Staycation at Hotel Gault

We can’t always get away, but sometimes, one evening at a hotel in your own city, can feel as transporting as a week-long vacation. I don’t know when the concept of a staycation was invented, but it is genius! It’s not only a great way to get some downtime, reconnect with yourself, your partner, a friend… but it’s also a great way to discover your own city.

I’ve had a few staycations and they are so indulgent. A relaxing evening, always a bath, breakfast in bed, I mean there’s no limit to the possibilities of luxury. Hotel Gault was my most recent hotel visit in Montreal and I instantly fell in love. I can always find a good reason to sneak in a hotel stay, and I contend that Valentine’s Day is probably my favourite!

Located in the heart of Old Montreal, Hotel Gault is a charming boutique hotel made up of a limited amount of rooms. There are fewer than 40 rooms categorized as lofts, suites, terraces and apartments. Light floods each of the spaces to create a luminescent and refreshing ambiance throughout the entire hotel.

A Greystone 20th-century building on the corner of rue Sainte Hélène boasts a lobby of vast proportion and the coziest fireplace in the library. The restaurants are open to the public and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, but of course I went to town on the in-room dining. The design of the rooms were done by Knoll, Artifort and Herman Miller (you might recognize his name from those now-famous office chairs). The architectural guidelines of the building are reminiscent of a Paris neighbourhood and I think that’s why Hotel Gault feels like you’ve been instantly teleported to a lavish vacation.

The building was named after Andrew Frederick Gault, a textile merchant who used to work in the building. He was a philanthropist and at the time, he was known as the Cotton King of Canada. This now four-star hotel continues to connect the past with the present as Quebec and Canadian artists have their sculptures, photos and paintings adorning the walls throughout the space.

It’s minimalist, yet it feels decadent. It feels immense, yet it’s intimate. There’s a touch of concrete over here and a little wood over there to create this balance of colour, warmth and light.

I think what struck me most, aside from the beauty of the space, was the service. The hospitality industry is built upon excellent service and Hotel Gault pushes that standard even higher. Friendly and accommodating, everyone I interacted with went above and beyond – it just made my time spent there that much more relaxing.

Whether it’s for work, travel or a one-night staycation, Hotel Gault pulls out all the bells and whistles. It’s romantic in all the right ways and I am definitely going back!

Photography by Patricia Brochu