The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal

Lined along Sherbrooke Street West in the heart of the Golden Square Mile, the Ritz-Carlton Montréal occupies a landmark 1912 building where marble corridors and a storied ballroom have hosted everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to heads of state.

Rooms feature hardwood floors, soundproofing against the street, and extra-long beds; the full-service spa runs the range from body wraps to hair colouring under one roof. The indoor pool sits within an architectural shell worth visiting independent of the swim. Café de Paris and the bar draw both guests and local regulars year-round.

Sherbrooke West positions the hotel two blocks from the Musée des Beaux-Arts and walking distance into Westmount. The McGill metro is a five-minute walk east, while Plateau-Mont-Royal is a short cab ride north.