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| The lobby is less a check-in area and more an atmospheric portal—a dimly lit, sculptural corridor alive with electronic and video art, accompanied by a curated sonic environment that shifts subtly throughout the day. |
FRANÇAIS app de traduction en haut
Montreal has long been a city where creative expression thrives—through food, festivals, design, and the distinct rhythm of its neighbourhoods. Yet even in a city known for reinvention, few openings feel as genuinely new as SonoLux, the immersive, art-driven boutique hotel debuting in the historic National Trust building on Saint-Jacques Street. Billed as “North America’s only hotel of its kind,” SonoLux sets out to fuse visual art, sound, and sensorial design into a unified hospitality experience. It is an ambitious promise—one that the hotel embraces from the moment you cross its threshold.
Entering SonoLux feels like stepping into an alternate version of Old Montreal: one where futurism quietly hums beneath 1914 stone, and where hospitality is reframed as a multi-layered artistic encounter. The lobby is less a check-in area and more an atmospheric portal—a dimly lit, sculptural corridor alive with electronic and video art, accompanied by a curated sonic environment that shifts subtly throughout the day. There is an immediate sense of seduction, of being invited not merely to stay the night but to embark on a journey. The hotel describes itself as “an evolving journey from the lobby to the rooms,” and for once such language is not an exaggeration.
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| In this sequence, Daniel Gallant, Founder and Conceptor of the hotel, Cheryl Sims, guest curator of the initial exhibition, Katherine Melançon, one of the artists, Micah Lockhart artistic director for SonoLux |
A Hotel as Curatorial Space
At the heart of SonoLux is its role as a contemporary art venue. For its inaugural exhibition, the hotel has appointed Cheryl Sims, PhD, Director and Chief Curator at PHI and one of Montreal’s most respected voices in media art. Her exhibition, Seeds of R/Evolution (November 2025 – April 2026), is nothing less than a manifesto for what this hotel aims to be.
Featuring artists such as Santiago Tamayo Soler, Lisa Jackson, Jasmina Cibic, Skawennati, Maureen Bradley, Danielle Comeau, Katherine Melançon, MUE, Kosisochukwu Nnebe, and Sahar Homami, the show explores the relationship between revolution and evolution—concepts that, as Sim notes, oscillate between rupture and gradual transformation. Through digital animation, video games, documentary, live action, and hybrid forms, the works invite guests to consider how artists act as “constant gardeners,” cultivating alternate paths through histories, futures, ecosystems, and systems of power.
Unlike traditional art hotels, where works hang politely in hallways, the exhibition at SonoLux is integrated directly into the building’s architecture. Screens, projections, and soundscapes are positioned with curatorial precision, yet they remain fluid, alive, atmospheric. This integration dissolves the line between public lobby, gallery, and private corridor, generating what feels like a continuous, unfolding narrative. Staying here is akin to inhabiting part of an art experience—one that encourages reflection rather than spectacle.
Sim’s curatorial vision is a major triumph for the hotel. It injects intellectual depth and emotional resonance, positioning SonoLux not as a novelty but as a genuine cultural venue.
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| Frédéric Blais aka Fred Everything is the sound and music curator. On certain Fridays and Saturdays, you can discover a new DJ experience. |
Subterra: Where the Hotel’s Pulse Beats Loudest
Below the lobby lies Subterra, SonoLux’s subterranean sonic lounge and arguably its most intoxicating space. Marketed as a gathering point for DJs, music lovers, and “sonic archaeologists,” Subterra feels like a cross between an audiophile listening room and an underground cultural salon. Its mission: to unearth overlooked rhythms, from jazz and soul to dub, funk, and the hidden B-side gems that shaped entire genres.
On certain weekends, guest DJs craft bespoke sound environments. These events are not typical hotel nightlife—they feel curated, almost scholarly in intention, yet deliciously atmospheric. It is rare to find a hospitality space that treats music not as background noise but as an exploration, a form of cultural memory.
The culinary program at Subterra elevates the space even further. Cocktails by mixologist Clément Wallas are as visually striking as they are complex, while Chef Graham Hood’s savory bites and Nadiia Manchuk’s exquisite desserts surpass the expectations of what one would associate with a “lounge menu.” This is haute cuisine in miniature, with flavors and textures layered like the art and sound upstairs. Each plate is a thoughtful composition—creative without pretension.
LUMI: A Seasonal Ode to Ingredients
For those seeking a full culinary experience, the hotel’s restaurant, LUMI, presents a contemporary seasonal menu focused on showcasing a single “star ingredient” in each dish. Here, Hood and his team channel creativity into unexpected pairings and meticulous technique. The results are refined, expressive plates that surprise without overwhelming.
The restaurant’s philosophy—food as the artful assembly of nature’s gifts—aligns smoothly with SonoLux’s overarching identity. It is not simply farm-to-table cuisine; it is ingredient-driven artistry.
Rooms That Balance Serenity With Sonic Playfulness
The guest rooms extend the hotel’s immersive ambition with impressive restraint. Where the lobby leans into sensory theatricality, the rooms adopt a more meditative tone. They are serene havens defined by noble materials, warm textures, and carefully modulated lighting. The design philosophy favors elegant functionality: a space that adapts fluidly to the guest’s mood and daily rhythm.
A blackout curtain separates the sleeping zone from a small den, offering both privacy and flexibility. Multifunctional, movable chairs transform the space from a quiet workspace into an intimate lounge or dining nook. The effect is subtle but meaningful—especially in a boutique hotel where square footage is at a premium. SonoLux wants its guests to curate their room experience, and the modular design supports that goal seamlessly.
Each room subtly echoes the property’s artistic DNA. Experimental video art or sound elements may appear as part of the in-room experience, though never so intrusively as to break the tranquility. Instead, the technology enhances the room’s purpose as both refuge and creative incubator.
A Singular Offering in North America
As a newcomer to Montreal’s collection of high-design hotels, SonoLux is already making a statement. According to recent listings of anticipated 2025 openings, SonoLux stands among the city’s most exciting arrivals and is distinguished as Quebec’s first contemporary art hotel. Its blend of immersive media, hospitality, and curatorial rigor appears to be unmatched not only in Canada but across North America.
Its scale—just 36 rooms—carries clear advantages. Intimate, attentive, and deeply experiential, the hotel offers something boutique properties often chase but rarely achieve: a genuinely original identity.
Final Thoughts
SonoLux is not merely a place to stay; it is a conceptual and sensorial experience, one that reframes what a hotel can be. It invites conversation, fosters connection, and encourages guests to see—and hear—the world differently. From Cheryl Sims's stirring inaugural exhibition to the sonic explorations of Subterra and the tranquil elegance of the guest rooms, SonoLux weaves together art, sound, design, and hospitality into a seamless tapestry.
In a city celebrated for its creativity, SonoLux still manages to feel revelatory. For travelers seeking more than comfort—for those hungry for reflection, inspiration, atmosphere, or simply something unexpected—SonoLux is Montreal’s new benchmark for immersive hospitality.
