Montreal’s Épik Hotel offers a new look at the Old Port

Hidden in the historic neighbourhood of Montreal’s Vieux Port is the Épik Hotel, an old warehouse-turned-bed and breakfast-turned-luxury 10-room hotel. The 200-year-old building has original stone walls (that’s not brick, stone), contemporary finishes and European charm. Silvio Sicoli, the owner, oversaw the renovation and preservation of many of the building’s original features. The most notable is an enormous wooden wheel (believed to be part of an old pulley mechanism) that graces the dining area of the penthouse.

All that lovely old stone means guests are insulated from the street noise – even the cobblestone clopping of horse-drawn carriages – leaving you rested and refreshed, ready to step out the next morning to soak up the neighbourhood’s food, culture and history.

Rue Saint Paul West is a one-way cobblestone road, just 15 minutes on foot from the Montreal train station, and seconds from trendy foodie destinations such as Tommy (for coffee), Olive and Gourmando (for lunch or brunch) and Garde Manger (dinner). When you’ve had your fill, head five minutes west to the Phi Centre, a cultural and creative hub, where young and old experience art without the stuffiness of a traditional museum or galley. On the afternoon I was there, young children sat beside seniors while experiencing the Sensory Stories exhibit and on the third floor, a mother and her three children were flying through the streets of Manhattan via Birdly, a flight simulator.

Épik hosts a complimentary continental breakfast buffet in its ground floor restaurant. Forget the spongy bagels and boxed cereal of more pedestrian continental breakfast offerings, this is Montreal! True local bagels are offered, along with fresh baked chocolate croissants, fruit and a sausage and red pepper medley.

The breakfast might be included, but the transformation from B&B to upscale boutique hotel is complete. Post-and-beam ceilings with centuries-old stone walls have been preserved, and the rustic and castle-like feel extends to the private dining room below the lobby. The rooms all feature dark mahogany finishes in the bedroom with bright hexagonal-marble-tiled washrooms. The most surprising design touch was the lighting in the shower, which would change colour depending on the temperature and pressure of the water.

Hotel Épik needs an elevator. The only route up to the rooms and down to the scent of chocolate croissants in the morning are stairs. Those with accessibility needs would have to book the ground-floor room across from reception. But even the concierge admitted it may not be 100-per-cent soundproof.

With only 10 rooms, this is a very intimate hotel. And yet, I only ever crossed paths with another solo traveller who shared my affinity for chocolate croissants.

The hotel’s restaurant and bar features a private dining room where I found an impressive glass enclosure of aged cheese wheels and fine wine. Italian dishes grace the menu, ranging from a wide selection of charcuterie to the classic gnocchi bolognese and brasato. There is also a small selection of vegetarian dishes.

Though on the night I stayed, I chose to stroll 20 minutes west to Griffintown, home to the Joe Beef trifecta: Liverpool House, Joe Beef and Vin Papillon. At Liverpool House, I sat at the bar and ordered the rich lobster spaghetti. The academic couple next to me couldn’t help but ask to try it.

If that meal sounds too rich, Vin Papillon is a wine bar on the same block as Joe Beef, which serves mostly vegetables and organic/bio dynamic wines. Their patio is perfect. Arrive early, stay late and take all the suggestions the sommelier and staff recommend.

Hotel Épik, 171 Saint-Paul W., Montreal, epikmontreal.com. 10 rooms from $150.

The writer was a guest of the hotel.