In the heart of Toronto’s ever-evolving Dundas West neighborhood, surrounded by vintage storefronts, late-night taquerias, and gallery windows glowing well past dusk, stands ODE Hotel, a boutique stay that’s quietly rewriting what urban hospitality looks and feels like. Rooted in story, family, and a fearless sense of place, ODE doesn’t shout for attention. It simply opens its door and says: You’re home now.
Founded by Erica Herbert, a hospitality visionary shaped by her Caribbean heritage and entrepreneurial fire, ODE is more than just a hotel — it’s a tribute. “At its core,” Erica says, “ODE is a love letter to family, heritage, and place. It’s how we say, ‘You’re home now,’ even if you’re just here for the weekend.”
It’s a sentiment that ripples through every hallway, each thoughtfully adorned suite, and in every warm, unpretentious interaction. There’s no front desk, no stiff concierge desk, no performative polish. And that’s by design.
“My husband and I ran our guesthouse business for many years, unbranded, low key — we wanted to build something rooted in warmth, generosity, and a kind of no-nonsense feel — things I associate with my Caribbean upbringing,” Erica shares. “But it was really our children who created ODE. They took what we started and brought it to the next level.”
That intergenerational collaboration pulses through the hotel’s creative core. The family didn’t just hire consultants — they built ODE with their own hands and hearts. One of the most striking elements of that collaboration is the hotel’s visual language: a vibrant, textured celebration of local art and design. “We worked with an amazing designer, Alisha Sturino of Studio Otty, to bring ODE’s vision to life. The direction was to treat each room like a canvas, not a product,” Erica explains. “We didn’t want ‘decor’ — we wanted meaning.”
You see it the moment you walk into a room: the handmade furniture, the mix of vintage and custom pieces, the locally sourced textiles, and most notably, the art. “My daughter sourced all of the art from local artists that she found on Instagram. She has an amazing ability to find art on there that moved her,” Erica says with pride. “And almost all of the furniture is made in Toronto. Supporting the local community is a big part of ODE’s soul.”
That soulful approach stretches beyond the walls of the hotel. ODE doesn’t exist as an island, it’s deeply enmeshed in the cultural currents of Little Portugal, one of Toronto’s most eclectic and storied neighborhoods. “We grew up between our family home in Scarborough and the building where ODE is located, and we fell in love with the neighborhood,” Erica says. “Little Portugal is full of old-school businesses that have been there forever, and new energy constantly moving in — art galleries, vintage clothing shops, amazing restaurants and bars. Even the corner stores are iconic.”
It’s a cityscape that embodies the best of Toronto: richly multicultural, fiercely independent, and in constant dialogue with its past and future. “It’s communities and subcultures like this that make Toronto cool,” Erica adds. “We knew that if we built something here, people would love it. So we encourage all of our guests to leave ODE and go and support all of the amazing local businesses surrounding us.”
And that, perhaps, is the most powerful part of a stay at ODE. It isn’t about hiding out in a luxury bubble — it’s about connection. “We want ODE to feel like a place where the door’s always open,” Erica says. “We work with local businesses, spotlight local artists, and host events that invite our neighbours in. This isn’t a bubble; it’s a bridge.”
That ethos also extends to how ODE approaches its guest experience: not as a service, but as a relationship. It’s human, cheeky, and refreshingly real. “I love the cheekiness of the FAQ section,” one guest remarked. It turns out, there’s a reason for that. “My daughter wrote that and had a lot of fun, because why not?” Erica laughs. “Hospitality, especially at the big corporate chains, can be so… stiff. We’re not here to give a TED Talk on thread counts. We’re here to make you laugh, make you feel something, and maybe remind you not to take life, or luxury, so seriously.”
Indeed, ODE redefines luxury on its own terms. “We believe that luxury isn’t about price — it’s about care. It’s about thoughtful touches, comfort without pretension, and design that tells a story,” Erica explains. “We want everyone to feel welcome, not just the ones with black cards. So by stripping away a lot of the things that a modern traveller doesn’t actually care about, like a reception desk, branded water bottles, valet parking, we are able to provide you with a more luxurious in-room experience at a price that will not put you into financial ruin.”
There’s a quiet audacity in that approach, and it mirrors Erica’s own entrepreneurial path. As a Black woman in hospitality, she’s faced her share of challenges, but she’s turned them into fuel. “I’ve had to prove I belong in rooms I built myself,” she says. “But I’ve also learned that people often underestimate you — and that’s a superpower. You get to surprise them. And then you get to open the door for someone else.”
That sense of purpose is rooted in her own family’s journey. “When you come from a small island and land in a city like Toronto, you quickly learn to hustle,” she reflects. “My parents taught me the importance of hard work and education. And how to make something out of nothing. That grit shows up in everything I do.” It also taught her a larger lesson about ownership and empowerment: “I am a firm believer that the only way to create generational wealth is to create your own business. Working for someone else, you are just building their dream.”
Perhaps nowhere was that grit tested more than when launching ODE during the pandemic. “It taught me that timelines are imaginary and nothing goes according to plan, and also, that you can survive more than you think,” Erica says. “Opening ODE during the pandemic was like building a plane mid-flight. And somehow, we landed.”
Now, with ODE’s reputation quietly growing, the future is full of possibility. But expansion won’t mean dilution. “Yes, we envision growing,” Erica shares, “but ODE isn’t a cookie-cutter concept—it’s deeply rooted in this place. When we do grow, it’ll be in a way that feels organic and stays true to our voice.” One dream? “To open one in Tobago where we are from. That would be very meaningful.”
And through it all — whether in Toronto, Tobago, or wherever ODE may go next — there’s an unwavering commitment to values: sustainability, ethical business practices, and deep community engagement. “We’re constantly asking ourselves: How can we do this better?” says Erica. “That means sourcing locally, reducing waste, and working with vendors who actually give a damn. Sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s a value.”
So what’s the legacy Erica hopes to leave, both for ODE and for the city she loves? “I hope people remember ODE as a space that made room, for culture, for community, for creativity,” she says. “And yes, we’re always dreaming: maybe that’s more hotels, maybe it’s art spaces, maybe it’s something totally unexpected. You’ll have to wait and see.”
And her advice to anyone dreaming of following a similar path, especially women of colour? “Don’t wait for permission. Build your own table. And let go of the fear. And if no one takes you seriously at first, good, that means you’re probably onto something.”
For now, ODE remains one of Toronto’s best-kept open secrets. But for those lucky enough to stay — even just for one night — it’s a place where you feel seen, held, and genuinely cared for. A space that asks nothing of you but to just be.
Book your stay at ODE Hotel now at odetoronto.ca.
