Boxotel like a cosy home in downtown Montreal
Check In: boxotel.com. Rates: Rooms start at about $165. Basics For her first hotel project, Montreal property developer Marie-Jeanne Rivard wanted to mix the cosiness of homestays, the services of a hotel and the downtown feel of loft living. The result, open since last winter, is something new for Montreal: Twenty high-ceiling, clean-lined rooms equipped like small apartments, complete with top-end appliances, tableware and cutlery. Location With shabby residential buildings nearby, Boxotel’s block can feel bleak. But its Ontario St. location, a five-minute stroll from buzzy Blvd. St-Laurent to the east and the Quartiers des Spectacles zone of cultural attractions just south, makes Boxotel an ideal home base. The room All blond wood and white walls, my 390square-foot Loft King Luxe room, the second-largest category, felt like a chic Montreal pied-à-terre. Meticulously fitted cabinetry hid sleek washer/dryer, dishwasher and refrigerator units. Scandinavian-inspired furniture, including a desk and love seat, added pops of colour.
Working in the room was challenging; the desk lamp was weak, and just two outlets faced the desk.
My king bed was firm, and crisp sheets made falling asleep easy.
But non-stop street noise punctuated my slumber. A deep-soaking bathtub between the bed and the sliding terrace doors went unused.
Clamour aside, it was easy to imagine living in my “box” — as rooms are cheekily called — for an extended stay. The bathroom The grey-panelled bathroom made me glad to be travelling solo; just a clear pane of glass separates the toilet from the shower.
Asimple button operates the enormous rain shower head, but kept popping off the wall. A backlit makeup mirror suspended above the compact sink adds a thoughtful touch. Dining Montreal’s beards-and-tattoos set has already made Boxotel’s tiny Café Nomade a favoured hangout.
A counter with a compact kitchen, the café makes picture-perfect cold dishes such as yogurt with fresh fruit, chia seeds and local honey ($6.95), and elegantly piled-up sandwiches like the Quebecois ($8) — creamy chicken salad, lettuce and pickles on sourdough. (The menu changes often.) Dense breads and pillowy croissants come from Montreal bakery Arhoma; Café Williams of Sherbrooke, Que., supplies beans for superb coffee drinks. From 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., guests can order room service. Amenities Aside from the top-end appliances and kitchen accoutrements, amenities are basic: High-speed internet, high-definition TV and a yoga mat rolled up in the entry closet of your “box.”
Most rooms have terraces, which make perfect coffee-sipping spots in warm weather. Staffing here is lean, with just three or four T-shirted staffers typically on duty, but they’re courteous and responsive. The bottom line Even in hotel-saturated Montreal, Boxotel feels fresh. The lack of traditional hotel-style pampering, and a very low staffto-guest ratio, means the property is best suited to independent travellers. But it’s a terrific way to experience downtown Montreal like a local.