Sid Lee’s transformation of an old river ferry into a world class luxury floating spa-boat is definitely nose-worthy. Docked in the Old Port with former factories as a backdrop, the story of Bota Bota begins in the 1950’s when it served as a ferry between Sorel and Berthier, Quebec, until 1967 when it became a show boat, L’Escale, for the next few decades.
Fast forward to 2008: the Emond family purchases the then–retired ferry with a dream of transforming it into a floating spa. After a massive metamorphosis and the help of their friends at Sid Lee, Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau opened in 2010 with a full gamut of health and beauty treatments: steam rooms, Finnish saunas, a nail bar, massage therapy, facials, manis and pedis, to name but a few. Its most trafficked service — the water circuit — allows you to soak in a variety of heated outdoor pools while Bota Bota floats gently below you.
Their restaurant, L’Auberge sur la Route, also doesn’t hold back on the eau-so-magnifique. With Michelin-starred chef Éric Gonzalez at its helm, you can indulge in a healthy gastronomic experience while enjoying unobstructed views of of the St Lawrence.
Bota Bota
Old Port of Montreal
Corner of McGill and de la Commune Ouest
514-284-0333
botabota.ca
