Moxy Montreal Downtown (all photos courtesy Adrien Williams)

The first property for Marriott Hotels & Resorts’ Moxy brand, the new Moxy Montreal Downtown, both surprises and stands out in the Montreal hotel scene.

As soon as you enter the lobby, there’s a spiral staircase that climbs to who knows where, and countless mirror mobiles glittering above the reception desk. The quirky decor sets the tone, and you realize that the Moxy Montreal Downtown is probably not like other Montreal hotels.

At the end of the lobby, the bar-restaurant counter – which serves delicious dishes – sits alongside inviting public areas with beautiful travel books and Quebec regional products ready for perusal.

On the upstairs mezzanine, the space is downright playful, with a foosball table, table tennis, board games and more books. In a corner, a neon tunnel evokes the movie Tron, while as you exit the elevator to access the rooms, frescoes imitating the Montreal metro adorn the walls.

The hotel’s designers even went so far as to put up ‘Detour’ signs on the walls, a nod to Montreal’s endless roadwork. There’s also this fun message on a wall of the gym (a truly superb gym): “Work on yourself like Montreal works on its potholes: relentlessly!” A gently irreverent hotel, as well as being whimsical: love it.

Upon arrival, a welcome cocktail is offered free of charge, and everywhere the service is cheerful, friendly, unfussy and efficient. Small hiccups: the omnipresent rhythmic music is often a little loud and some guests might find it irritating while sipping their early morning coffee, or relaxing in the splendid and immense sauna; as for the bar which closes at 11 p.m., including Friday evenings, it doesn’t feel very Montreal.

Opened last April, the Moxy Montreal Downtown is distinguished by the boldness of its decor, the eclecticism of its layouts and the freshness of its conviviality.

The first Moxy hotel in Quebec and part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of over 30 exceptional brands, the Moxy Montreal Downtown is located next to the central train station and a short walk from Old Montreal (not far from Griffintown, the Bell Centre, and Sainte-Catherine and Notre-Dame streets).

The property offers 216 compact, colourful rooms equipped with very good bedding. The hotel portion of the building occupies the first 12 floors of a condo tower.

Moxy Montreal Downtown also has collaborative workspaces and one of the most beautiful indoor hotel pools (maybe the most beautiful?) in Montreal: long and bright, flanked by huge bay windows and equipped with an outdoor terrace.

Moxy now has 135+ properties in over 25 countries and territories around the world. The brand launched in 2014, ‘aspiring to be at the heart of the city, fostering interaction between the local community, business travellers and travellers.

Source: Travelweek