Epik Hotel Montreal

The Epik occupies a four-story building constructed in 1835 on St. Paul Street, a charming cobblestoned lane lined with galleries, cafes, and high-end shops. The hotel itself fits right in with these quaint surroundings, and historic accents meet contemporary style throughout the property. Details include rough-hewn limestone, exposed brick walls, and wooden beams alongside mirrored light fixtures and graphic wall art in red, white, and navy blue. The ground floor offers several places to unwind, whether over lattes while people-watching at the front bar, flipping through magazines on green leather upholstered chairs by the lobby’s gas fireplace, or taking a break from the big-city bustle on the restaurant’s terrace. The hotel draws tourists keen on enjoying Montreal’s vibrant bar and restaurant scene and intent on soaking up the Old-World European atmosphere.

This hotel sits on cobblestoned St. Paul Street in the heart of historic Old Montreal. World-class dining, haute couture shopping, art galleries, and quaint cafes are just outside the hotel's front door. There are several important sights within an easy walk as well, including the Notre-Dame Basilica (a four-minute walk), the Montreal Science Centre (a six-minute walk) and the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum (a one-minute walk). Other destinations in Old Montreal, like Marche Bonsecours and Chateau Ramezay, can be reached in 10 minutes on foot. The closest metro station -- Place d'Armes -- is a five-minute walk from the property.  The Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) and Quartier des Spectacles are 15 minutes away (both on foot or by public transit), and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is 25 minutes away by public transit. The Biodome and Botanical Gardens are 35 minutes away by public transit. Plan on an hour-long ride via public transit to get to Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, or 30 minutes by taxi.

Epik’s nine standard rooms -- available as King, Queen, or Double Queen -- all blend the historic charm of exposed limestone walls and wooden beams with contemporary touches like crisp white bed linens, upholstered pleather bedframes, and electric fireplaces. Standard features include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, hair dryers, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, ironing boards, and safes. Layouts are spacious, though when we visited, some furniture showed signs of light wear and the hardwood floors in some rooms were badly scratched and streaked. Views can vary greatly and should be considered when booking. Front-facing rooms look down onto beautiful St. Paul Street -- where the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages sometimes pass below. Back rooms look upon some historic landmarks, but also face a large parking lot. Sleek bathrooms feature rainfall showers and in-shower mood lighting. Epik’s three-level Penthouse Suite is the real showstopper here. Tucked below the building’s mansard roof, the two top floors host a queen bedroom each (one with its own rooftop terrace). The bright living space below includes a giant trellised wooden wheel -- an impressive vestige of this space’s original vocation as an industrial-era warehouse. It hangs from the rafters, dominating the sky-lit open space that consists of an elegantly furnished dining area, sitting area, TV area, and fully-equipped kitchen.

Features aren't numerous here, but are on par with other Old Montreal properties, where space is at a premium. Epik’s much-loved restaurant serves classic Italian fare on its secluded terrace in the summer and year-round in its dining room, which features long wooden tables and a mix of padded upholstered purple walls and rough-hewn limestone walls. A full, hot breakfast -- which is included in rates -- is laid out every morning on the bar overlooking St. Paul Street but can also be enjoyed on the terrace out back. It features quiche, home-baked pastries, fruit, cold cuts, cereal, and yogurt. The hotel lacks a spa or fitness center. Hotel staff are happy to assist guests with buying tickets to shows or organizing day trips, like foliage viewing in the Laurentian Mountains in the fall. Parking, although not free, is convenient to the hotel and the daily parking rate includes unlimited entries and exits, which is unusual for this area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.