ABOVE: The skyline from a room on the 32nd floor of the Montréal Marriott Château Champlain.
Montréal never disappoints, when visiting you can’t go wrong if you check into the Montréal Marriott Château Champlain on De La Gauchetière Street, between De La Cathédrale and Peel Streets. It is right next to Canada Place and is within comfortable walking distance of Old Montréal and just blocks from Rue Ste Catherine. It remains one of Montréal’s most iconic hotels and is easily noticeable because of its arch-shaped windows designed by Québec architects Jean-Paul Pothier and Roger D’Astous (who studied under celebrated American architect Frank Lloyd Wright). The windows complement the Romanesque arches of Windsor Station–the former Canadian Pacific train station across the street.
The hotel opened to host the world as part of Expo67. Back then, at 38 stories, it was the tallest hotel in Canada! Over the past two years, the hotel has undergone a significant retrofit that has completely transformed its interior, setting the stage for it to remain one of Montréal’s destination hotels for another half-century.
The Montréal Marriott Château Champlain has an elegant and warm vibe when you enter the lobby. The combination of wood and stone serves to retain the historic grandeur of the hotel’s past while pivoting towards the future with a new level of functionality. Comfortable and accessible open spaces, bright lighting with beautiful fixtures, and exceptional contemporary furnishings scream comfort.
ABOVE: The iconic round windows of the Montréal Marriot Château Champlain make the hotel easy to spot. The chic lobby of Montréal Marriott Château Champlain.
There are 614 rooms and suites with exceptional views of Montréal. The 36th-floor event space overlooks the St. Lawrence River and casts a clear view of Montréal’s skyline and Mount Royal. Renovations in the hotel also include a gym, a redesign of the lower-level grand ballroom, theater, and the addition of twenty-four meeting spaces that can accommodate business meetings and small gatherings or larger events of up to one thousand people.
Rooms are stylish and comfortable with views from the iconic crescent-shaped windows that overlook the downtown and feature lots of natural light. They come with all the expected amenities including WiFi. The hotel staff is professional polite, knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.
ABOVE: Newly renovated and renamed Lloyd, the restaurant is modern and chic with great service and a delicious menu.
Off the lobby is one of Montréal’s best new restaurants, LLYOD, a nod to architect Frank Llyod Wright’s influence on the design of the hotel. The ambiance is “comfortable chic,” and the service is attentive yet relaxed. Executive Chef, Kevin Mougin has devised a unique culinary menu that is a feast for the eyes and your appetite. We tried the ‘Rose Prick’ and ‘Secret Garden’ cocktails and are anxious to return and try the others. The food is delightful–the shrimp satay appetizer and the beef tenderloin were scrumptious and the duck main is heavenly. The dessert menu, of course, is to die for. Our server was hospitable and attentive without “hovering”. This made for a relaxing and enjoyable evening.
With a designated elevator in the main lobby that services the RÉSO, the Marriott Château Champlain is accessible to Montréal’s underground network. Rain, shine, snow, or sleet, hotel guest have direct access to the tunnel system.
ABOVE: Not your average hotel gym, the Montréal Marriot Chateau Champlain boast fully equipped workout rooms with breakout spaces for yoga and stretching.
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yulcc-montreal-marriott-chateau-champlain/