Travel: Hotel Birks, Montreal

Back in the fall, when I was talking to someone about Montreal, she started raving about her new discovery – Hotel Birks. She told me that she wandered into the Birks store, kept walking around, only to discover a hotel attached to it. She said the lobby was beautiful, and that considering my interest in luxe hotels, I must check it out. So I did.

Hotel Birks gets reviews like “exceptional” and “outstanding” on Trip Advisor, which made me that much more eager for my weekend stay. One of the things I noted in the reviews were the reviewers’ use of staff names. I take note of things like this because it means that staff and guests had real interactions or they interacted more than once. I also liked that I saw responses from the Rooms and Reservations Managers. When I see hotel staff interacting with Trip Advisor comments, I feel like they’re taking them seriously. So…all-in-all, my pre-trip research was positive! (Note: I received a press rate for my stay.)

My friend Shannon and I stayed for three nights, and we both commented on how much we enjoyed the beds. They were extremely comfortable and the linens were top-notch. We also made use of the fireplace in our room; it was perfect to warm up the room on the surprisingly cooler days of May. The hotel provided robes and slippers, and I made use of both.

The bathroom had every product we would need, and I was smitten by the use of marble throughout.

*Note: You have the option to open or close the sliding doors between the shower and bedroom.*

Our room had a little wet bar, which was perfect for our morning coffee and evening tea break. Beyond the room, the lobby of the Hotel Birks is full of charm and old architecture. The building was restored beautifully, and the main floor Brasserie Henri was lovely.

Service was good. I found the front desk team and concierge to be genuinely interested in helping. The room service was a touch inconsistent. Turn down service was different each night, and one day the cleaning crew completely missed our room. I’m not sure why, but the issue was resolved quickly.

The location is central. Hotel Birks is on Saint Catherine – one of Montreal’s main shopping areas – kitty corner to The Bay. From here, we were able to walk to the train station, to the Bell Centre, and to stores and restaurants. We also walked from here through Chinatown to Old Montreal. When we didn’t feel like walking, we easily grabbed an Uber to take us to places like Outremont and Atwater Market.

I didn’t have a chance to experience the Spa or Brasserie Henri on this trip, but both looked luxurious and inviting.