Arrival/Check-In: At the LHotel Montreal, you arrive with love. Literally. Located at the entrance of the hotel is a six-foot LOVE sculpture by the artist Robert Indiana. As the valet opened the car door and the bell staff ushered my luggage up the stairs into the new hotel in Old Montréal, I was immediately struck by the classic European architecture. The artistic experience continued inside; while checking in, which took only a matter of minutes, I ogled a half-dozen paintings by contemporary artists of world renown. Good first impressions, indeed.

Guest Quarters: The hotel is housed in what was once a bank in the Old Montréal financial district, though its present-day Gallery Nouveau motif belies its more rigid and stodgy past identity. I was booked in the Andy Warhol suite, a corner suite overlooking the bustling street below. The two-room suite is named after the American pop art icon, whose originals adorn each wall. The living room sofa, facing the French doors that opened to the bedroom, was a wonderful spot for lounging and reading. The bedroom was more than a comfortable size, with high ceilings, and felt quite roomy even with a king-sized bed, vanity, foot bench, two bedside tables and a flat-screen television. The checkerboard tile of the large bathroom caught my eye right away. The bathroom included a shower built for one person immediately to the left of the door; a separate tub and shower, a large vanity and a mirror occupied the opposite end of the room.

Services/Amenities: The hotel is short on amenities for the most part. It does have nice space for meetings or small conferences, as well as a modestly sized dining room serving continental breakfast. The bar in the hotel lobby is quaint but perfect for a low-key pre-dinner cocktail or a nightcap.

The gym, located in the basement, leaves much to be desired and at the most can accommodate two individuals exercising at one time. That said, Montréal is such a lovely city to walk through, you hardly care about a treadmill or a dumbbell. Situated in the heart of the classic old French Canadian port city, each venture into the neighborhood is a wide-eyed stroll and each salutation is a warm enchanté. There are cafés with live music inside and open doors to invite passersby to stop in for a glass of wine. Only a few blocks from the hotel, I enjoyed the June evening walking along cobblestone streets on the waterfront of the St. Lawrence River and spied the big top where the Cirque du Soleil originated and still performs.

The Experience: LHotel Montreal is like a live-in art gallery that charms your attention and stirs your more whimsical nature. The warm service of the knowledgeable staff befits the reputation for hospitality that makes Montréal a tremendous destination for work or play. Add this artful stay to your collection.

GT Checklist

• Doorman/valet
• Less than 10 minutes for check-in
• Separate tub and shower
• Large vanity
• High-quality towels
• Powerful, unattached hair dryer
• High-quality bed linens
• Large, flat-screen television
• Large desk with convenient outlets
• Large, complimentary laptop safe
• Complimentary in-room WiFi
• Complimentary bottled water
• Stocked minibar
• Ample lighting
• In-room coffeemaker
• Iron and ironing board
• On-site restaurant and bar
• 24-hour room service
• State-of-the-art fitness center

LHotel Montreal

262 Rue Saint-Jacques W.
Old Montréal
H2Y 1N1 Canada
tel 438 807 0761
lhotelmontreal.com