fter opening up this past summer in Hotel St-Paul in Old Montreal, Vauvert Restaurant is charming the posh, exclusive crowds of city— cosmopolitan hotel guests included. The reputation of Vauvert begs for a characterization on urban design that’s showcased by a décor delivered with unique precision.

While the moniker is veiled by multiple meanings, Vauvert’s interpretation is entirely personal. Translating to “far away” in French, this name is also shared by an old castle located outside of Paris that’s known for being haunted by the devil. Hence the expression "aller au diable Vauvert”, which in turn refers to the Quebecois tale La Chasse-galerie where fur traders from the North make a pact with the devil to travel through the night on a flying canoe in order to party in Montreal for New Year’s Eve. Nevermind how hard it is to get a taxi on NYE, but one can only imagine the difficulty of hailing a flying canoe! Selling your soul is always an option.

A nighttime stars are reflected in the décor by countless small lights dangling from the blackened, multi-angled ceiling (resembling a canoe). The general aesthetic is dark, black to say the least, with devilish connotations such as a soothing fireplace positioned in a wall dripped with black paint. Black fur on only one barstool represents the luxuries of the devil and massive tree trunks located in the corners contribute to a woodsy setting. Marilyn Manson could call this his vacation home.

“The concept is for our customers to let go and forget the idea of service for the purpose of eating a meal,” explained Martin Rinfret, the well-spoken Maitre D of Vauvert. “We don’t want you to think you need to sit down, eat and leave. Sit, have a bite, talk with friends, enjoy yourself and make it an evening-long experience.” If patrons just want to lounge, Vauvert adheres to the concept accordingly.