I had the chance for a short tour of the newly opened (they had a soft opening on Monday of this week) Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal this week. They just finished the first part of a massive, $140 million renovation and have opened 500 rooms for the public, with the rest to come later this year.

The old girl looks terrific for a hotel that will turn 60 years old next year, with just about everything new and very much improved for the modern vacation traveller or business person.

The lobby and main floor areas have been given a bold, modern look with some nice 1960’s touches, such as the funky and chunky bronze lettering on the wall behind the front desk and the retro “pod” chairs in the Agora room, an informal gathering space that I’m told will have some cool visual additions fairly soon.

“The hotel opened in 1958 so we wanted to be sure to give it a 1960’s kind of look and return to our roots,” spokeswoman Joanne Papineau told me on our tour.

More than 100 pieces of local art will be on display by time the hotel is finished later this year, with 37 artists ranging from emerging to museum quality.

Just above the lobby floor are two business floors, with all the modern conveniences but also fun gathering spaces for informal talks. They also have added ping pong tables, swings and meeting rooms with tables surrounded by hanging metal beads for a “think-outside-the-box” Silicon Valley feel.

The new outdoor terrace on the building’s west side no doubt will be in high demand, with benches, a nice bar and lots of greenery, in a space overlooking Mary Reine du Monde Cathedral and the city’s business district

Also new for biz types is something called Espace C2, a meeting space on the 21st floor developed with C2, an annual Montreal event that features creative, forward-thinking folks.

The Queen Elizabeth featured the first-ever Fairmont Gold floor for frequent Fairmont customers, and they’ve given the new Fairmont Gold space a beautiful makeover. You’ll find tons of natural light, great food options, a fireplace and more.

The Fairmont Gold floor hotel room I saw was bright and splashed with vivid colours; quite unlike other Fairmont properties I’ve seen. There was a nice sofa and chair in shades of grey and charcoal, with beige and deep orange (seemingly the hotel’s unofficial new colour) cushions. Behind the bed on the wall were two vivid, modern paintings in splashy tones of blue, red and orange. The other wall had a series of small prints, including what looked like one of Andy Warhol’s renderings of Queen Elizabeth.

There also was a round funky mirror and a few other 60’s-style pieces, giving the room a kind of classed up millennial feel that I think a lot of folks will love.

PHOTO: The Fairmont Gold level rooms at the renovated Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal are modern and colourful. (Photo by Jim Byers)

I got to check out one “regular” room that wasn’t on a Fairmont Gold floor. It was understandably smaller but had vivid, geometric wallpaper in shades of orange, red and rust on the wall and a bright bathroom. Furniture in the room was seemingly kept sparse and minimal to create more space; a smart move given how hotel rooms were much smaller back in the day.

I didn’t get to see the re-made John Lennon-Yoko Ono suite, which I’m told will feature interactive bits that will thrill Beatles and music fans. Maybe next time.

Back down in the public areas, they’ve added big windows on the main floors. The coffee bar, Krema, features huge panes of glass looking out onto Boulevard Rene Levesque, a nice touch that connects the hotel better with the city.

Noting again the local art and the big windows, Papineau makes the point that the new hotel is “by Montrealers, for Montrealers.”

There’s also a good deal more natural light over in the new restaurant, called Roselys as an homage to the city’s English and French speakers. Long-standing bartender David Pacheco, who has been known to have special plaques made for his regular customers at lunch, seemed pleased with his new digs as we toured the restaurant.

PHOTO: 40-year Fairmont veteran David Pacheco is back manning the bar at the new Roselys restaurant at the hotel. (Photo by Jim Byers)

Also new is the bar Nacarat, with architectural elements that are a nod to Montreal’s main train station, which is connected to the hotel via the city’s underground network. Bartender/mixologist Nader Chabaane, renowned for his work at bars in Paris and around the world, promised me a wonderful old-fashioned with both bourbon and rum when I come back.

Like the coffee shop and main restaurant, Nacarat also has large windows looking out onto the street and quirky lighting.

PHOTO: Nacarat is the new bar at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, manned by one of Canada's top mixologists. (Photo by Jim Byers)

One of the great features coming soon is an artisan’s market, which will feature everything from oysters, Quebec cheeses, and imported olive oil and wine, to local charcuterie and game and plenty of fruits and veggies. Papineau said food will be available to eat in or to take home and will act as sort of a “pantry” for the restaurants.

Downstairs is the new spa, called New Moment, as well as a large gym and indoor pool.

Papineau said the renovation, which will have taken more than a year by the time it’s finished, has taken the hotel from 1,216 rooms to 950. They’ve also significantly hiked their meeting and business space.

The hotel is sold out this weekend with groups but Papineau said individuals can start booking from July 19 onward.

A Montreal classic with many a new and modern twist; the old girl hasn’t looked this good in years.

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