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Old Montreal: Pamper you, Pamper me |
words: zack medicoff
If you need a little diversion from home, book a trip to la belle province and shop away those winter blues. The Old Montreal district is full of new stores, boutique hotels and chi-chi restaurants, and we have the must-see destinations to make your weekend getaway full of snowy memories.
 Ottawa Restaurant Montreal
901 Victoria Square
514-395-3183
The newly opened W Montreal is the latest see-and-be-seen attraction in the city, and the upscale eatery Otto doesn't trail far behind. Nestled inside this über-sleekly designed hotel is a culinary revolution of Italian fusion that's filled with beautiful people. Up front is their red-hue inspired bar, where you can have a martini and a smoke while you wait for the table. When you do get seated, expect quirky changes to traditional design like no tablecloths, and an emphasis on stemless wine glasses. The food is extraordinary, with delicately balanced dishes, like halal rack of lamb, oven-roasted with a potato-bacon crust served au jus on a bed of warm focaccia, or appetizers like spiced lobster tail filled with foie gras nuggets.
 Spa Zazen Therapy Montreal
209 St. Paul West, Suite 300
514-287-1772
www.spazazen.com
If you're feeling a bit knotted, book a treatment at Spa Zazen for a choice of traditional Thai, shiatsu and even Reiki massage. There's also acupuncture and craniosacral therapy, which is a light-touch technique that involves the cerebrospinal fluid located in the brain and along the spine. There's also Pilates and yoga classes inside this zenith studio setting of hardwood floors and exposed brick. So relax, and breathe!
Hôtel Godin
10 Sherbrooke St. West
514-843-6000
www.hotelgodin.com
So it's not exactly in Old Montreal, but we had to list it because it just oozes coolness from the moment you walk inside. Sitting at the foot of trendy St. Laurent Boulevard (home to funky restaurants, cute cafés and slick boutiques), Hôtel Godin will make you want to cocoon in their space for weeks on end. And it's no surprise, with amenities like their pet-friendly service (where doggies get sirloin steak and bottled water, and kitties devour salmon and fresh milk), a welcoming goldfish in your room, and staffers who are on call 24/7…even for the zaniest requests, like drawing a candlelight, rose-petal bath at 4 a.m.
Glam Boutique
364 St. Paul West
514-499-0601
Another twist for fashionistas arrives with Glam Boutique, a store that dedicates half their space as a hair salon, and at the front, a cute shop with great finds for women. It's the perfect place to have a blowout and find a great dress for your soiree on the town, where you'll easily snap up amazing pieces like Jessie May skirts, lingerie-inspired tops from Cha Cha L'Amour, Je Ne Sais Quoi bags, which are exclusive to the boutique, and other finds from local designers. Plenty of accessories are in the display cases, like locally made brooches, necklaces and bracelets.
 Betty's Bazaar Beauty Emporium
444 St. Francois-Xavier
514-369-2212
www.bettys-bazaar.com
Part beauty emporium, part clothing boutique, this little shop in Old Montreal has funky wear for men and women. Its owner, Betty, looks to Europe and the States for the coolest finds and must-have accessories, like the kitty-inspired L.A. line Fluff (of pillows and purses); Canadian designers and global finds like Juicy Couture and Ms. Sixty; cosmetics from Lola; and beauty items like face and eye creams from maple-inspired Canadian-based B. Kamins. This cute shop will keep you going through the racks for hours, and their friendly staff is always helpful and unobtrusive while you shop.
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