The Swiss Hotel on Daly Avenue embodies a century and a half of history, change and renewal

John McQuarrie

Besserer Street bears the name of Louis Besserer, a visionary whose early confidence in Sandy Hill’s promise would shape the neighbourhood’s destiny. In 1838, just six years after completion of the Rideau Canal, Besserer commissioned a formal survey of the land, dividing it into neat parcels with five cross-streets and lots measuring 66 by 99 feet. He called his planned community “Besserer Place” —a name now lost to time, replaced by the enduring identity of “Sandy Hill.” His remarkable foresight would prove prophetic, as the area blossomed into one of Ottawa’s most distinguished enclaves.

Among the grand residences that once lined Daly Avenue—then considered the “popular street” of a new Capital—stood the building now known as the Swiss Hotel. Built between 1872 and 1873 as part of a row house containing three separate residences (#87, #89, and #91 Daly), the structure was part of the investment portfolio of Henry Inglis, a prosperous gentleman merchant. His purchase reflects a common strategy of the time: using land speculation and real estate to elevate one’s place in Ottawa’s emerging economic elite.

By the late 19th century, Daly Avenue had become synonymous with refinement. To reside there was to enjoy an air of respectability and distinction. Yet it wasn’t solely the domain of the wealthy. Modest homes built by early investors who seized the opportunity presented by Besserer’s subdivision stood side by side with more opulent dwellings, each reflective of the owner’s means and ambition.

Over the decades, as Sandy Hill’s character shifted with the currents of history, the stately house at 89 Daly Avenue likewise assumed new roles. During the First World War, when even Ottawa’s quiet neighbourhoods felt the impact of the conflict, the house was pressed into service as a military rehabilitation centre caring for wounded soldiers. In the years that followed, it continued to adapt—at one time serving as a nuns’ rooming house—with each incarnation reflecting the evolving needs and spirit of the community around it.

In 1945, like many properties in the post-war city, it was converted into apartments, part of a housing boom sparked by returning veterans and an expanding desire to live and work in downtown. The 1960s saw yet another transformation as it became a rooming house, serving a new generation, including Ottawa University students, many of them children of veterans.

But it was in 1985 that the true renaissance of 89 Daly began. In a stroke of good fortune, the property was purchased by an affable Swiss couple, Sabina and Josef Sauter who, after coming to Canada on holiday in 1982, liked it so much that they emigrated from Switzerland a year later. Their vision was not to demolish or diminish, but to elevate and restore. Eschewing the “Do-It-Yourself” trend, they enlisted esteemed Ottawa architect Barry Padolsky to reimagine the space with care and precision. The result: a boutique hotel with 22 elegantly appointed rooms, each featuring modern glass-walled bathrooms while yet retaining the warmth of the original, hot-water radiators, still functional and full of character. Individually controlled air conditioners deliver cool summer comfort to guests.

In working alongside co-owner Sabina to shape this story, I was utterly charmed, not only by her luminous smile, but also by a warmth and spirited enthusiasm that surely lit the air on that very first day back in 1985, when the doors of the couple’s dream opened to the world.

Today, as their website proudly declares, the Swiss Hotel is one of the few independently owned and operated hotels in Ottawa. Nestled in a beautifully restored stone building, it marries modern comfort with the timeless charm of Swiss hospitality. A secluded courtyard garden and a fireplace-lit meeting room complete the experience, offering guests a serene retreat in the heart of the city.

From its roots as a merchant’s investment to its current role as a haven for travellers, 89 Daly has witnessed—and embodied—over 150 years of change, resilience, and renewal.

Adapted from: A Social History of #89 Daly Avenue by Mark Lowell (1997) and www.swisshotel.ca