Montreal’s Old Port has a very poorly kept secret: a spa on a boat that’s almost unique in the world, moored year-round at the end of the port, between the Grand Quai and Silo No. 5—a former giant grain storage facility, now abandoned.
The boat is called Bota Bota Spa-sur-l’Eau, and from the Old Port promenade you can see a select few in thick white bathrobes, their skin steaming from the hot-and-cold contrast of the sauna and the cool river air. It’s an almost Scandinavian luxury—a chance to relax both mind and body right in the heart of the city—and a detox from the harsh elements that periodically sweep through Montreal—tropical in summer, freezing in winter.
People go to Bota Bota to stretch their legs and soften their skin, all while enjoying the harbor view of the boats. It’s a Montreal classic, and the spa has just inaugurated a second boat, adding a new vessel to its fleet.
PAVILLON DE LUMIÈRE
The new Bota Bota pavilion was inaugurated on July 15, 2026, and was designed to let light and nature flow onto the boat. The expansion adds nearly 2,000 square meters to the floating spa. The pavilion, designed by Sid Lee Architecture, is almost transparent—with lots of glass, open spaces, and air.
The pavilion reimagines and adds a natural harmony to the spa’s water circuit (hot bath, sauna, cold bath). A new sauna dedicated to Aufguss ceremonies—featuring essential oils, hot stones, and a mystical breeze—is situated behind a floor-to-ceiling window, making it feel as though you’re outdoors.
The pavilion overlooks the city on one side and the trees on the other, and it’s going to be packed in the fall. Watching the leaves change color behind the glass while you sweat out toxins is the height of chic.
The pavilion also features a panoramic outdoor bath, cold baths, and a light experience inspired by the principles of cardiac coherence. You can also enjoy treatments, massages, and lunch at Bota Bota. And you’ll want to spend the whole day at the new pavilion, in a thick bathrobe, in a swimsuit in the sauna, gazing out at the river with a clear head.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Where? Bota Bota Spa-sur-l’Eau, at the intersection of McGill and Rue de la Commune West
When? Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. / Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
What?
unlimited access starting at $135
6-hour access starting at $110
4-hour access (until 6 p.m.) starting at $85
2-hour evening pass starting at $75
