Upon entering the Ritz Carlton Montreal, it’s easy to imagine how grand this place once was. Today, it’s a shadow of its former self - but not an entirely unappealing shadow. The physical plant still remains grand at its core, but with the most recent renovation almost twenty years ago, furniture scuffs, wall cracks, and outdated heating systems abound. Our room was a “deluxe” room and was large and clean with a beautiful crystal chandelier and a functional grey marble bathroom (the marble clearly thrown up over what is a barebones hotel bathroom). The old marble fireplace in the bedroom had rather unceremoniously been boarded up and while the sheets were of the highest quality, the pillows and furniture was cheap and showed its age. The heat for the room was controlled by three separately controlled units stuck into each window. They must have served as airplane engines in their former lives based on their noise levels. The walls were thin and we were woken up by our neighbor’s alarm clock and television. Service remains competent but obviously strained. One desk clerk, one concierge, and a doorman were all I saw. The concierge also tried to direct us to what clearly turned out to be tourist traps that he had a personal relationship with. We didn’t eat in the dining room, but we did have a cocktail at the “Ritz Bar” which is the product of an awful renovation. Imagine taking the bar from an average airport hotel and stuffing it into the lobby of the Plaza. They also only had two red wines by the glass – certainly not the “Ritz Bar” that many reviews claim to have live piano music and nightly dancing. The “Palm Court” had two palms and the once grand fireplace had been reduced to a cheap looking gas unit. All of these comments must be balanced against the fact that the hotel is now unbelievably inexpensive ($150 a night during our weekend). Plans are underway to close the hotel and restore it to its former glory. I look forward to a return when that has happened since the “grande dame’s” fundamentals still remain strong, even in her diminished state.

For 60 years, The Ritz-Carlton Montreal was the best hotel in the city. Then the Four Seasons opened, and the Ritz had real competition for the first time. Thirty years later, the Four Seasons is no longer a Four Seasons (first a Westin, and now an Omni) and some would argue, The Ritz-Carlton is not much of a Ritz-Carlton anymore. I think that is a bit harsh. While this Ritz is not a part of the Ritz-Carlton chain any longer. . .it was for awhile. . .this hotel was the first Ritz-Carlton in North America, even pre-dating the Ritz in Boston (also no longer part of the Ritz-Carlton chain). In short, a great bit of hotel history and a Montreal landmark of thousands of bar mitzvahs and weddings.

What the hotel is today is a bit faded albeit well maintained, but still quite gracious and possessing the best westside location in Montreal--Holt Renfrew is next door, The Musee des Beaux Arts is nearby, and Mont Royal is just steps away. I found the service professional and thorough, if a bit stiff, though if this hotel is no longer a real Ritz, no one told the staff.

The hallways are wide, bright and very Ritz-Carlton, with the rooms solid and a throwback to another era. My room, while not large, was spacious enough, with crown moldings, high ceilings, a chandelier, expensive sheets, and a rather thoughtful foyer with a double door to keep hallway noise out. I'm sure the bathroom was among the most elegant in the city in 1969 when it was likely last renovated, but the shower is great, the walls lined in marble, the amenities are from Bulgari, and there is both a phone and a shaving mirror. The bed was a bit more firm than I like, and the armoire was scuffed--if you seek wireless internet, flat screen TVs, or other technology, keep looking. Dated and faded it is, but it is nearly Parisian in its elegance, and singular in its romantic charms.

Lobby, public spaces and famed restaurant are still elegant--though food and beverage are notably expensive. Better to grab a noteworthy steak frites at L'Entrecote de St. Jean, a few blocks away on Peel. . .

For those seeking exercise while staying here, the hotel has a small exercise room--two treadmills, two bikes--but furnishes free passes to MAAA which is a swank health club three blocks away. Sounds great, though in bitter winter weather, it is less attractive than it might appear at first, given the walk.

Disclaimer here--I got this hotel for $75 a night on Hotwire, which is a tremendous bargain. By contrast, a room at The Ritz-Carlton New York is $595 a night, and just the tax on that amount is more than the room in Montreal. So it is not as nice as the Manhattan hotel, but certainly is a noteworthy bargain by comparison. There are extensive plans to renovate and add onto this hotel into a condo/hotel complex. Until those plans are conclusive, The Ritz in Montreal proves a great bargain, an interesting slice of Montreal's history, and a wonderful base from which to discover one of North America's most exciting cities.

Stayed at the Ritz in downtown Montreal, a few blocks from the Peel metro station which was convenient. Service at the hotel was fine (had no complaints or really any needs to test any real service needs though). I was able to check in early as the room was ready and was able to leave bags at the hotel to pick up later on in the day for an evening flight. Room service does appear to come early as someone else noted--around 8:15am--but leaving the privacy sign on the door solves that issue if you aren't up and out early morning. Room size is good, amenities fine as well.

We stayed three days around new years and enjoyed our stay. The hotel is a great old classy Montreal hotel in a great location, but it is showing its age a bit. It will be closed and renovated at some point in the future, but for now it is a very good hotel, but just not the over the top service you would expect at the Ritz. Hallways are wide, rooms are large and spotless, bathroom fixtures are clean but old. If you get a rate of around $200, you will be very satisfied with the value received. For breakfast, I highly recommend Eggspectation around the corner on Montage and Maissoneuve.