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Casa Bianca

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<p>With most of the city's top hotels near the old city, many a traveler interested in exploring the boutiques, restaurants, and lounges of Montreal's colorful central neighborhoods (Le Plateau, Outremont, Mile End) has been forced to shuttle to and fro via taxi. It was a welcome relief when this serene five-room inn opened in 2006. The landmarked French Renaissance Revival building has beautiful historic details, including wrought-iron stairs and a terra-cotta fountain in the front hallway. The owners take the <em>Bianca</em> (white) theme seriously, with very little color in the rooms save for blond-wood floors and bright green and red bedspreads. But quirky little touches—a John Currin–style painting in the upstairs Rachel suite, an all-organic food-and-furnishings approach—warm the place up considerably. </p> <p><strong>Insider Tip:</strong? Bring your tennis racket and set up a time to play on the Parc Jeanne-Mance courts (call 514-872-5520), located just across the street. It's $9 an hour in the summer and fall; free the rest of the year.</p> <p><strong>Room to Book: </strong>Marie-Anne may not be the quietest of rooms (it's set near the front door and the breakfast nook), but it's the largest and most stylish, with a spacious sitting room and abundant wainscoting. </p>