When I first arrived at the Gasthaus Switzerland Inn, I wasn't too sure if I had made the right choice. I walked a strange way from the Rideau Centre bus stop down a fairly unsavoury street, and when I arrived at around 11 in the morning the downstairs reception was dark and empty.

However, I left my bags and returned at 3pm - the earliest time you can check in. And I was very glad I did! My room - the cheapest available - was prettily decorated and perfectly adequate in size for one person for a short stay. The bed was perfectly comfortable and the bathroom adequate. I think there are much nicer rooms available, but you get what you pay for, and my room had no real faults, it was just fairly basic. But the reason I would call this place a little gem is because of the owner - Sabina. She is a real character and very happy to help with advice. She will make your stay memorable no matter how short it is!

The other reasons to stay here are a convenient location, within an easy walk of Parliament Hill for sightseeing and the Byward Market for eating out or shopping. But the best reason of all is the breakfast! Excellent swiss coffee, homemade Bircher muesli (which might look like a bowl of wallpaper paste with rapsberries on top but is one of the most delicious breakfasts I have ever eaten), a large selction of breads and pastries, fresh fruit, cheeses - wonderful!

If I go back to Ottawa, which is not top on my list of things to do, I would stay here again. You can probably find more luxurious accomodations, but for personal service, charm and value for money this place is a good bet.

This B & B was amazing! Sabina and the staff were very helpful when asking where to go for dinner and giving directions. The location was very central and we could walk everywhere we wanted, including the Byward Market, Parliament Buildings, and the Rideau Center. On a rainy day Sabina lent us an umbrella, and when we had to check out the early she packed us some fruit and drinks for the trip, as we left before breakfast was served. The bedding was soft and comfortable, and we enjoyed the wireless internet.

If your criteria is merely for a clean, ultilitarian room with an ample breakfast buffet and a great location, then this property could fit the bill.

However, if you believe a $140 a night B & B/Inn - even in a city - should also display a sense of caring in the room decor and a few niceties such as thoughtfully selected and reasonable quality linens and furnishings, perhaps a box of tissues, an extra blanket in the cupboard in case of need, sufficient towels for two people to shower and wash their hair, sufficient bathroom lighting to be able to see to apply make-up, and maybe even a mini-fridge, then you will be somewhat disappointed as I was. We also almost froze to death the first few hours since the radiator was turned off and clearly had been for ages. The room was like an ice-box and took forever to bring up to an acceptable temperature.

Cudo's for the breakfast muesli, though. Very good!

I arrived on a very stressful 2-day business visit to Ottawa from Vermont, U.S., and ended up staying 4 days in the city. Since I did not have enough time to plan my trip, I booked the hotel 1 day before I arrived, expecting to deal with some old and small motel-type of a hotel. Instead, what I discovered was a little European nest in the middle of the city, very close from the US embassy, and from the central market of the city. My clean room, real espresso on the mornings, the hospitality of Sabina and Joseph, wireless in the room and the computer downstairs made my days spent there truly memorable. In addition, the reason I felt relaxed and happy at that place was that I understood how much Sabina cared about the place, the service and everything that goes along with hospitality. It was very apparent that for her and Joseph this place is not simply "one more hotel", but it is their creation, something in witch they have invested a lot of their time and energy. In sum, one can easily sense that this little nest carries a great history and sweet aura.
Had I not encountered this place, I don't know how I would be able to deal with all the stress associated with my work and the snowstorm we got the day before I was leaving. As a matter of fact, I felt so comfortable that I barely left my room when I was done with my business.
Cozy, warm, beautiful, simple hotel, with most wonderful hosts and tasty breakfast!!