The Grande Dame of Sherbrooke gets a celebrity worthy makeover

When Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton married at the Ritz-Carlton Montreal on March 15, 1964, the legendary hotel was at the height of its glory. But 50 years later, even Hollywood's now deceased golden couple would have been impressed with the Grande Dame of Sherbrooke's new high tech enhancements. 

And these perks aren't exclusive to the suites. Anyone staying at the Ritz will feel like royalty within  seconds of  taking a seat on the "throne". We are talking the TOTO heated toilet seats that come with an instrument panel that offers more choices than I feel comfortable explaining.  And then there is the computerized floor mat that is laid out each night by your bed. When my feet hit the floor for that midnight trip to the loo it kicked on a light.  No bumps in the night here. 

Ritz-Carlton Montreal CEO Andrew Torriani says the hotel's $200 million makeover  focused on adapting modern technology in a discreet but functional way in order to maintain its classic charm. 

"Each piece had to blend seamlessly so that you do not forget this is a 1912 hotel," he explains. Originally built for $3 million,  this was the first hotel in the world to bear the name Ritz-Carlton and since then has hosted everyone from the Queen to Winston Churchill.

In 2008 it closed for four years to allow for the extensive updates. 

While it's difficult to leave behind the room's many creature comforts,  a trip downstairs to Maison Boulud is worth shedding the bathrobe and getting dolled up.

Bob and Carol David, who live in the nearby Westmount neighbourhood,   are long time patrons of the Ritz-Carlton and  one of the first customers when Maison Boulud opened at the hotel in June of 2012.

"We just love the warmth of the room and the food is amazing," gushes Carol while sitting at one of the restaurant's prime tables next to the large glass-encased fireplace. While her top pick on the menu  is the Monk Fish, Torriani favours the Duo of Beef. I chose the pasta which was also fabulous. 

Of course a visit would not be complete without experiencing the hotel's afternoon tea, which is so popular it lured Karen Davey, owner of the award-winning Inn at St. Peters, all the way from PEI. She wanted to see how the pros do it before incorporating the service at her own property. 

Although the term "tea" is perhaps a fallacy.  Most of those  seated in the lovely Palm Court, - including yours truly - opted for the full service which includes a glass of bubbly. I suppose it sounds more civilized to say "I am off for tea" than "I am heading out to swill champagne in the middle of the day". That said, the hotel does offer an extensive selection of teas that pair wonderfully with the delightful scones. 

Located in the Golden Square Mile district, the hotel is surrounded by high end stores like Ogilvy and Holt Renfrew, as well as spas and  museums.  However, if you wish to give your pocket book a break or seek a livelier atmosphere, a short  walk away is Crescent Street where there is an assortment of pubs and cafés.  On this Saturday afternoon, Hurleys  is jammed to capacity and everyone inside is Irish or wishes they were.  Many  had come directly from an Irishman of the Year charity "breakfast" which had apparently served more beverage options than coffee. The joie de vivre was in full force!

If your culinary tastes demand more than pub fare, there are many good options nearby ranging from the upscale Portugese restaurant Ferreira Cafe to Orchidee De Chine for Chinese  cuisine. For a more upbeat but still upscale  ambiance there is the Dominion Square Tavern which was booked solid on this Saturday night. A man feasting on bone marrow was replicating Meg Ryan's diner scene in When Harry Met Sally. It certainly didn't look appealing but his reaction was tempting me to do a "I'll have what he's having". Instead I saved my moment for a nightcap at the Ritz-Carlton  bar where I indulged in a late night dessert  - the chocolat coulant. Now that was ecstasy!