This week I had friends from Atlanta attending the Jazz festival who chose to stay at the Hotel St Paul right at the edge of Old Montreal. I had been in the lobby before and had found it very bare and almost cold, had it not been for the fire burning all year round. This time I got to go up to the top floor to visit a room. What an experience that was. As soon as you leave the main lobby area you enter a very dark zone, where the walls are painted a charcoal colour and even the elevators are dimly lit. It is a bit unnerving at first but very soon you begin to calm down…no more sensory overload…by the time you reach your door you are almost in a zen state of mind.
The room I saw had very very high ceilings and windows that went all the way up. The windows were covered with white shutters that could be folded back at will. The floors were of very dark wide plank wood. There was a big white animal skin and a dark brown coffee table. The rest of the room was all white save for the love seat which was a bronzy colour. The bedroom area was closed off but was completely white. The bathroom was nice and large with very modern stone sinks. The toiletries were of very high quality as were the chocolates left on the pillow… There were several nice touches such as a leather wastepaper basked, a stocked bar, fancy electronic equipment….in other words, a very nice hotel room! I was very appreciative at the opportunity to visit it.
This hotel is also famous for its restaurant called Cube. We did not eat there but had drinks at the bar. They have a nice list of unusual cocktails. I had one made of Rhum, pineapple juice and almond syrup…I will definitely try to make it at home…if I can get my hands on almond syrup.
Their website gives you an idea of the feel of the place: