There’s no place in North America with more historic character than Old Montreal — which means that a design hotel like the William Gray, made from a pair of 18th-century heritage buildings and a contemporary addition, gets maximum impact from its stylistic contrast. Once you’re inside the modern section, with its soaring glass atrium, it’s clear that you’re in for a 21st-century luxury-boutique experience. Rooms vary in size and equipment, from the very modern Residence to the classic rooms in the Maison William Gray, but all are finely wrought and full of comforts. Multi-jet rain showers, Frette towels, and Le Labo bath products supply the excellent bathrooms, and the bedrooms come with plush down comforters, Nespresso machines, and all the latest high-tech gadgetry. A full-service spa cements the Gray’s status as a proper luxury boutique hotel, while its restaurants range from the upscale farm-to-table Maggie Oakes, named for the wife of the historical William Gray, to Perché and the Terrasse, both offering al fresco seating with impressive views. And there’s plenty of less structured common space as well; the Living Room features a full bar, a library full of books, a pool table, and a vinyl collection.