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Passport’s insider’s guide to Montréal, Isoz studied at the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management of Quebec in Montréal. After internships at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Alberta, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace in Switzerland, and Fairmont Chateau Montebello in Western Quebec, it was clear that Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was the place for him. “As far as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to spoil the people around me and make them happy. Is there any better way to do that every day than being a concierge?” he asks.

Isoz started working at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth as a bellman while studying full time. When he graduated in May 2009, he was offered a position as a full-time concierge. “I must have a Fairmont Fairy looking after me somewhere,” he laughs. It’s been a dream ever since. Every day, he gets to help guests make their stay a little more special, and he strives to guide them toward real memories they will cherish for years.

Where are the coolest places to go for cocktails?
One of my favorite places for a cocktail is at Gotha Lounge (1641 rue Amherst. Tel: 514-526-1270. www.montrealplus.ca/montreal/venues/gotha-salon-bar) for its fireplace, live jazz music, and unpretentious atmosphere. If you are more of a jetsetter, Suite 701 (701 Cote de la Place-d’Armes. Tel: 514-904-1201. www.suite701.com) might be your spot. This trendy lounge in Old Montréal offers a great variety of cocktails in refined and elegant décor.

What are the best restaurants for a romantic dinner in the city?
The idea of a romantic dinner can be very different for each individual. If you are looking for that impressive, elegant, fine dining experience in a cozy, warm, and quiet atmosphere then The Beaver Club (900 Rene Levesque Blvd. West. Tel: 514-861-3511. www.beaverclub.ca) is definitely your number one choice. The chef, Martin Paquet, offers an inspired and creative culinary adventure in local gastronomy.

Now, if you are looking to impress your loved one, but don’t necessarily want to save up for months, there is a wonderful little French bistro called Monsieur B (371 rue Villeneuve Est. Tel: 514-845-6066. www.monsieurb.ca) where you can bring your own wine. Stop by the wine shop and enjoy your night here. Chef Georges Blais reinvents bistro food with amazing presentations and exquisite taste.

On a more personal note, if I wanted my boyfriend to take me out to dinner, I would want him to take me to Club Chasse et Pêche (423 rue St-Claude. Tel: 514-861-1112. www.leclubchasseetpeche.com). This wonderful restaurant is located in Old Montréal, one of the most romantic areas of the city. Don’t miss the braised piglet risottoo. It’s absolutely sinful!

Who serves the greatest weekend brunch in town?
The restaurant Le Montréalais (900 Rene Levesque Blvd. Ouest. Tel: 514-861-3511. www.fairmont.com) definitely offers one of the most famous buffet brunches in the city. People come from all over to enjoy its elaborate selection of hot and cold morning delights. The harpist gives it a special and elegant atmosphere. If you don’t want to have to go through the whole post-brunch diet and gym sessions to burn it all off, I would recommend Le Cartet (106 rue McGill. Tel: 514-871-8887. www.montrealbreakfastreview.com/le-cartet). This is a great little epicurean store that offers exquisite à la carte brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

What museums are a must see for visitors?
I really enjoy the Montréal’s Contemporary Arts Museum (185 rue Sainte Catherine. Tel: 514-847-6226. www.macm.org). It’s a more original way to enjoy art compared to the regular big galleries. Every first Friday of the month there is entertainment, which includes live music, bar service, and tours of the exhibitions. Every Wednesday night between 5 P.M. and 9 P.M. admission is free. The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (1380 Sherbrooke Ouest. Tel: 514-285-1600. www.mbam.qc.ca) is also a truly beautiful art gallery. It explores different aspects of local and international artists. For example, the greatly anticipated “Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier” exhibition is going to take place there from June 17th until October 2nd, 2011.

Which guided tours do you recommend most often to your guests?
There are so many great ways to discover what our beautiful city has to offer! Gray Line (www.coachcanada.com/montrealsightseeing) offers a nice three-hour tour that takes you to all the major attractions and points of interest. If you prefer to be able to stop and make your own visits, they also offer a “Hop-On Hop-Off” bus between May and October. By foot, Guidatour (www.guidatour.qc.ca) takes you on a wonderful 90-minute discovery of Old Montreal with a really knowledgeable and professional guide. Going by bike is a great way to roll through the different neighborhoods of the city. Cycle tours Montréal (www.cycletoursmontreal.com) offers three different bike tours for different interests.

Where can you go to get the best views of the city?
There are two views that I really love of the city. The first one is from the top of Mont-Royal Park (www.lemontroyal.qc.ca). You can either drive directly up there and then it’s only a short five-minute walk to the lookout, or you can enjoy a beautiful walk through this amazing park from the bottom of the hill. Public transit can easily get you up there in no time. The second best view of the city is from Île Sainte-Hélène or Île Notre-Dame (www.parcjeandrapeau.com). You will get an amazing picture of the city from there. It is easily accessible with public transportation, or it’s a beautiful bike ride too.

If someone is looking for a full-service spa, where do you send them?
At Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, we love to spoil our guests. Luckily enough, we have a wonderful spa right on property! The Gibson Spa (www.gibsonspa.com) offers a wide variety of esthetic care, massage therapy, and hair care. Cathy is just wonderful for manicures. For those of you who enjoy Scandinavian baths, Scandinave Les Bains Vieux-Montreal (71 de la Commune Ouest. Tel: 514-288-2009. www.scandinave.com) is the place to be. This contemporary spa offers a steam bath with eucalyptus, Finnish sauna, hot bath, refreshing rinse stations, relaxation areas, massage therapy, and a health bar.

Where are the best places to workout?
Workout facilities are available everywhere in Montréal. If you like to swim, the gym at the Olympic Park (4141 Avenue Pierre-de Coubertin. Tel: 514-252-4737. www.rio.gouv.qc.ca) gives you access to the Olympic pools. Nautilus Plus (1431 rue Saint André. Tel: 514-905-9999. www.nautilusplus.com) is quite popular being located in the heart of the Village and being a fairly new facility with state-of-the-art equipment.

Designer labels for less—do you have any suggestions for the smart shopper?
Montréal has tons of shopping. Ste-Catherine Street is the longest shopping street in Canada. There are always great bargains to be found, you just have to browse a little. If you really like to spend hours looking through samples and bins and going from one shop to another to find the perfect jeans, I would suggest Chabanel Street on a Saturday morning. This is the garment district where all sorts of sample sales happen. Unfortunately, it is not anywhere close to downtown and not easily accessible with public transportation.

What are the most popular gay dance clubs in the city?
Like in every city, popularity comes and goes like trends but you always have some “best bets.” Le Parking (1296 rue Amhrest. Tel: 514-282-1199. www.parkingbar.com) is open from Thursdays to Mondays and is one of the biggest gay nightclub in the city. Unity (1171 Saine-Catherine St. Est. Tel: 514-523-2777. www.clubunitymontreal.com) has a very young crowd of fashionistas and house music lovers. The Bamboo room of Unity offers more pop music if you like [variety]. Stereo (858 Sainte-Catherine St. Est. Tel: 514-522-2020. www.stereo-nightclub.com) is the place to be if you still have some energy after last call. This afterhours nightclub is typically open Fridays and Saturdays starting at 1 A.M. and hosts most of the best DJs. To check out all the parties going on, this is a great website: www.lestubbies.com.