[category]
[title]
There is one exclusive party everyone talks about during the Montreal F1 weekend, and it’s this one.
Stepping out of my Uber to attend the Ritz-Carlton’s Bal Interdit, I was immediately reminded of how excited the Montreal fans are during race weekend.
The crowd behind the barricades on Sherbrooke Street West was buzzing with excitement, hoping to spot celebrities or racers on the red carpet.
I entered the hotel lobby which was transformed into a lush garden with low lights, where humans (barely) dressed as statues stood on marble blocks on either side.
I felt like I had just stepped into the garden of sin.
As I moved through the crowd of beautifully dressed (mostly) black-tie guests, I discovered a towering three-storey room lined with 18 glowing red windows.
Dancers in sleek, feline-inspired costumes performed against a backdrop reminiscent of a red light district.
On my right was a Laurent-Perrier champagne bar, and in the main ballroom (complete with leopard-printed floor) I found gourmet stations and edible décor—including trees of grapes surrounded by figs.
The centrepiece? An actual Mercedes.
Check out: Montreal Grand Prix 2026 weekend: guide and best events
Stepping into the bright green garden I spotted a giant raw-seafood bar, where a mermaid with a blue metallic tail and a beautiful headpiece was sprawled across a bench.
Upstairs inside the Holt Renfrew Ogilvy x Cavalli lounge, guests danced to DJ Fafa Khan’s beats while sipping champagne, surrounded by hostesses draped in red lace dresses.
Next door? Another surreal scene: a room with a ceiling blanketed in clouds.
I stood in the dreamlike room, soaking it all in, that’s when it hit me: the Ritz party isn’t just another Grand Prix event—it’s an exclusive experience built on surprise after surprise.
For more information about The Ritz-Carlton Montreal, click here.
RECOMMENDED:
Best downtown Montreal restaurants
Best 50 restaurants in Montreal
Guide to the best brunch spots in town