Montréal
Travel Excursion
Montreal Hotel Omni Mont-Royal Lobby
By Patrice Raplee
Quebec’s Montréal
is a vibrant international city flourishing in art, music, fashion,
prestigious hotels and cuisine. This city is the
second largest French-language city in the world with a rich, cultural
history that
spans over 360 years. Travelers with a penchant for European ethnicity and
architecture will find the perfect blend of modern chic and traditional milieu
in a society that is bi-lingual and gracious. Travel Excursion explores this
majestic city in a three-part series destination expose on Canada.
One of the most important aspects of a city is the location
and availability of quality accommodations. There are a wide variety
of hotel options in Montréal
and each provides different levels of service, amenities and design. For the
visitor or business traveler that seeks luxurious accommodations in a sophisticated
and graceful atmosphere, The Hotel Omni Mont-Royal is a paramount selection.
Located on Sherbrooke Street, the Omni is in close proximity of museums, fabulous
cuisine, designer boutiques and the heart of downtown Montréal. This
beautiful five-star hotel emphasizes a level of service that is outstanding
and the impeccable reputation of this establishment has drawn such notable
celebrities as Celine Dion, Robert DeNiro, Luciano Pavarotti, Madonna and
Michael Jackson.
The rooms and suites are well-appointed, featuring classic French and
modern design with mahogany finished furniture, sumptuous Heavenly
Beds and gorgeous
cream-hued marble bathrooms. Omni’s business travelers are also catered
to with in-room wireless internet capability. Higher floors proffer stunning
views of the lively downtown cityscape or the quieter picturesque vista of
Le Mont-Royal Park. Guests of the Omni can avail themselves of the full-service
health club or take a swim in the outdoor heated swimming pool, open year round
with a terrace to gaze at the city under starlight. Other guest services include
the renowned Amerispa; a complete spa specializing in massage therapy, body
treatments and esthetic treatments. These exquisite treatments and massages
balance the mind and body to a condition of rapture. If you have never experienced
the deep relaxation of a stone basalt massage, accompanied by warm body wrap
or maple sugar scrub, it is time to pamper yourself and transport your stress
and tension demons far away!
The hotel’s Opus II and the Zen restaurants feature contemporary Mediterranean
and Chinese cuisine. Touted by top gourmet publications, these two restaurants
bestow excellent gastronomy in an urban-chic ambiance. The Omni also provides
amenities that most travelers haven’t even thought of and the dedicated
staff truly regards their guests with warmth and respect. For those wishing
to immerse themselves in regal beauty and uncompromising style, the Hotel Omni
Mont-Royal is the incomparable Montréal habitat!
Cuisine in Montréal is highly competitive and most of the restaurants
in the downtown area are excellent with the décor reflecting the ethnicity
of the fare. Crescent Street is trendy, entertaining and by far the most heavily
populated by culinary establishments. Whether you’re enjoying fine dining
or sitting on the outdoor terrace, smoking a cigar or drinking a beer and watching
the people go by, Crescent Street is abuzz with excitement.
From Italian and Thai to seafood and fine French cuisine, the interesting
mix of people, food and the old European-style architecture make
choosing a restaurant
an event in itself. For a casual meal and the best gourmet pizza outside of
New York or Italy, try Pizzaiole. The restaurant is located in an old tall
stone building with seating on the first and second floors with bay windows
that overlook the bustling activity of Crescent Street. Stone alder wood-fired
ovens are the secret to this delicious, hand-tossed thin crust pizza. Pizzaiole
also serves a various array of pastas and wonderful imported beers on tap.
ChansThai restaurant is located on Crescent Street and is artfully
decorated with wispy silk drapes and ornate Asian statues and wall
décor. The
Thai cuisine is excellent and the setting is intimately cozy with subdued lighting.
The Tom Kai soups are magnificent and the prices are reasonable.
Every city possesses several excellent sushi bars; one of Montréal’s
downtown delights is the Mikasa Sushi Bar. Located on Peel Street, Mikasa’s
nouveau interior is awash in a soothing blue glow. Modern glass light fixtures
and fresh design add to the artful presentations prepared by accomplished sushi
chefs. If you’re not a connoisseur of the ultra fresh cuisine of sushi
and you need to accompany someone who is, Mikasa offers a variety of delicacies
for all tastes.
The absolute “find” for downtown Montréal dining is the
Nirvana Lounge. Located on Bishop Street, Nirvana wins hands down for over-all
atmosphere and gourmet cuisine. Built in 1890 as upscale apartments, its stone
European-style castle architecture is magnificent! The upstairs apartments
were turned into a piano lounge years ago, but new owners have added a fantastic
restaurant in the lower half of the building and restored the dark rich period
woodwork that makes up the interior. The restaurant setting is intimate and
spread between several rooms, some with views of Bishop Street and others that
are tucked away with fireplaces. The high ceilings and minimalistic décor
on the walls puts an emphasis on the wood and architecture, evoking the feel
of a 17th century French manor. The service is divine and the fare is exceptional.
The restaurant menu is limited to a few select entrees with interchangeable
appetizers and side dishes. Try the Citron Cornish Game Hen, prepared with
green olives and citron sauce; this hen is so tender it melts off the bone.
Dessert is a surprisingly light and healthy affair of orange centers sliced
in their own juice and sprinkled with cinnamon. After dining, proceed up the
spiral wooden staircase and pass the intricate stained glass window to the
piano bar for an evening of cocktails and live jazz. Nirvana is a dining and
music experience that visitors to Montréal won’t forget!
Join us for next month’s issue when Travel Excursion explores the international
shopping and old European architecture of old Montréal.
For additional information on the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal go to http://www.omnihotels.com
For additional information on the Nirvana Lounge call (514) 842-3396.
For additional Montréal tourism information go to http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/B2C/00/default.asp
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