Hôtel Rive Gauche lines the left (west) bank of the Richelieu River in Beloeil, a straight shot-30 minutes by car-from downtown Montréal via Autoroute 20. Mont-Saint-Hilaire station, on the exo commuter-rail line, sits two kilometres away, so guest-without-a-car trips into the city take about 40 minutes platform to platform.
Local geography rewards day-trippers: the forested slopes of Parc de la Montagne-Coupée rise to the east, while Old Beloeil’s cafés and galleries begin a riverside stroll north of the hotel. Fort Chambly and Rougemont’s cider orchards both fall inside a 20-minute radius—a convenient hub for culture and countryside.
Public Spaces
The lobby of Hôtel Rive Gauche is more of a wide hallway than a space that invites you to linger. The breakfast room is behind the front desk on the right and the Le Coureur des Bois Bistro Culinaire is to the left of the front desk.
A green, landscaped front lawn opens to the river and is dotted with bronze sculptures, the work of Québec sculptor Roger Langevin. He created a trilogy of larger-than-life pieces—Le cocktail, Les congressistes, and Le mariage—especially for Hôtel Rive Gauche.
I counted three electric car chargers in the front lot.
Room Features
Standard “Refuge Urbain” rooms begin around 32 square metres and feel larger thanks to glass-railed balconies overlooking either town or water. A king bed (or dual queens) anchors blonde-wood furniture. The room had a Nespresso machine and a mini-fridge. Blackout drapes keep summer dawns from shortening sleep. Wi-Fi proved speedy during my visit. A large smart TV was wall-mounted above the desk. There was an area to open your suitcase by the door to the room and the closet.
One of the more unusual features of my room was a table area separated from the bed by a small wall to create a kind of mini-suite work area. I visited the hotel solo, but I can imagine it would be convenient for couples like my wife and me, where one is an early riser and the other likes to sleep late. I can picture working here on my laptop in the morning while my wife sleeps. It would also just provide a second work area for power couples who both need to get some work done from the hotel room.
The hotel also has larger suites available, including a long-term stay suite with a kitchen.
Special Features
Le Coureur des Bois Bistro Culinaire, attached to the hotel, holds one of Canada’s rare Wine Spectator Grand Awards. The cellar tops 18,000 bottles; sommeliers present the iPad list or pull rarities for a guided tasting by reservation. Even casual diners benefit: an Enomatic system pours high-tier Burgundies or Ontario ice wines by the glass.
I visited the Hôtel Rive Gauche on a press trip to Southern Quebec. The tourism board really wanted us to experience the attached Le Coureur des Bois, but our visit was on the national holiday of Quebec, and the restaurant, which is managed independently, was closed.
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Food and Dining
A breakfast room off the lobby provided a continental breakfast of breads, pastries, cereal, tea, coffee, and juice. There were also some yogurts and boiled eggs in a small refrigerator.
Facilities and Amenities
The outdoor plunge pool opens from mid-June to early September and hovers around a metre and a half deep, ideal for cooling off rather than serious laps. A 24-hour fitness room is also on site.
Parking is free, bicycles can be loaned at reception, and several pet-friendly rooms accommodate dogs up to 30 kilograms.
The hotel features seven meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 300 people.
Things Nearby
The hotel works as a base for short outings. Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno offers easy forest walking trails and a small lake, just a ten-minute drive away. A little farther, Fort Chambly National Historic Site interprets New-France defenses with costumed guides and period musket drills. Apple-season visitors can detour to Vergers Petit et Fils in neighboring Mont-Saint-Hilaire or follow the Cider Route through Rougemont.
See more at A Five-Day Foodie Exploration of Southern Québec.
The Bottom Line
Hôtel Rive Gauche combines riverfront calm, Montréal-commutable convenience, and a wine program normally reserved for capital-city budgets. Rooms are contemporary and comfortable, service is friendly, and culinary credentials are top-tier. The fitness and pool offerings register as basic, yet the overall value—especially for wine enthusiasts or electric-vehicle drivers—justifies a deliberate stop in the Richelieu Valley. If your travels through Québec favor good food and easy access to soft adventure, this property merits a place on the shortlist.
Rooms start at around CA$179 a night. Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
My stay at La Cache du Lac Champlain was paid for as part of a press trip to Southern Quebec, but the views expressed are my own.
