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| - Wow.
That about sums it up.
My cousins brought me here late one recent stormy blizzard-y night for drinks in the bar. Being a native Montrealer, I thought I was familiar with the downtown core and all its offerings. But I had never heard of this mind-blowing bar and attached restaurant, or the exquisite hotel it is housed in. (In my defense, I've been living in Seattle the past 25 years, and now Vancouver. But STILL...).
Entering this establishment, you really feel like you are entering an upper-crust "gentleman's club" lounge from another era. Think: an exclusive bar for aristocrats out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. That's what I imagined, anyhow, with the deep wood paneling, Victorian architectural embellishments, pillars and cornices and engravings abound, coffered ceiling, commanding central bar, upholstered plush armchairs in many intimate niches, even inlaid buttons on the walls (we asked: they used to be used to "summon" the servers, but they've been deactivated). SO COOL. So genuinely retro. This is how drinking in a bar used to be, in a more gilded age.
I was so impressed with the bar that my cousins asked the hostess in the lobby if we could check out the restaurant. She gladly escorted us inside, where I marveled at the beautiful ambiance, which was similar to the bar. Very "old world" and intimate. Lovely fireplace there. Just a warm and intimate dining ambiance. Looking at the menu, I'm already planning on dinner here when I next visit town. Fine dining all the way.
We next visited the adjacent lobby of the hotel where we spoke to a young man behind the main counter. What a nice guy! He was so personable and very happy to be working there (his words! But it was evident in the pride he had with this beautiful hotel, and to be working in the city of Montreal. He was originally from Israel, as I recall). Just a super nice guy. The hotel label was surprisingly contemporary, being a few steps away from the old-fashioned elegance of polished wood and traditional architectural details of the bar and restaurant a few steps away. There was a huge electronic monitor on the wall, and a minimalistic front desk with sleek polished flooring. It made for an intriguing juxtaposition of aesthetics with the other areas we visited - but not unpleasant. Interesting! Looking at the photos on the monitor of the various guest rooms and suites available, I thought this would be an optimal hotel for out-of-towners. Lots of room options, and being in the heart of downtown, with such a gorgeous bar and restaurant attached, would be the ultimate.
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