Review: Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, Montreal

On my recent trip to Montreal for the Prince of Travel Signature Event, I stayed at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel for a night after the festivities at the W.

The hotel is known for hosting a wide range of celebrities, heads of state, and business figures over the years. It also underwent a $140 million renovation in 2017, resulting in a bright and bold new look. 

Having experienced a few Fairmont properties across Canada so far, I was looking forward to checking another location off the list here in Montreal. 

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Booking

For a full disclosure, the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth was kind enough to host me for this one-night stay, with all editorial control retained by Prince of Travel.

Standard room rates at the hotel typically range from $250–325 for a one-night stay, while rooms on the Fairmont Gold Floor begin at around $450. Premium suites, such as the famous John Lennon & Yoko Ono Suite, are upwards of $3,000 for one night.

Fairmont is part of the France-based Accor Live Limitless loyalty program, although unfortunately there isn’t a great way to redeem Accor ALL points for free nights at a high value.

Thus, it’s best to wait for a chainwide or property-specific promotion, such as second-, third-, or fourth-night-free deals, if you’re looking to book at a lower rate.

Occasionally, Fairmont will sell discounted gift cards as well, which could be another option to save on your next Fairmont stay.

You can also earn Accor Gold status easily through getting an Ibis business card or being an Accor shareholder to unlock some additional perks, like a room upgrade and a welcome drink upon arrival.

 

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Location

The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth spans an entire block of Downtown Montreal, with the entrance located on René Lévesque Boulevard West.

The hotel is attached to Montreal Central Station, making it a very convenient place to stay for anyone arriving into town by train. 

Montreal’s famed underground city is similarly accessible from the Fairmont – a series of tunnels that connect over 33 kilometres of hotels, shopping centres, restaurants, and museums.

The city’s urban green space, Mount Royal Park, is a 25-minute walk from the hotel, while other popular destinations like the Notre Dame Basilica and Old Port are a 20-minute walk or a seven-minute car or taxi ride away.

Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is 30 minutes outside the city via car or taxi, and can also be accessed via the 747 bus service that stops at several hotels along René-Lévesque Boulevard, including the Fairmont. 

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Check-In

The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth is housed in a traditional façade, as its exterior has remained mostly unchanged since 1958. 

When I arrived at around 3pm, the Mile End Suite, which the hotel had kindly offered, was ready for me.

Indeed, it was quite generous that the Fairmont offered me this suite, as it would typically be more challenging to request an upgrade to this from a base-level room.

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Mile End Suite

The Mile End Suite is in Room 2059, at the very end of the hallway on the 20th floor.  

The décor has a contemporary feel with a vintage 1960s flair. The room consists of deep blue finishes against bold accents, such as geometric carpets and artwork covering the entire back wall. 

As you enter through the corridor of the room, a half-bathroom with a single mirror and sink is to the left.

On the other side of the hallway, you can find a small kitchenette with a microwave, sink, and fridge to the right.

There is a spacious living area separate from the bedroom, complete with a dining and meeting space that seats eight people, and another seating area with a sectional, coffee table, and armchair.

I loved the black-and-white artwork inspired by Montreal’s famous staircases, spanning the entire walls along the back of the room.

A flat-screen TV is mounted facing the sectional, and two more armchairs are located near the room’s window. A small workspace, consisting of a desk and chair, is situated to the right of the TV.  

The living room has a pantry with a Nespresso coffee maker, and in the drawers below, a kettle for tea and a mini-fridge.

The bedroom was more simple in design, with deep blue walls accented by luxurious gold finishes on the carpet designs and door handles.

Furnishings consisted of two hanging lamp fixtures on each side of the bed, a soft blue bench at the foot of the bed, and a mirror with some storage space below to the right.

The bedroom then leads to the primary bathroom, which is spacious, sleek, and modern. The room had a contrast of black and white, with striped floor tiling that  draws your eyes to the freestanding soaking tub, placed in the middle of the room.

The vanities also popped against the dark contrast of the room, consisting of two sinks with large rounded LED mirrors hovering over them.

The hotel toiletries are supplied by Le Labo’s Rose 31 lineup, which are always a nice touch at any Fairmont property.

Overall, I loved the deep blue character of the bedroom and the amount of space in the living room here in the Mile End Suite, and it was a great place to host a team meeting the following day.  

For a closer look at the Mile End Suite and the Fairmont’s two other top-tier suites (the John Lennon & Yoko Ono Suite and the Royal Ville Marie Suite), check out our YouTube video below: 

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Fairmont Gold Room

I also asked the Fairmont if I could tour a few of the other room types at the hotel, besides the higher-end Mile End Suite that I was staying in, so that our review may be more valuable to readers who may be interested in the base-level room types.

Fairmont’s Gold Floor concept is quite unique, and it almost acts like a “hotel within a hotel”. The Gold Floor is found at many Fairmont properties, offering elevated touches, lounge access, personalized service for each guest, and better interiors. 

I had the chance to tour one of the Fairmont Gold Rooms, which are standard-sized rooms located on the Gold Floor. 

As you enter the room, to the left is a small pantry with a Nespresso coffee maker with complimentary coffee, as well as a kettle with complimentary tea.

The bedroom features one king-sized bed, bold artwork on the wall, and two hanging bedside lamps. To the right of the bed is a simple armchair with a bright orange accent colour.

Furthermore, a small wooden work desk and chair are located on the opposite wall to the bed, next to the TV which sits on a wooden entertainment centre. 

I liked the Gold Floor King Room’s deep blue finishes, similar to the Mile End Suite, as well as the overall modern feel of the room. The room looked out onto Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral and the Downtown Montreal skyline.

I should note, however, that the bathroom was quite small and felt a little cramped, with a single sink and mirror (half the mirror was covered by the bathroom shelf) and the shower/bathtub combo located directly to the right. 

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Junior Suite

The Junior Suites are located between the 4th and 17th floors. These suites consist of a bedroom with a full bathroom, a separate sitting area, and a half bathroom.

The bedroom featured a bold multi-coloured wallpaper with unique hanging bulb lights – a softer, warmer design combination compared to the Gold Floor rooms.

The living room consisted of a small chair and sofa that can be turned into a sofa bed to accommodate up to four people in the room, making it ideal for a family. A small work desk and chair are also located in the living room.

The primary bathroom was small but still sleek and modern, with a single LED mirror, sink, and a walk-in shower. I thought the finishes of the bathroom were even nicer than upstairs on the Gold Floor. 

The suite also has a half bathroom on the other side, which is fairly comprehensive for this suite type and a great use of limited space.

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Fairmont Room

The Fairmont Room is the standard, base-level room you’ll get when booking at this hotel.

The room featured much of the same décor as the Junior Suite, with a vibrant wallpaper behind the bed and the same hanging bulb lights. 

I thought it was a nice size for a standard room, comfortably hitting in the king-sized bed, two reading chairs in each corner by the window, and a work desk.

This room featured the same small but modern bathroom as the Junior Suite, with a walk-in shower and single vanity. Indeed, I found the Gold Floor rooms to be more sophisticated and the standard rooms more playful, with vibrant art and interesting patterns on the walls. 

As with the other rooms, the Fairmont Room overlooks Downtown Montreal, with the views from each room varying based on which side of the hotel’s city block it occupies.

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Fairmont Gold Lounge

Guests who stay on the Fairmont Gold Floor or book a premium suite, such as the Mile End Suite, have exclusive access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge.

The lounge provides a complimentary full breakfast, as well as evening hors d’oeuvres and complimentary snacks throughout the day.

At the time of my visit in April 2022, the lounge was still using an assisted buffet concept, in which associates would help you plate your food behind a glass screen. 

The breakfast was fairly standard but high-quality, including eggs, sausages, pastries, and yogurt.

I find that the difficulty with an assisted buffet is it can be challenging to pinpoint exactly how much of each item you’d like, so I just asked for a bit of everything and enjoyed my plate for the most part.

The Fairmont Gold Lounge is also an enjoyable space to relax during the day and catch up on some work. The interiors were warm and inviting, and the space was bright, with beautiful views of the Marie-Reine-Du-Monde Cathedral and the downtown skyline. 

The lounge also offers complimentary non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day, with beer, wine, and spirits available via an honour bar system.

Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth – Other Facilities

The hotel’s pool and fitness centre are located in the basement, so I went down to take a peek.

The gym at the Fairmont was substantially spacious and well-appointed, with brand new modern equipment brought in after the hotel renovations

The equipment included a Smith machine, treadmills, pull-up bars, and a separate room for fitness classes.

The indoor pool has a beautiful contemporary design and looks like a nice place to swim and relax. The pool area also has a hot tub with colourful built-in LED lights.

As far as dining goes, Rosélys Restaurant combines French and English cuisine with influences from Montreal’s heritage in a welcoming art-deco space.

The hotel’s cocktail bar, Nacarat, is located on the ground floor, with a chic but elegant ambiance. The bar opened alongside the completion of the hotel renovations in 2017, and also has a full-service kitchen.

Kréma is the in-house cafe at the hotel, located in the lobby, offering coffee from local roasteries, fresh baked goods, and small bites.

Conclusion

I thought the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth was a quality hotel in Montreal that I would certainly consider staying at in the future, especially given the recent renovations that have brought the hotel up to a higher standard.

The hotel has a prime location in Downtown Montreal, with most of the city’s popular attractions within walking distance. For those taking the train into Montreal, there’s no hotel more convenient than the Fairmont, as it’s directly connected to Central Station underground.

If I could leverage my Accor Gold status for an upgrade in the future, I’d certainly be more compelled to stay again, given that the Fairmont Gold rooms look quite a bit nicer than the regular rooms.

Indeed, I think the hotel’s price point very much reflects the cache of the Fairmont brand in addition to the product itself. Outside of Fairmont’s occasional free night promotions, there may well be better-value hotel options nearby to consider.

On the luxury end of the spectrum, however, the Mile End Suite was certainly an enticing space, as are the John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Royal Ville Marie specialty suites, if you’re looking to splurge on some of the city’s best high-end accommodations.