Le Saint-Sulpice Hotel Montreal

Suites, Not Rooms, in the Shadow of Notre-Dame

Rue Saint-Sulpice runs down the east flank of Notre-Dame Basilica, and Le Saint-Sulpice sits on it at number 414, close enough that the evening light show inside the church is a short walk from your door. The hotel made a decision that still sets it apart in the old town: there are no standard rooms. Every one of its 108 units is a suite, with a kitchenette, a separate living space and a generous footprint. It is run by a team of around sixty people, which tells you something about the level of service behind the stone façade.

Why It Works

We selected Le Saint-Sulpice because it answers a question most Old Montreal hotels avoid: where do you put a family, or yourself for a week? The Lofts start at 500 square feet, the Apartments at 600, and the Penthouses at 700 with one or two bedrooms and a private terrace. Kitchenettes mean breakfast in pyjamas and a bottle of wine from the SAQ on the counter. Yet it still behaves like a full-service hotel, with concierge, valet parking, room service and a courtyard restaurant, and it welcomes both children and pets.

Why This Location

This is the historic core of Old Montreal. Notre-Dame Basilica and Place d'Armes are practically next door. Rue Saint-Paul, with its galleries and boutiques, crosses just below, and the Old Port waterfront is a few minutes' walk south, with the Clock Tower, the Grande Roue and the Bota Bota spa boat moored along the quay. Place Jacques-Cartier and Montreal City Hall are an easy stroll east, and Pointe-à-Callière museum a similar distance west. Place-d'Armes métro station is up the hill, connecting you to downtown and the Plateau in minutes. Valet parking takes care of the car, which you will not need until you leave.

Fast Facts

• Price: Luxury (€€€€)

• Vibe: Spacious, residential, discreet, historic

• Rooms: 108 suites in three categories: Lofts, Apartments and Penthouses with private terraces

• Best For: Families, long stays, couples who want an apartment feel with hotel service

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The Penthouse terraces, with the rooftops of the old town and the towers of Notre-Dame close enough to feel like neighbours

• Dining: Cour-Arrière, the courtyard restaurant, for breakfast à la carte; room service; kitchenettes in every suite

• Amenities: Garden terrace, in-room massage and a spa partnership with Bota Bota, valet parking, family-friendly and pet-friendly, babysitting on request

• Attractions: Notre-Dame Basilica (next door), Place d'Armes, rue Saint-Paul, the Old Port and Bota Bota, Place Jacques-Cartier

Lofts, Apartments and Penthouses

The three categories are more than a naming exercise. Lofts, from 500 square feet, suit couples who want room to breathe; some have a Murphy bed that turns the living area into a second sleeping space. Apartments, from 600 square feet, add a true one-bedroom layout, the right choice for a family with one or two children. Penthouses, from 700 square feet with one or two bedrooms, come with private terraces, and balconies can be requested in some of the other suites. All of them have fully equipped kitchenettes and king or queen beds.

Breakfast in the Courtyard, Spa on the River

Cour-Arrière, as its name suggests, looks onto the hotel's inner courtyard and garden terrace, a quiet pocket in a neighbourhood that fills with visitors by midday. Breakfast is à la carte, and in summer the terrace is the place to take it. For the spa, the hotel partners with Bota Bota, the converted ferry moored in the Old Port that has become one of Montreal's signature wellness addresses, and in-room massage is available for those who prefer not to walk down to the water.

Good to Know Before You Book

Pets and children are both welcome, and babysitting can be arranged, which makes this one of the easier luxury addresses in Old Montreal for a family trip. Ask for a balcony when you reserve if you want one, since they are not standard in every category. The Basilica's evening show is a natural first-night outing, and the kitchenette makes a picnic from the Marché Atwater or Jean-Talon an obvious second-day plan.