Hotel William Gray

Opened in 2016 to heaps of glowing press, the Hotel William Gray has a glossy look that feels ready-made for an architectural magazine's centerfold—or endless Instagram selfies. The glass-paneled exterior, in the middle of Old Montreal's historical town houses, gives a refreshingly crisp and modern facade set off by so much masonry. Inside, a luxurious gray marble desk is the outpost for staff checking guests in and out. But the heart of the hotel is just beyond, where a two-story atrium space, dubbed "the living room," sits bathed in sunlight. Tendrils of ivy dangle over a workspace here, made up of two long tables, and just beyond a pool table invites worker bees to take a break. Angular stairs lead up to the mezzanine above. To the other side of the atrium, stands the hotel's boutique store, OTH (Off the Hook), a paradise for sneakerheads and streetwear enthusiasts, stocked with classic Adidas kicks, Malin + Goetz toiletries, Bearbrick figurines, and other uber-cool items. Despite its of-the-moment looks, the building itself is a lavish hybrid of old and new, with the oldest parts dating back to 1785. And while there is elevator service between the floors, there are a few stairs separating certain landings between the two conjoined buildings, so this doesn't make the best choice for travelers with mobility issues. The hotel's public spaces seem to be in a state of permanent buzz. Even during our visit in low season, when other hotels are a 50 percent capacity, this hotel was jam-packed, drawing a full mix of travelers: older couples, young tourists in their twenties, and plenty of business travelers making use of the extensive meeting and event space. On our visit, the hotel was overtaken by a glom of executives from Canada Tire.

High-end design isn't the only thing the Hotel William Gray has going for it. The hotel also has an outstanding Old Montreal location, in walking distance to all the action. Historical houses and cobblestone streets surround the property, as do cute cafes, restaurants, and boutique shopping. The waterfront of the St. Lawrence River is just two blocks away, giving easy access to the Montreal Science Center (four minutes on foot) and the cruise terminal (nine minutes), plus a pretty waterside park. Other landmarks are also a short walk away, such as Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History (10 minutes) and Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal (six minutes). However, the Downtown area, with its business headquarters and the opulent Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, is a bit too far to walk, requiring a 17-minute ride on public transit or an eight-minute drive. Likewise, the hip neighborhood of Mile End, known for its thriving dining scene and trendy independent stores, is a full 20-minute drive away, or 35 minutes on public transit. Reaching Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport takes just over an hour on public transit or around a half-hour by car. 

There are all of nine room categories, from the wee Alcove Queen right up to the hotel’s Penthouse, complete with its own kitchen. The property considers the Alcove King (the next rung above Queen) to be the "standard room" category. Decor is polished and peaceful, anchored by platform beds topped in white bedding. Long, streamlined desks were paired with mid-century style bentwood chairs, and wingback armchairs in mustard yellow give just the right level of color and cheer. But it's all the little details where the rooms' personality really shines through: Black-and-white artwork resembling brushstrokes are actually made from burn marks on paper. And instead of the usual promotional video playing on the TVs, guests are treated to a split-screen video of a modern dance performance. Luxury also comes across in the little touches of high-end amenities: Minibars are stocked with goodies including local chocolates and Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and Nespresso machines come with a full variety of coffee pods. Slippers, Le Labo Santal 33 toiletries, and Frette bathrobes add to their lavishness. Rooms are suitably high-tech as well. Apart from large flat-screen TVs (two in the Suite rooms), they also contain Bluetooth speakers, electronic safes, reading lamps, individual climate controls, alarm clocks, electronic “do not disturb”/”please make up my room” signs, and free Wi-Fi. (Premium Wi-Fi is extra.)Bathrooms, done up in gray marble, feel adequately sized and give enough counter space to stash toiletries. All are equipped with magnifying mirrors and fantastic multi-jet walk-in showers that earn rave after rave from past guests, but only 10 rooms offer separate soaking tubs (the Suite we toured did), which feels like a bit of a letdown at this price point. Hairdryers and irons are also on hand to help guests stay pulled together.Thanks to being so close to the waterfront, some rooms boast some truly staggering views, such as the Deluxe room we toured with a great outlook over the waterfront and its ferris wheel. But alas, other rooms have far more common street views.

Features at the Hotel William Gray are absolutely stellar, starting with on-site dining. The Maggie Oakes restaurant, with wall-to-wall leather banquette seating, offers up all meals, plus brunch and cocktails, in a refined, masculine dining room. At the entrance, a glass booth with aged beef on display (a Montreal specialty, just Google “Joe Beef”) greets guests, and a living herb wall borders one side. This restaurant  serves an a la carte breakfast in the morning, though it's typically not included in room rates. Room service is 24 hours. There are two rooftop spaces, Terrasse William Gray and Perche, open seasonally that offer both food and drink service. Perche serves a fresh California menu and has a lounge atmosphere. The Terrasse, on the other hand, gets a bit more clubby and crowded with a party scene and a DJ later at night. On our visit, a s’mores party had just taken place. The lobby bar stays open year around, decked out with a pool table in the atrium's “living room” along with a long rectangular fireplace along one wall to keep things cozy, plus plenty of plush seating. To the other side of the "living room" is a boutique store, OTH (Off the Hook), selling cool sneakers, toiletries, and items like Kinfolk magazines. A little side door off the shop leads to a cute Italian-style coffee shop complete with press-tin ceilings, and samba music playing. Apart from dining and drinks, another key features is the hotel's extensive meeting and event space, which includes everything from little breakout rooms to full-blown ballrooms. Several of the hotel's venues, like the restaurant or rooftop spaces, can also be books for private events or meetings. Business travelers also appreciate the hotel's library, its "living room" co-working space, the two public computers on hand, and an on-site ATM.But arguably the property's star feature is its full-service spa, attracting guests and non-guests alike. An extensive menu of treatments cover all the usual massages, facials, and mani/pedi nail treatments, but it also offers some signature treatments exclusive to the property. One notable feature: They’re the only spa in Canada to have a “quartz bed”—a trough of heated quartz under a massage table. A thermal suite covers all manner of steam and sauna, including a dry sauna, eucalyptus steam room, showers with colored lights and various herbal fragrances, a cold room with crushed ice, and an herbal sauna with a rotating selection of herbs. A room bricked in with Himalayan salt blocks and outfitted with a salt diffuser is said to promote circulation and ease respiration. The spa has its own lounge and locker rooms as well. There is a petite rectangular outdoor pool with a water feature that’s open seasonally. (Alas, on our winter visit this was snowed in.) And the sunny, ground-floor gym, surrounded by the same attractive masonry walls as other spaces, is outfitted in various LifeFitness machines (treadmills, steppers, and an elliptical). Spin bikes, a rower, and free weights complete the offerings.As expected for a luxury hotel concierge service, turndown service, shoe shines, laundry service, and twice-daily housekeeping are all available. Two bike rentals can be requested, and a Tesla charger is available, too.