Occupying an old, bold Beaux Arts building in Montreal?s coolest quarter ? the old town ? Hotel St Paul is something of a trailblazer in a city swimming with bland business hotels. A warm and welcoming minimalism dominates the decor, enhanced by dramatic touches such as the fire-lit alabaster cube that lords it over the lobby, and the ethereal muslin drapes that feature in many of the rooms.

This landmark boutique hotel is also home to the sultry Vauvert restaurant ? eaterie du choix for the Canadian city?s high fliers and fine diners. The soft monochromatic design palette creates an ambient, serene atmosphere. Fire, ice, earth and sky have been abstracted within the hotel, distilling Canada's most basic natural features. The hotel's floors alternate between two different landscapes; while earth rooms are solid, grounded and more tactile in their colours, materials and furnishings, the sky rooms are atmospheric spaces focusing on light and air.