Montreal: A Winter Staycation Guide

Summer in YUL is always excellent, but it’s just as fabulous in cooler temps, too. Herewith, our guide to a winter staycation in La Belle Ville. —Marianne Wisenthal

sleep. The latest addition to the Antonopoulos Group’s line of lovely places to lay your head (the company also owns Hôtel Nelligan, the Place d’Armes, Auberge du Vieux-Port and Le Petit Hôtel), William Gray sits in the most picturesque part of Old Montreal with spectacular views of the fleuve. Rooms are airy with hardwood floors, plush beds and floor-to-ceiling windows. And, unlike at most hotels, you’ll meet plenty of locals hanging out. Mile End’s Café Olimpico has an outpost here, Drawn + Quarterly curated the book collection in the library lounge and the hotel’s Lexus car service will take you anywhere you want to go in the downtown core. Mais oui! hotelwilliamgray.com

eat. The hotel’s Maggie Oakes resto is definitely a destination in its own right. Here you’ll find delish dry-aged steaks, house-cured charcuterie and loads of options for seafood fans, from Quebec snow crab and sea scallops to albacore tuna tartare and pan-seared salmon gravlax. For eye candy (aside from the lovely locals, of course) there’s a giant living wall and pretty Place Jacques-Cartier right outside the door. Tip: burn off your dessert s’mores by taking a few turns on the skating rink at nearby Bonsecours Basin (rental skates available). maggieoakes.com

shop. Instead of schlepping downtown in the cold wind, visit Off The Hook’s boutique OTH tucked right inside the hotel. We stocked up on urban, locally designed pieces like Je Parle Feministe sweatshirts from La Montrealaise Atelier, raw denim skinnies from Naked & Famous and Chez Nous tees featuring unsung ‘hoods like Villeray and Laval. offthehook.ca

do. Sign up for a winter tour on the mountain (which is nearly as sexy as hangin’ on a sunny terrace in July). Fitz & Follwell’s snowy jaunts include foodie stops in Mile End, explorations of Montreal’s underground city and sledding on Mount-Royal (with hot chocolate breaks). No need to pack a parka; Fitz & Follwell can rent one to you, along with snow pants, boots and wooden sleds. fitzandfollwell.co

lounge. Spa-sur-l’eau in the middle of a deep freeze? Heck, yeah. Set on a former ferry boat, Bota Bota spa is 25,000 square feet of complete and utter heaven. Soak up panoramic views of the Old Port from the giant outdoor hot tub followed by a frigid plunge in the cold pool. Take a eucalyptus steam or sauna, then a fireside nap in the spa garden. There are massages and facials to be had, as well as plenty of wine in the spa resto (helmed by a Michelin-starred chef, no less.) Bliss. botabota.ca