Hotel
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
Downtown landmark opened in 1958 above the central train station, renovated in 2017, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their 1969 Bed-In.
Ritz-Carlton Montréal
Sherbrooke Street grande dame opened in 1912, restored in 2012, with 129 rooms and suites, Maison Boulud, afternoon tea in the Palm Court and an indoor pool.
At a glance
- Type
- Luxury heritage hotel
- Area
- Golden Square Mile, Montreal, Canada
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- ritzmontreal.com
Good to know
- Maison Boulud
- Palm Court afternoon tea
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Meeting rooms
- Partially accessible (Kéroul)
Why we recommend it
The Ritz-Carlton Montréal opened on 31 December 1912 with a gala ball for 350 guests, at the corner of Sherbrooke and Drummond streets in the Golden Square Mile. It was designed by Warren and Wetmore, the New York architects, and in its early years many guests lived permanently in its suites. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were married in the Royal Suite in 1964, one of many stories attached to the hotel.
The hotel closed in 2008 for a restoration costing around 200 million Canadian dollars and reopened with the work completed in 2012. Montreal's tourism office lists 129 rooms, 31 of them suites, as well as 46 private residences in the building. The hotel describes itself as the first and only five-diamond hotel in Quebec, and it holds Green Key certification for its environmental practices.
Food and drink are a strong part of a stay. Maison Boulud, the restaurant of the chef Daniel Boulud, has been the main dining room since 2012. The refurbished Palm Court serves afternoon tea, one of the hotel's best-known traditions. The hotel's garden has its own piece of history: in the early 1950s a flower-fringed pond was added, home to two dozen ducklings.
For downtime there is a spa and an indoor pool, with a whirlpool and sauna, and the hotel has nine meeting and reception rooms totalling about 12,000 square feet, suitable for anything from a small meeting of a dozen people to a gala for 300. Indoor parking is available for a fee, and there are electric vehicle charging points. Kéroul rates the building as partially accessible.
It suits couples, luxury travellers and anyone who values a historic setting, and it is a natural choice for weddings and celebrations. Rooms are priced at the top of the city's range.
The location is one of the best in Montreal for culture and shopping. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a short walk west along Sherbrooke Street, the McCord Stewart Museum is to the east, and the paths of Mount Royal Park rise behind the hotel, so you can go from breakfast to the Kondiaronk lookout on foot.
Ritz-Carlton Montréal FAQs
When did the hotel open?
On 31 December 1912, with a gala ball for 350 guests.
How many rooms are there?
129 rooms, including 31 suites, according to Montreal's tourism office.
What is the main restaurant?
Maison Boulud, run by chef Daniel Boulud, since 2012.
Where is afternoon tea served?
In the refurbished Palm Court.
Is there a pool?
Yes. There is an indoor pool, plus a whirlpool and sauna.
Is there parking?
Yes. Paid indoor parking is available.
Who married in the hotel?
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, in the Royal Suite in 1964.
What is nearby?
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the McCord Stewart Museum and Mount Royal Park.