Fodor's Expert Review Kutuma Hotel & Suites

3708 St Denis St., Montreal, Quebec H2X 3L7, Canada See on Map

This small boutique hotel with nine rooms on the Plateau has a strong personality and full kitchenettes. The dark wood and tribal art create a unique ambiance.

YOU SHOULD KNOW There is no elevator in this four-floor hotel. That can be hard for guests of a certain age.

room

The first thing you notice upon getting into your room is the leopard bedspread, because, well, it's a leopard bedspread--which is fantastic. The rooms feature luxury sheets, DVD player, sleek air conditioning units, desks, flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, big microwaves, and more.

For extra soundproofing from Rue St. Denis, get a king suite--the bedroom has a (frosted) door.

bathroom

Deep tubs, terra cotta tiles, and king suites have sexy horizontal European shower tracks.

lobby

The lobby sets the African theme, with statues and a tribal art aesthetic. It’s friendly and casual, with space to arrive.

dining

A highlight of the property is The Blue Nile, an Ethiopian restaurant popular with local Montrealers. Their zebra-patterned chairs are their signature, along with subtly flavored dishes. The restaurant provides room service seven days a week. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and also serves an American style breakfast daily ($10).

LOCATION

Getting Around

The hotel is located right on St. Denis Street, a three-minute walk from Metro Sherbrooke and Saint-Louis Square. It’s one metro stop to Berri-UQAM station. Both the bus station and a stop for the 747 airport express bus are located at the Berri-UQAM station. The train station is on the same metro line, just stops from the hotel at Bonaventure station.

Restaurants

It’s a short walk to Rue Duluth, for an array of ethnic, chef-owned restaurants. Alternately, grab a cab and head to Kyber Pass (10-minute drive) for Afghani lamb kebabs and lentil soup. Or, try a BYOB French bistro of local fame called P’tit Plateau (10-minute drive).

Bars

Else’s (10-minute walk) is a near-by favorite with the poets and dancers and academics, or you could always ride the mechanical bull at Chez Serge (10-minue drive).

WHY WE LIKE IT

Along with the full-tilt African décor, we love the location (hello, Rue St. Denis and Duluth!) and the proximity to the Metro Sherbrooke. The price is right, with room rates starting at $100. You’d expect double that rate for the level of personal service and luxury finishing materials. However, the rate probably reflects the elevator problem—meaning, there isn’t one, in this four-floor property. Oy. Don’t worry--nobody ends up carrying their own luggage anyway.

QUICK FACTS

HOTEL INFO

Phones: 514-844-0111

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