If you could go back in time to 1865, you would see that at the very same place where the modern portion of the HOTEL10 is erected today was… a church. At the time, the Orthodox Church of Holy Trinity was mainly attended by the Montreal Greek community. It was unfortunately ravaged by fire in 1986 and served as a presbytery and an office building before being converted into a hotel in the early 2000s.
HOTEL10 today combines the Godin building and the modern portion (where the church used to be). An article in Journal de Montreal dated January 17, 1986 states that “one of the most beautiful churches in the city fell prey to the flames yesterday and some irreplaceable works of art suffered terrible damage”. It also states “the church was an historic building located in downtown Montreal at 8, Sherbrooke Street West”. Since then, the legal address has been changed for 10 Sherbrooke West, hence the name HOTEL10.
A capture screen of Le Journal de Montreal story, dated from January 1986.
In response to this tragedy, the government reportedly attempted to transform the old church, which had been left in tatters for almost a year, into an office building. The idea caused an uproar as many communities wanted the church to be rebuilt. Finally, the project for its conversion into a commercial building was approved by the city in 1987 but only if the original structure was preserved. Good news that still serve us today.
Clip from Le Journal de Montreal reporting the fire.
The Godin building, next door to the ancient Holy Trinity Church, was built in 1915. Immediately after its construction, it became one of the first residential buildings in Canada inspired by Art Nouveau. The building is the achievement of architect Joseph-Arthur Godin. The original architectural concrete building, with pale colours, vaulted doors and arched windows and balconies with metal balustrades, perfectly fits the slope of the Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Its design recalls the French style of the early twentieth century. At the time, this building was said to have reinvented Montreal’s urban habitat, nothing less.
HOTEL10 occupies a site long known as a meeting point, where Sherbrooke Street West intersects Boulevard Saint Laurent, historically called The Main. For generations, this corridor marked the cultural, linguistic, and social crossroads of Montreal. Immigrant communities, artists, and entrepreneurs shaped its rhythm, creating a place defined by exchange and expression. Today, HOTEL10 reflects that legacy, standing where traditions overlap and new ideas continue to take shape.
In the early 1990s, the Godin building entered a pivotal chapter as artists began to inhabit its spaces. Musicians, designers, and visual artists transformed the building into an informal creative enclave during a time of cultural reinvention downtown. This period helped cement the site’s artistic identity, connecting it to Montreal’s broader creative scene. That spirit of experimentation still resonates, informing the hotel’s relationship with culture, design, and artistic energy.
The modern addition to HOTEL10 was designed with intention. Architect Dan Hanganu envisioned a structure that honors its historic neighbor while contributing confidently to the streetscape. Rather than overshadow the Godin building, the design reinforces continuity along Sherbrooke and Saint Laurent, using transparency, scale, and movement to engage the city. The result is architecture that feels grounded and contemporary, a thoughtful dialogue between past and present.
The story of HOTEL10 remains closely tied to the Greek community that once gathered here. The land continues to carry cultural meaning, and the hotel has become a place where memory and modern life intersect. Through commemorations, exhibitions, and ongoing acknowledgment, the site remains connected to those who shaped it. This sense of stewardship gives HOTEL10 a history that feels active, personal, and deeply rooted in community.
HOTEL10 is part of a larger preservation success story in downtown Montreal. Recognized within a sector of exceptional heritage value, the property demonstrates how adaptive reuse can protect architectural character while embracing contemporary hospitality. By preserving significant elements and reimagining the site’s purpose, HOTEL10 contributes to Montreal’s evolving urban fabric. It stands as a model for how thoughtful design can keep history relevant and vibrant.
For the past 10 years, tourists from all over the world have been able to discover Dédé Fortin’s rich musical legacy while staying at HOTEL10, located at the corner of Main Street and Sherbrooke Street.
Read the full article from LaPresse here.
Let’s all remember that Les Colocs used to live there.
The occupation for which Joseph-Arthur Godin originally intended the building for a house of report, as evidenced by an announcement in the Prix Courant. However, and still according to the archives, the building apparently remained vacant until 1919. Although it was designed for residential use, it would have served as a studio or office for several artists. It will also be remembered that at one point, it was Dédé Fortin and Les Colocs who resided there. Classified as an historic monument in 1990 by the Government of Quebec, the Joseph-Arthur-Godin building was the subject of a recycling project in the early 2000’s into … a hotel complex. The modern portion of HOTEL10 has been added in 2004 by architect Dan Hanganu.
HOTEL10 is proud of the heritage surrounding its building and its address, and we hope to continue to honour and share our discoveries with you.
We chose this hotel based on the location to get to IGA stadium and walking distance to the old town. Overall the experience did not disappoint us. Clean, modern, decent amenities, close to all point of interests.
Sympathique personnel. Très bien situé. Excellent petit déjeuner. Pratique pour la location de voitures.
Stylish hotel, pet friendly, gym equipment was ok, good location, helpful staff.
I was totally happy!
The rooms were spacious and the bed was so comfortable. The views from my room were amazing. The hotel was centrally located, and I was able to get around without any issues.
Emplacement idéal et chambre propre. Personnel agréable!
It was a very smooth and pleasant stay. The front desk tried their best to check us in early since we arrived early. They also were able to hold our luggage prior to check in and after check out which helped us spend more time with the city. The cleaner came by every day and staff was very helpful with any questions we had. Would visit again.
Brilliant stay.
Large room and bathroom, friendly staff. The water machine in lobby to refill bottles, so no plastic needed. Overall a great base.
Love the hotel 10—been staying here whenever I come to Montreal for a very long time and the rooms are great and the location is amazing. Got in a bit early on my flight and they had my room ready :) always nice
Wonderful welcome - all staff friendly and kind; very clean, nicely decorated and size room and bathroom. Love the valet parking. Really enjoyed our stay.
Thanks for another great stay! We truly appreciated the surprise room upgrade and all the attention and service we always get. Your whole staff, from front desk to cleaning ladies to valet is truly amazing, and dedicated and so pleasant. Je ne parle pas de l’odeur merveilleuse qui règne à chaque étage., Chacun de nos séjours nous enchantent et nous donnent envie de revenir très vite. Nous avons déjà réservé pour fin Août pour le retour sur campus de notre fille et apprécions véritablement vos tarifs “McGill”.
Staff are amazingly friendly. Room was very clean, modern. Beds comfortable. Blackout curtains. Great cafe on the other corner of Sherbrooke. All around great stay. Will stay again if ever back in Montreal!
We had an incredible stay at Hotel 10 in Montreal! From the moment we arrived, the valet service made everything simple and stress-free. Our room was modern and spotless, with a very comfortable king-size bed and a clean, carpet-free space.
The in-room espresso machine was a nice surprise, and we weren’t disappointed! As most of you know, we love staying active, so we headed to the gym first thing in the morning for a great workout. The café also offered a delicious, healthy breakfast buffet that helped us start the day off right.
The hotel was excellent ! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The room was huge and very clean. They replenished all the towels and cleaned up even though we were only there for 2 nights. Valet parking was easy. We felt very secure and would absolutely go back there again.
"Great! A perfect combination of history and modern design. The rooms are beautiful, comfortable and tastefully decorated."
"Reasonable hotel where we felt very comfortable for one night. Valet parking for $35 . Great comfortable bed.The bathroom with huge shower leaves nothing to be desired. Coffee machine and fridge.
In the lobby a decent bar where there is freshly tapped beer at a reasonable price. Also a water station for filling water bottles.
Old Montreal is within walking distance in 20 minutes."
"We were very impressed by this hotel which had fantastic customer service with friendly, knowledgeable, and unusually caring staff. The hotel was modern and up to date and extremely clean. The room was very comfortable with very comfortable bedding and bathroom. We enjoyed coffee in the mornings at Cafe Origine attached to the hotel. The location was central, allowing walking throughout the city for exploring."
