Highlights: Hotel Le St. James

•Located in Old Montreal the Hotel Le St. James is just a few blocks away from the lively riverfront and the downtown business area

•Staff provides supremely polite, thoughtful service

•Impressive plasterwork in the Grand Salon and fine furnishings in the guest rooms display the hotel’s Old World elegance

•Restaurant and lounge areas offer first-class fare in a magnificent setting

•Attractive space ideal for corporate meetings

•The one-of-a-kind spa, gym, and library allow guests to enjoy leisure time without leaving the property

Amenities: Hotel Le St. James

• 60 rooms. Pets accepted. Complimentary continental breakfast. Check-in 3pm, check-out 1pm. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Restaurant, bar. Fitness room, spa. Airport transportation available. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: Hotel Le St. James

Occupying a majestic 1870s bank building, Hôtel Le St. James provides a plush retreat in Montreal’s financial district. Its location, in the northwest corner of Old Montreal, is well suited for both business and leisure travelers. The convention center, downtown business area, Old Port area, and the St. Lawrence River are the main sights of Old Montreal that are just a short stroll away from the hotel. Interesting shops and galleries, intimate cafés, and architectural gems pepper this part of town, and the rest of the city is easily accessible via taxi or Métro.

A blend of traditional European-style decor and modern luxury, the hotel itself is spectacular. The centerpiece of the property is the Grand Salon, a magnificent, high-ceilinged space that contains the hotel’s restaurant and lounge areas. Tucked in amid gilded accents and arched recesses are intimate seating areas. Everywhere I looked, there was something to please the eye, from the marble floors and the two grand staircases to the ornate moldings and the luscious flowers.

Guest rooms are individually decorated with a mix of antiques, attractive reproductions and rich fabrics, so much so that these private areas convey the same romantic, European atmosphere as the rest of the hotel. Guests will be pampered with large, comfortably dressed beds and marble bathrooms, and gas fireplaces and flat-screen televisions up the luxury quotient in some suites.

For a change of scenery, guests can head to the serene hotel library to browse the shelves, tap into Wi-Fi on their laptops, or nurse an after-dinner drink. Or they head down to the small gym and spa areas to work out, get a massage or body wrap, or take a steam.

Although the hotel sometimes offers special two-room rates for families traveling with children, the property is better suited for a getaway weekend of sightseeing and shopping or a romantic destination. Business travelers who want excellent, attentive service in plush, noncorporate surroundings also appreciate this hotel, even if the business amenities are minimal.

(+) European-style luxury, convenient location ideal for romantics, getaway, and business travelers
(-) Limited amenities for family travelers

Guest Services: Hotel Le St. James

Attentive, polished, and intuitive, the outstanding service at Hôtel Le St. James complements the property’s exceptional good looks and other fine features. I was repeatedly impressed with the staff’s attention to detail and prompt service. The reservation agent was knowledgeable and went above and beyond describing the hotel rates by offering assistance with transportation and restaurants. The doorman was polite and quickly pointed out at checkout that my car was low on fuel.

Check-in couldn’t have been more pleasant or seamless: A doorman greeted me at the curb, escorted me inside, and then introduced me to the front desk, where my paperwork and keys had been prepared ahead of my arrival.

When I queried the concierge about restaurants later, he took the time to ask me about my needs and preferences before making recommendations and pulling out maps. Like my on-the-dot wake-up call, service was on the mark across the board. Even the operators managed to make me feel welcome and cared for: Answering the phone in both English and French, they always offered their assistance instead of just putting my call straight through to a particular department.

(+) Gracious, accomplished service easily reflects the hotel’s Four-Star status

Guest Rooms: Hotel Le St. James

Exclusive and intimate, the Hôtel Le St. James has 23 rooms and 38 suites. Superior rooms, the smallest accommodations here (about 375 square feet), have queen- or king-size beds; deluxe rooms are more spacious (the size of a decent studio apartment) with king-size beds. Suites range from studio-size junior units to one-bedroom executive and “heritage” suites, and special two-bedroom suites. The biggest is the fit-for-royalty Terrace Apartment, which has a sprawling outdoor space that, at 1,500 square feet, could swallow up many a private apartment.

All guest rooms reflect the old-world elegance found throughout the rest of the hotel, but include modern conveniences such as CD players, high-speed Internet access, and remote-controlled lights and thermostats.

Rooms are individually decorated with a mix of European antiques and fine reproductions, beautiful fabrics, richly patterned rugs and wall coverings, tufted seating, and tasteful objects. Some have carved four-poster or canopy beds, fine-grained wood paneling, flat-screen televisions, gas fireplaces, and Oriental rugs. Bathrooms, outfitted with marble, feature separate glass-encased showers with rainfall fixtures and toiletries from Penhaligon’s of England.

My room, decorated in French-country style, was beautiful as well as comfortable. The bed, plush and inviting, was dressed in Frette linens, and the bathroom floor was heated. Throughout my stay, my room was impeccably maintained, with all amenities replaced and toiletries neatly arranged. Chocolates and Voss water were provided during turndown service, a highlight of my visit. Unlike most buildings that are more than 100 years old, my room was soundproof, which added to my serenity.

(+) Romantic, spacious guest rooms blend old-world furnishings with modern-day creature comforts

Facilities & Activities: Hotel Le St. James

When I checked into the hotel, management presented me with a truly appreciated welcome gift: a free 30-minute massage at the on-site spa. Le Spa is an intimate, candlelit space on the hotel’s lower level, which has centuries-old stone walls. In addition to massage (couples, Swedish, deep-tissue, warm-stone), the spa menu includes exfoliation, hydrotherapy, body wraps, and masks. In-room massage is another option, and the concierge can arrange for beauty treatments.

This part of the hotel also houses a small gym and steam and sauna areas. The gym has a few cardiovascular and weight machines as well as free weights, so I was able to complete a sufficient workout. The large flat-screen television in the cardio area is a nice amenity, and hotel guests can refuel with complimentary fresh fruit and bottled water. The gym isn’t staffed, nor does it offer personal trainers or classes. However, the amazing stone walls make for a unique, grotto chic setting.

Hôtel Le St. James is in Montreal’s financial district, at the western edge of Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal, en français), a neighborhood brimming with interesting architecture, historic structures, quirky shops, art galleries, and small restaurants. A few blocks northeast of the hotel is the twin-towered Basilique Notre-Dame (110 rue Notre-Dame Ouest), which was built in the 1820s and incorporates neo-Gothic elements; inside is a brilliant blue ceiling adorned with 24-karat-gold stars and a mammoth pipe organ.

To the southeast is the Pointe-á-Callière archaeology and history museum (250 place Royale), which was built over the stone ruins of early Montreal structures. Just beyond are the St. Lawrence River and the Old Port (Vieux-Port), a center of warm-weather activity.

The area west of the hotel and Rue McGill, with its repurposed warehouses and factories, seems on its way to becoming a funky arts district. The hotel also makes a good base from which to explore the rest of the city, via taxi or subway; the Square Victoria and Place d’Armes Metro stops are nearby.

(+) Intimate spa in a unique setting; good base for exploring Old Montreal

Dining & Lounge: Hotel Le St. James

The Grand Salon provides the setting for dining at Hôtel Le St. James. The magnificent space is impressive with two stately staircases, double mezzanines, arched alcoves, wedding-cake plasterwork, and columns galore. Curved chairs and lush floral arrangements play against the formality of crisp tablecloths and elegant chandeliers in the adjoining restaurant, XO.

Gracious and efficient, the service is as outstanding as the surroundings. As soon as I walked into the dining area, staff members approached to greet and seat me. Later, during cocktail hour, I had a drink in hand within five minutes of being seated -- and my glass wasn’t empty 60 seconds before staff arrived to inquire about refills. When a server noticed I hadn’t eaten any of the complimentary hors d’oeuvres, he quickly produced a different selection of appetizers.

The kitchen serves throughout the day. Lunch and dinner feature regional, market-driven fare and afternoon tea is served as well. At breakfast, which I found excellent in both quality and presentation, guests may order à la carte or choose from the European-style buffet fare.

I also took advantage of the hotel’s 24-hour in-room dining service and was pleased with the staff’s knowledge of the menu. The table-for-two setup was awkward: only one chair was brought (and an uncomfortably low one at that), which meant one guest had to sit on the bed. Other touches -- such as separate delivery of dessert so that it wouldn’t start melting -- showed attention to detail, and service was polite and professional.

(+) Elegantly appointed dining area, delicious food, attentive service
(-) Seating for in-room dining may be awkward in some guest rooms

Business Services: Hotel Le St. James

High-speed Internet access is available in the guest rooms, whereas the lobby and library are wired for Wi-Fi. The hotel doesn’t have a business center, but it does offer an attractive meeting room with large plasma screens, high-tech audio-conferencing, and sound systems.

(+) Appealing meeting room with modern sound and video systems and audio-conferencing capabilities; Wi-Fi access in common areas
(-) Lack of a business center