Arrival / Check-In: Snow fell steadily as my taxi pulled up outside Hôtel Bonaventure Montréal. A few quick steps from the curb brought me into the hotel’s distinctive entrance corridor, and a short elevator ride led up to the lobby — Hôtel Bonaventure occupies the top two floors of a 17‑story business and professional complex. Located in the heart of downtown Montréal, the hotel connects directly to the city’s underground concourse.
I arrived early because of my flight and the front‑desk staff recorded my reservation and told me my room would be ready in about an hour. They offered to hold my luggage and invited me to the Executive Lounge, where I settled in with a cup of coffee and some work. Staff were attentive and courteous; the lounge attendant even brought a bottle of water without my asking. The hour passed quickly, and before long I was shown to my room.
Guest Quarters: As a penthouse hotel atop several floors of offices, Hôtel Bonaventure offers views from every one of its 397 guestrooms — either of Montréal’s skyline or of the hotel’s rooftop garden. The straightforward layout, with guest rooms arranged around the building’s perimeter on two floors, makes navigation simple.
The rooms feel slightly dated compared with the hotel’s recently refreshed public areas. They are comfortable and practical, though the décor could use updating; hotel management indicated guestrooms are next on the renovation schedule. Despite the older styling, the rooms are cozy and welcoming. I slept well both nights and appreciated consistent water pressure and reliable temperature control. Staff replenished complimentary bottled water in the room during my stay, which was a thoughtful touch.
The workspace in my room was solid and provided a quiet, productive spot for writing between appointments. Although I was only at the hotel for about 48 hours, the room quickly felt like a comfortable base.
Services & Amenities: One notable strength of Bonaventure is the range of amenities and conveniences on offer. The hotel features a heated rooftop pool that is accessible from both indoors and outdoors; guests can swim through a connected channel to reach the main pool area.
Another major advantage is the direct link to Montréal’s Underground City — more than 20 miles of enclosed pathways connecting downtown shops, restaurants and attractions. This network allows guests to move between destinations without stepping outside, which is especially convenient during Montréal’s hot summers and cold winters. The Underground City also connects to the Bell Centre, home of the Montréal Canadiens.
The hotel also provides standard modern conveniences such as complimentary Wi‑Fi, a fitness center and access to the Executive Lounge for qualifying guests. Its conference and meeting facilities were renovated in 2018 and now offer more than 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, suitable for everything from small team meetings to large expositions.
Top Takeaways:
◆ Direct access to the Underground City is a major convenience for guests visiting in extreme weather.
◆ The heated rooftop pool is an appealing urban retreat; a larger hot tub was planned for completion in spring 2019.
◆ A dedicated convention floor, a short escalator ride from the main hotel level, makes the property well suited to groups and expos.
◆ A single elevator provides the main access to the hotel floors, which helps staff monitor hotel access and adds a layer of security.
HÔTEL BONAVENTURE MONTRÉAL
900 De La Gauchetière W.
Montréal, Québec
H5A 1E4, Canada
tel 514 878 2332
hotelbonaventure.com