3* Hotel St-Denis

There's some genuine Montreal history behind the polished interiors at Hotel Birks Montreal. The hotel occupies the landmark Birks jewellery building on Phillips Square, giving you a central downtown base close to shopping, museums and the Quartier des Spectacles, with the Gay Village easily reached by Metro. The restored building combines grand architectural details with contemporary rooms and suites, some of which have private terraces overlooking the city. Henri Brasserie Française brings a little Parisian flavour downstairs, while in-room spa treatments are available when sightseeing and late nights finally catch up with you. Despite the ornate surroundings, the hotel feels intimate rather than like a huge convention property, which makes it particularly appealing for couples and special-occasion stays. GayMapper tip: A lovely choice if you want traditional five-star elegance and an independent feel, while keeping Montreal's gay nightlife only a short Metro ride away.

In the heart of Montreal’s Golden Square Mile, Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton is a polished base for shopping, restaurants and museums, with Sainte-Catherine Street just steps away. Peel Metro is close by, so evenings in the Gay Village are only a straightforward ride across downtown. Rooms are spacious and elegant, with plush beds and particularly impressive marble bathrooms featuring both showers and jetted tubs. Downstairs, YAMA brings an East-meets-West approach to dining and cocktails, while the Vogue Café works well for coffee and something lighter during the day. There’s also a fitness centre and dedicated wellness area. What gives Vogue its character is the attention to design, from the dramatic lobby to its quirky Cabinet of Curiosities, making it feel more individual than the average international luxury hotel. GayMapper tip: A great choice for couples who want a stylish downtown stay with shopping and dining outside the door and easy Metro access to the Village.

Montreal's W feels suitably playful without abandoning the character of the city around it. W Montreal occupies the historic former Banque du Canada building on Square Victoria, putting Old Montreal, the convention district and downtown within a few minutes' walk. Inside, the look is bold and contemporary, with stylish rooms and suites, a fitness centre and several places to eat and drink. The Living Room switches from daytime coworking space to evening bar, while regular DJs and music events give the hotel more social energy than the typical upscale business stay. Some of the larger suites add terraces with city views. The Gay Village isn't immediately outside, but Square-Victoria-OACI Metro makes getting across downtown straightforward, so you can enjoy the Village at night and return to a very different atmosphere. GayMapper tip: Choose the W if design, cocktails and a lively hotel bar matter as much as proximity to the gay scene.

Few Montreal hotels come with quite as much history as Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Sitting directly above Central Station in the heart of downtown, it also connects into Montreal's underground city – particularly welcome when winter weather makes wandering the streets considerably less appealing. This is a large full-service hotel with 950 rooms and suites, an indoor pool, hot tub and saunas, Moment Spa, several places to eat and drink and the cocktail-focused Nacarat bar. Its most famous room is Suite 1742, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their 1969 Bed-In for Peace and recorded Give Peace a Chance. The Village is east of downtown rather than on the doorstep, but Metro connections make nights out there straightforward. GayMapper tip: A great fit if you like landmark hotels with a story – and Suite 1742 is one of Montreal's more unusual hotel splurges.

A good choice for exploring several sides of Montreal rather than basing the whole trip around one neighbourhood, AC Hotel by Marriott Montreal Downtown sits between the Quartier des Spectacles, Chinatown and Old Montreal. The Gay Village is farther east along Sainte-Catherine, but easy to reach by Metro or a longer walk through the city centre. The standout facility is the 21-metre indoor pool, joined by a whirlpool and fitness centre with views across downtown. Rooms have a clean contemporary look with hardwood floors, rainfall-style glass showers, Nespresso machines and smart TVs. Downstairs, the AC Lounge serves tapas, cocktails and Spanish wines. Place-des-Arts and Place-d'Armes Metro stations are nearby, making this an especially convenient base for sightseeing, festivals and evenings in different parts of the city. GayMapper tip: A particularly good pick if an indoor pool matters and you want Old Montreal, downtown and the Village all within easy reach.

Right on the edge of the Gay Village, Hyatt Place Montreal - Downtown is a useful option if you want the location of a Village hotel with the facilities of a larger full-service property. Sainte-Catherine Street is just outside and Berri-UQAM Metro is around the corner, putting both the gay scene and the rest of Montreal within very easy reach. Rooms are unusually spacious for a downtown hotel, with seating areas, big TVs and mini-fridges. There's also an indoor swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness centre, bar and breakfast service – handy additions if you're staying for more than a quick weekend. With more than 350 rooms, the atmosphere is lively and urban rather than intimate, and the location works particularly well for combining nightlife with Old Montreal and the Quartier des Spectacles. GayMapper tip: Probably the best addition to the current list if you want a pool and proper hotel facilities while remaining genuinely close to the Village.