room, and free basic Wi-Fi (high-speed Wi-Fi costs extra). Indoor valet parking is available for an extra fee, but larger cars may have an issue getting into the small lot. The front desk is open 24 hours. Childcare and cribs are offered for an extra charge.