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Montreal is a cool city – and I don’t just mean literally. From its dazzling fine art museum whose architectural engineering is just as outstanding as its collections, to its hearty, diverse food, stylish bars, top-tier shopping and an actual underground network of streets (yes, really), it’s somewhere I recommend you move to the top of your bucket list for 2026.
And when you do pay a visit, the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile is ready and waiting to greet you. Just like the city, this hotel has an effortless, stylish je ne sais quoi about it, largely thanks to the conclusion of a recent site-wide refurbishment. The result? A comfortable and exceptionally well-run hotel, perched on one of the coolest streets in the world.
Why stay at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile?
The Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile is, simply, an expertly run hotel. The service is attentive but not overbearing, the rooms and suites are spacious with considerate details, and you’re in a handy Downtown location, just minutes from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Mount Royal.
On top of all that, the hotel has impressive environmental credentials – it was awarded 5 Green Keys in early 2025, the highest possible certification from eco-label programme Green Key Global, plus a local Montreal sustainability award – thanks to details such as its policy on using no paper or plastic bottles. It’s also platinum certified by SHe Travel Club, a certification platform for women travellers.
What are the rooms like at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile?
Of this hotel’s 256 rooms, 17 of them are suites. Mine was the ‘Golden Mile Suite 1 Bedroom Mount Royal View’ (bit of a mouthful), which came with a quite extravagant amount of space and seriously lovely views towards the city’s namesake hill.
You loop through a wonderfully bright living area with everything you’d expect: a sofa (which can become a second bed), table, TV, mini fridge and coffee machine station. The bedroom has a generous wardrobe, vanity, another TV and – of course – a sumptuous Sofitel MyBed (the hotel’s very own exclusive bed brand, and without a doubt the most comfortable hotel bed I’ve slept in).
Waking and enjoying a coffee and the smoked salmon Montreal bagel (my favourite dish from the room service breakfast menu), while dozily enjoying the crispy wintry view, meant getting up was seriously hard work. The thoughtful details in this suite, such as motion-sensor lights on the bedside tables and inside the wardrobe, and reliably speedy responses from in-room guest services, are what really elevate sleeping here to a high-end experience – it’s as if no detail has been overlooked.
You can enter the en-suite from the bedroom, as well as from the entranceway. It features twin sinks and a built-in tub as well as a substantial glass shower enclosure, but in contrast to the ease with which you’ll swoop between the living space and bedroom, this space feels almost too big. What’s more, compared to the quality of the bedding, fixtures, views and balance of space in the rest of the suite, the bathroom has minor faults – like disappointing water pressure, and a long wait for properly warm water – which somewhat taint the room’s calibre.
What are the best things to eat and drink at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile?
Enter the hotel and on your right, the hum of chatter, clink of glasses and rattle of cocktail shakers will waft towards you from behind an undulated copper partition.
All culinary efforts – led by executive chef Olivier Perret – have been concentrated into the single on-site restaurant, Renoir (named after the world-famous French artist – a nod to the hotel’s blend of ‘French elegance with the city’s rich cultural flair’). But the experience you have dining here entirely depends on the menu, time of day and table you choose.
Opt for a spot adjacent to the NINI Salon à Cocktails (the hotel’s bar, named after one of Renoir’s favourite models, Nini Lopez) in the more open, airier section of the restaurant and you’ll enjoy a livelier ambience (this is a great spot to enjoy lunch). Got an occasion to celebrate? The solarium, with white tablecloths and a low, mirrored ceiling, is primed for a ridiculously opulent dinner.
The herb-crusted scallops with candied potatoes, white butter and smoked Prince Edward Island mussels were a standout for me. The evening menu also features Canadian lobster, Arctic char, Quebec rack of lamb and celery carpaccio.
At NINI Salon à Cocktails, you can sip on a sharp, well-executed cocktail (my favourite was the Tango Verde: Mezcal Sueño de Alden, chamomile syrup, lime juice, cucumber, jalapeño) on your way out or while you await your dinner reservation. Head here Tuesday to Thursday, and some Fridays, for live jazz.
What is the service like at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile?
With a brand like Sofitel, professional, high-end service is pretty much a guarantee. Interactions are certainly formal – you’re addressed as ‘miss’ or ‘sir’ – but everyone is friendly, approachable and helpful. The service at Renoir in particular is super-elevated, with attentive staff who somehow anticipate when you’ll need a new napkin or a refill before you’re aware of it yourself.
What are the facilities like at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile?
This hotel is well catered to business travellers and events – there’s a ballroom, two private meeting rooms, two conference rooms, a business centre and valet parking – but its standout facility is the gleaming new gym on the first floor.
Hotel gyms can often be dingy, tightly packed places, but Sofitel’s revamped workout space is uncluttered and stacked with brand-new equipment. The best part is the yoga studio, which sits behind a sliding frosted glass door and can be made completely private (you can even use the Chromecast to watch your own go-to workout videos from your phone). Oh, and to relax after a workout or warm up after a day out on the frosty streets, make use of the hotel’s own dry sauna.
What’s the area like around Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile?
Perched in Downtown Montreal, slap-bang in between the campuses of McGill and Concordia universities, Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile’s location might not appear to be the city’s coolest area in town, but you’d be wrong.
That title is more commonly awarded to neighborhoods like Mile End and Plateau Mont-Royal (which are well worth exploring during your visit), but the aforementioned Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is one of the city’s crowning jewels, and it’s just a five-minute walk from the hotel. In fact, Sherbrooke Street West, on which the hotel and the museum are located, was crowned the fifth coolest street in the world in Time Out’s 2025 ranking. In the vicinity, you’ll find great shopping at James, The Gallery, Goodee and Phoenix Books, brilliant places to eat like Il Cortile and Star of India and drinks at Entre-Deux and Benelux.
Why should you book a stay at Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile?
Entrust your time in Montreal to the team at this hotel and you’ll thank me. With a tactful redesign, high-quality new facilities, wonderfully comfortable rooms and smooth-running service, the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile is a well-oiled hospitality machine, primed not just for business travel but exploring this brilliant city as a visitor, too.
DETAILS
Address: 1155 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2N3, Canada
Price per night: Starting from CA$449, which includes breakfast.
Closest transport: The Sherbrooke/Peel bus stop is right outside the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile, and the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is a 30-minute drive.
Book now: via Booking.com
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