Hôtel Le St-James, Old Montréal, Québec , Canada
Formerly a merchant bank on Rue Saint-Jacques (once Montréal's Wall Street equivalent), expect 19th-century architecture, tasteful yet eclectic décor, antique furnishings, and an excellent, unstuffy approach to customer service. All this plus a trendy European vibe, top-notch facilities and exquisitely presented Italian-inspired cuisine using locally-sourced goodies at the glamorous XO restaurant.