Hotel Le St-James

A handsome, gray stone facade supported by Doric columns harbors an ornate marble lobby with vaulted ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and glass chandeliers. Just off the lobby, a library with red upholstered chairs, heavy curtains, and tall windows houses an abundance of books, magazines, and newspapers for guests' use; by evening, it takes on the feeling of a private lounge with cocktail service. Business travelers and tourists seeking a high-end experience frequent the hotel, which retains much of the original bank's architecture, including the vaults, visible in many of the common areas. The St-James is also a popular stay for local and international celebrities, especially musicians performing at the neighboring Bell Centre concert hall.

The Hotel Le St-James is located on a picturesque street of 19th-century-era buildings on the edge of Vieux-Montréal, the historic neighborhood popular with tourists, but the city's downtown business district is also just blocks away. The Palais de Justice de Montréal, which marks the center of Old Montreal, is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal is also within walking distance. Central Station, Montreal's main train station, is a quick bus ride away; the airport is a 20-minute drive away. The hotel can arrange for transportation with advance notice.

Decor varies widely across the rooms at the Hotel Le St-James: wallpaper, tufted leather stools, and four-poster beds combine for an almost Gothic feel in Superior and Deluxe Rooms; parquet floors and copper-toned Corinthian columns lend an ornate, old-world gravitas to suites. All the same, the rooms are notably comfortable, with abundant bath towels, marble bathrooms, Molton Brown toiletries, and iPads available to borrow. Rooms and suites alike have bathrobes and slippers, rainfall showers, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, safes, minibar, CD players, and daily newspaper delivery. Some rooms have walk-in showers, while suites have marble bathtubs. Note that rooms on the back side of the building can be dark, the traditional decor can feel dated at times, and lower-floor rooms on the street side can be noisy.

XO Le Restaurant, the Hotel Le St-James' fine-dining restaurant and bar, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering a seasonally rotating menu of locally sourced Montreal favorite; at dinner, both tasting and à la carte menus are available, and the elegant bar area has an extensive wine, cocktail, and snack menu. The grandiose space is especially popular for events. The Library is another favorite spot for a cocktail after a long day out and about. There is a small fitness center with handful of free weights and machines and the spa offers a standard menu of services, in addition to a sauna and steam bath, available only to those guests who have booked services. In-room spa services are also available upon request. The hotel also has valet parking, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, and a 24-hour concierge service that prides itself on bending over backwards for guests.