Design Tourism / Published on July 16, 2025
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SonoLux, the first immersive art hotel in Quebec
Located on St-Jacques Street in Old Montreal, hospitality meets contemporary art in a one-of-a-kind experience. With 36 rooms, the LUMI restaurant, the Subterra audio lounge, and multiple exhibition spaces — SonoLux is much more than just a place to sleep: it’s a space to feel, reflect, and connect.
Driven by a mission to support both local and international artistic creation, SonoLux redefines the art of travel by offering a sensory, vibrant, and deeply cultural journey.
The 36 rooms, designed by Zabb Design, are havens of peace, combining minimalist functionality with playful lighting. Every detail is crafted to promote relaxation while connecting guests to SonoLux’s creative energy through an intuitive mobile app. The architecture, by Geiger Huot, skillfully meets the challenge of preserving the heritage façade while maximizing functionality.
The LUMI restaurant offers a constantly evolving menu crafted by Executive Chef Graham Hood. Inspired by seasonality and respect for ingredients, each dish highlights one or two main elements, executed with precision and simplicity. The dining experience unfolds in a setting bathed in visual art projected onto the lobby walls and wrapped in a carefully orchestrated soundscape.
After dinner at LUMI, guests are invited to extend their evening at Subterra, our underground audio lounge. Desserts and cocktails are served in a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere, set to the rhythm of DJ sets and live musical performances. Subterra celebrates the richness of sound and the spirit of togetherness.
The Curators at the Heart of the Experience
Cheryl Sim, Managing Director and Curator at PHI, will curate the inaugural exhibition, Seeds of R/Evolution. This powerful collection explores how to navigate the precarity of our times, drawing on history, futuristic speculation, and survival strategies to inspire reflection, engagement, and above all, hope. Featuring a mix of local and international artists — including Katherine Melançon, Jasmina Cibic, Skawennati, Santiago Tamayo Soler, among others — the exhibition will open in october and run through early 2026. It will be followed by a brand-new exhibition curated by a different guest curator.
Frédéric Blais, better known as Fred Everything, delivers a sonic exploration where discovery is at the heart of the experience. The lobby lounge and the LUMI dining room pulse with modern grooves and flashes of vintage jazz and soul — not the obvious hits, but those rare gems that deserve to be spotlighted. At Subterra, the hotel’s audio lounge, Blais has curated a vinyl collection sourced from crate digging finds, enriched with selections of jazz, soul, funk, dub, and hip-hop. Expect full-album listening sessions and regular performances by DJs and musicians.
ART LIVES WITHIN US
SonoLux is an ever-evolving concept, driven by dynamic exhibitions, musical events, and vibrant encounters between travelers and locals. More than just a hotel, it’s a living art space where every guest becomes an active part of the creative story.
