Le Square Phillips Hotel & Suites

Le Square Phillips Hotel and Suites occupies an elegant former textile warehouse, a gray cement structure dating back to 1919 that fits in well with the surrounding office buildings and boutiques. The lobby is simply decorated and slightly outdated, with cognac-hued leather armchairs, mid-tone wood paneling, and sheer white curtains against a wall of windows and the seating area near the front desk feels more like a waiting area than a place to congregate. The breakfast lounge is a bit anonymous and has a chain hotel vibe, with wood floors, light-wood furniture, cream walls, and generic wall art, though it can be very crowded in the mornings. Trattoria Zia, the altogether more charming Italian restaurant housed in the same building, has Mediterranean-style floor tiles, clean white tablecloths, shelves lined with wine bottles, and classical-style paintings on the walls. The nicest gathering place is the rooftop terrace outside the indoor pool: a long wooden deck with lounge chairs that look out across downtown Montreal. The hotel's guests include a mix of tourists and and business travelers, though the property's features and atmosphere are especially suited to families. 

The hotel is situated on a busy street near many of downtown Montreal's major shopping malls, including The Complexe Les Ailes, Eaton Centre, and Place Ville Marie, which are all within a five-minute walk of the hotel. Old Montreal takes about 20 minutes to reach on foot, or 20 minutes by metro from the Square-Victoria Station, a five-minute walk from the hotel. The Montreal Convention Center is about 15 minutes from the hotel on foot, and the Quartier des Spectacles, home to the city's contemporary art museum and several performance venues, is a five-minute walk from the hotel. The trendy Mile End neighborhood is best reached by cab (10 minutes) or metro (20 minutes to St. Laurier) and the airport is a 20-minute drive or 40 minutes by express bus from Rene-Levesque/Place du Frere-Andre, a two-minute walk from the hotel. 

Each of the rooms at this hotel are spacious suite-style units with great features for families and longer-term guests. Decor is nothing special, though, and is modern but not stylish, with bland carpeting and drapes, chunky light- and dark-wood furniture, couches and chairs in soft browns and pastel shades, and neutral mottled walls with generic framed paintings.There are various room configurations available, including Studios, One Bedrooms, Loft Suites, and Family Suites with bed alcoves and double sofa-beds. All units come with air-conditioning and full kitchens with white cabinetry, full-sized refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, basic appliances, and cookware as well as small dining areas. Other features include work desks, iPod dock alarm clocks, ironing facilities, safes, flat-screen TVs, and daily maid service. Clean, tiled bathrooms have gray floors and white walls, with large granite vanities, shower/tub combos, hair dryers, and toiletries. 

A free breakfast is served daily and includes basic continental items such as bagels, waffles, fruit, and coffee, which can also be ordered in guest rooms. Trattoria Zia, a casual restaurant housed in the same building, serves simple Italian dishes like pasta and pizza for lunch and dinner and draws locals and tourists alike. The hotel also has a rooftop fitness center with cardio and weight equipment in an airy space that gets plenty of natural light, while the indoor pool is also on the roof, and though it's narrow, it's a beautiful setting for taking a quick dip or swimming (short) laps. The rooftop terrace, outside of the pool enclosure, overlooks downtown Montreal and is great for sunbathing on warm days. There's also a coin-operated laundry room, a business center with two guest computers and printers, a small meeting room, and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. Off-site parking is available for a fee and the hotel's front desk is staffed 24 hours a day. Babysitting services are available for the many families who stay here and cribs are free for guests with small children.