Hôtel Le St-James

Hôtel Le St-James Review

Rock royalty frequents this lavishly furnished luxury hotel, which quietly pampers European nobility, the business elite, and Hollywood moguls who appreciate the splendour. Dripping with Old World charm, Le St. James was once the Mercantile Bank of Canada. That explains why a former boardroom has 20-foot ceilings and lovingly restored murals of hydroelectric dams and waterfalls. Guest rooms include large marble bathrooms with separate tubs and showers. The water pressure is great, too, all the better to lather up with the supplied Molton Brown body products. Guests appreciate Bang & Olufsen sound systems, gas fireplaces, and the wrap-around terrace off the penthouse. The hotel restaurant, XO, was totally renovated in early 2010, adding a bar up front, modern booths, and metallic paint on the classical columns. The mini burgers on the bar menu are a must. Try to suppress a snigger when viewing the hotel owner's vanity portrait in the library.