The Hotel Gault, (www.hotelgault.ca)in Vieux (old) Montreal…it sits at one end of the old Montreal neighborhood. The area is near to the waterfront and highly active and modern area, with museums, movies, parks. It is flat, walkable, full of powerful architecture, culture, food, jazz, shopping and people who,simply smiled as you said, “Bonjour!”
A great location. Fitting into the exterior of the massive blocky, stylized buildings of long ago, but surprising in its contemporary, sharp lines.
The hotel itself should be a five star hotel, but lacks a spa thus it is 4.5. The hotel architecture is emblematic of the area — classic, grey, five story granite buildings, built in the early 20th century. A mixture of francophone and English styles, mostly from 1870’s to the late 1920’s. Grand and reeking of empire.
With such a grey, solemn, yet romantic exterior, the interior comes as a surprise. Large, open spaces; spare furniture, a large open lobby with tables for breakfast and a bar that shares an island with the check-in. The minimalist design makes the first floor seems enormous.
Here we met Salim, the lead concierge; I have a rule to always bond with, show respect to, and look for numerous recommendations from any hotel that has a concierge. Or at least try! After all, they are the experts, if they are good. This role is a cornerstone to the experience of a hotel and should be considered the human face to the overall physical event of staying there. Poor concierge often has a direct correlation to a mediocre hotel.
Salim was delightful, knowledgeable, made recommendations that for restaurants and stores, walking patterns through the neighborhood, highlights,and they all worked out very well. And he was so classy, smooth, welcoming, polite…you could tell he could handle any situation. He gave us great restaurants to eat in — the bistros, Hopper and Modavie (http://modavie.com/en/), with jazz, and the upscale, more formal Chez Delmo (which had perhaps the best tomato and fish soups I have ever had!)
There are only 30 rooms/suites in the Hotel Gault. We picked one on the fifth floor. It was enormous. But like a modern interior, it was an expression of maximizing the open space, high ceilings, and had a living room separated from a bedroom area by a pale wood desk and half-wall. The best part were the floor to ceiling windows that opened to reveal the patio with chairs and table where one could sit and view over the rooftops, all of near equal height.
The living room had a table, perfect for breakfast, a small sink and frig with a coffee maker and ample supplies.
The bed was amazing — you just sank a little and it enveloped you in a cushioned comfort. Not too deep, but just enough. The bathroom comfortable with great products.
Last but not least? The breakfast was perhaps one of the best, freshest, we have ever had. Anywhere. (Though the omelete in elbow Beach, Bermuda is damned close).
So…Hotel Gault, grand yet intimate; we would stay again— and with the exchange rate what it is, though it is expensive it was not outrageous. But hotels are a complete package, all elements weigh in. So, the service? You never left the lobby without a smile.
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