The Metcalfe Hotel

In a century-old red-brick building steps from Parliament Hill, The Metcalfe reopened in September 2022 as Ottawa's newest independent boutique hotel — the debut property of Montreal's Gray Collection group, four years ahead of its Metcalfe Montréal sister. Behind the rebrand lies a layered history: a 1909 YMCA turned hotel turned decade-long Hotel Indigo, now reborn under its own name with a French bistro and relics of its athletic-club past on display.

The place

123 Metcalfe Street, in the heart of downtown Ottawa, a five-minute walk from Parliament Hill and within easy reach of the ByWard Market, Elgin Street, the Rideau Canal and the National Arts Centre — a government-town address long dominated by chain hotels, the gap the property positions itself against.

The concept

The building opened in 1909 as Ottawa's second YMCA, designed by New York firm Jackson & Rosencrans with local architect John Albert Ewart, housing a pool, gymnasiums, bowling alleys and a shooting gallery; photographer Yousuf Karsh once lived there. It later became the Hotel Roxborough, then a Howard Johnson, then Hotel Indigo for roughly a decade under IHG. Montreal-based Gray Collection acquired the property in late 2021, ended the IHG franchise in February 2022, and reopened it independently on September 1, 2022 under its own Metcalfe identity — the brand's debut, four years ahead of its Montreal sister property. Ottawa design firm Iron & Ivory led the renovation, keeping exposed brick, salvaged wooden beams, the visible stone foundation and classical mouldings, while unearthing and displaying vintage boxing gloves, a wooden tennis racket and historical photos found on site as nods to the building's athletic-club era. A five-storey atrium lobby, a curated library and Art Deco-inspired copper-clad details complete the design.

Dining & wellness

Cocotte Bistro, a ground-floor French bistro helmed by chef Stephen La Salle, anchors the food offer behind an Italian-marble bar, hunter-green booths and black-and-white tile that continues into a curved bar shared with the lobby. The Living Room lobby lounge doubles as café, co-working space and cocktail bar. The hotel has six meeting rooms (over 3,800 sq ft, floor-to-ceiling windows), complimentary breakfast, and is pet-friendly.