The newly opened, 17-room Le Petit Hotel Notre Dame is well placed and proportioned for short stays.Justin Van Leeuwen/Supplied
I don’t think I’ve ever been to a hotel where the front desk staff are also trained baristas – that was just one of the twists on a city inn that I discovered at Le Petit Hotel Notre Dame. This newly opened, 17-room property, just a two-minute walk from Notre-Dame Basilica, is well placed and proportioned for short stays.
The other big surprise? The almost hidden entrance. I walked past the front door when my daughter and I first arrived – the address was correct but through the enormous historic windows I only saw lounge chairs, small tables, an espresso machine, bags of coffee and pastries. Surely this wasn’t the place? But it was. Le Petit Hotel Notre Dame is the second Le Petit hotel to open in Old Montreal (the original is 28 rooms and three blocks away) and both are considered cozier alternatives to the more grand Auberge du Vieux-Port hotel; all are part of the Gray Collection stable of hotels, restaurants and spa found in Montreal and Ottawa.
Why you should visit
The front desk staff are also trained baristas.Justin Van Leeuwen/Supplied
The hotel is part of the Gray Collection stable of hotels, restaurants and spa found in Montreal and Ottawa.Justin Van Leeuwen/Supplied
Le Petit Hotel Notre Dame gets a lot right. It offers a much better than expected complimentary breakfast (Montreal bagels, smoked salmon, cheese, meats, fruit, yogurt and pastries) with handcrafted espresso coffee delivered to your breakfast table or room (if you ask). This made my mornings.
Room views will vary, though. Our third-floor view through gorgeous 19th-century floor-to-ceiling arched windows overlooked other heritage buildings across the street. But our room was the exception. You’re not here for the view – get outside and start wandering to see the sights. This is also why you won’t mind that there’s no pool or spa. Guests who want to workout, however, can access the gym at Hotel William Gray, a short walk away.
The rooms – sized small, medium and large – run from 220 square feet to 375 square feet. This is an intimate hotel with sleek and simple decor. Exposed brick accent walls and abstract art add colour and relief to the muted, calming taupes and off-whites that dominate. There is no closet but an open wardrobe to hang coats and clothes; the unit also holds a few drawers, a small fridge and a safe. Thoughtfully, wine glasses, champagne flutes and a corkscrew await any bottles you choose to open in your room. (Guests can also wander down to the lobby café for a glass of wine or unlimited barista coffee.) Bedside outlets, a Bluetooth speaker and a surprisingly strong WiFi signal for a stone building are thoughtful and welcome amenities. The shower – the shower! – was an eye-opening delight with jets that can hit you from all angles (if you choose). In the bathroom – a rare sight: enough counterspace to hold all the things my daughter and I bring when we travel. Merci! Thick cotton robes, slippers and Le Labo soaps and lotions made us feel like we were staying in a five-star joint, too.
Room for improvement
Sometimes small irritants leave a lingering impression. The rooms need a wastepaper basket, another bin beyond the tiny garbage can found in the bathroom. Yes, it would dim the room’s visual aesthetic somewhat but that’s a lot better than looking at the pile of debris and beverage tins that piled up in a corner because there was no bin to leave them in. I also hope the hotel moves away from supplying plastic bottles of water in the room. If guests need to walk to the front desk for tea and coffee they can easily pick up a carafe of filtered water too.
Since you’re in the neighbourhood
There is no closet but an open wardrobe to hang coats and clothes; the unit also holds a few drawers, a small fridge and a safe.Justin Van Leeuwen/Supplied
Located on the upper edge of Old Montreal, the Basilica is half a block away. Head down to the Old Port neighbourhood for its restaurants and shops and spas. Take your midafternoon break at the Crew Collective & Café (at Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue Saint-Pierre) that’s housed within the early 20th-century architectural glory of the former Royal Bank headquarters. Vaulted decorated ceilings, carved stone columns, soaring arches and great seating within all the nooks and crannies of an old bank – pull up a chair to the ornate withdrawal-slip desk or book a glass-walled office for remote meetings. You know you’re in Montreal, but this really could be a Viennese coffee house.
One night, we enjoyed dinner at nearby Gaspar – the French brasserie with a decent wine list and cocktail menu that plays on local flavours, including maple-syrup Sortilège whisky. Expect French classics such as steak frites, duck, mussels and a foie gras starter served with jellied maple syrup and toasted brioche. Ask for a table by the window in warmer weather on its well-placed patio to watch the port and river traffic.
The take-away
Exposed brick accent walls and abstract art add colour and relief to the muted, calming taupes and off-whites that dominate.Justin Van Leeuwen/Supplied
This is a great city hotel that’s aimed at couples. All the beds are king- and queen-sized, and there’s one bed per room and one easy chair. Le Petit Hotel Notre Dame gets all the important necessities right but is (unfortunately) stuck next to a construction site for the summer. Certainly, ear plugs – a necessity at city hotels anywhere – make sleeping in easier. Valet parking is available and there’s a paid public parking lot nearby. The hotel is also a short cab ride from Gare Central train station.
Le Petit Hotel Notre Dame is located at 39 Notre-Dame St W. Rooms start at around $220 in low season.
The writer was a guest of the hotel. It did not review or approve the story before publication.
