Jaunted

A Less Chilly St. Paul

9/28/2006 at 11:00 AM
Tags: Jaunted Field Trips, Montreal, Hotels (all tags)

We have every reason to be suspicious of "boutique hotels". Usually that means furniture that's angular, uncomfortable, and poorly assembled, but of course looks great on their web site. So we were pleasantly surprised at the St. Paul in Montréal. Despite an abundance of modern touches--lots of leather seating with a décor that's extensively accented with alabaster including on the handrails of the staircases and lamps--it's quite cozy. The faux fur blankets and throws probably help.

Also going against the boutique hotel grain is the staff, which is knowledgeable, friendly, and completely without the attitude we'd expect to get from a similar hotel in the U.S. However, standard rooms aren't especially big and don't feature the biggest windows. Bonus points for the deep bathtub and square sink in the bathroom, though. Rates start at about $200 a night.