The Best Stockholm Hotels For A Stylish Scandi Stay
Where to stay in Stockholm when you need a Scandi design fix.
If you fancy a mini break to the Swedish capital of cool, here’s our edit of the best Stockholm hotels.
Like Copenhagen, Oslo and Aarhus, Stockholm is one of the most stylish Scandi cities, both fashion and design-lovers should have on their mini-break list.
The city, which locals like to call ‘beauty on water’, is one of the most attractive capitals in the world – it’s also known as the Venice of the North (clue: there are lots of canals). It’s set between Lake Malar and Salt Bay in the Baltic Sea, on various islands, with mainland areas such as Uppland and Sodermanland.
On top of the pristine waterways, there are other big draws to this effortlessly cool city and not just if you’re a fan of Nordic noir or meatballs. The design haven is home to Fotografiska, one of the world’s foremost photography museums; elaborate palaces and churches; and a cobblestoned old town, Gamla Stan.
Unsurprisingly, there’s some seriously slick hotels to be found in Stockholm, such as Ett Hem in the city’s Östermalm quarter – three townhouses have been joined to create a sleek stay with a personal, inviting feel.
Or check in to Bank Hotel, set in a historic building just steps from the waterfront that, yes, was once a bank.
If you’ve already ticked off Copenhagen, move Stockholm to the top of your city-break wish list. Read on for inspiration on where to stay in Stockholm…
Ett Hem
It’s not hard to see why Ett Hem is one of the best hotels in Stockholm: it’s formed from three houses, making it supremely cosy and homely, for a start. The design within the walls of these early-20th-century townhouses in the Östermalm quarter is as stylishly Scandi as you’d hope, with lots of corners to feel at right at home in, from a library and sitting room, to the 22 bedrooms.
There’s a garden for when it’s warm and fires keeping the hygge levels high during the winter. And dinners in the open kitchens are just as welcoming.
Villa Dagmar
Also located in affluent Östermalm is Villa Dagmar. Keeping things on trend at the hotel are a concept store, a wellness centre with a gym, holistic healing and sound baths, and restaurant ‘experiences’ (not just meals) by two innovative Swedish chefs. It also has an exhibition space to showcase an ever-changing array of art and a courtyard for cocktails.
Right next door is the neighbourhood’s famous food hall, or saluhall, which dates back to the 1880s.
Bank Hotel
Set in a landmark building by the waterfront, Bank Hotel has a close to perfect location, near lots of shopping, culture and nightlife potential. There are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from, including, naturally, one set in the former vault.
Others include Le Hibou, a bar with an especially good view from its terrace on the top floor; and Bonnie’s in the old bank hall, now the place for casual all-day dining beneath its high glass ceiling.
Grand Hotel
If you’re feeling fancy, the five-star Grand Hotel is the Stockholm stay for you. The hotel overlooks both the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan.
It’s welcomed high-profile guests and general good-time seekers since 1874, enticing them with an impressive waterfront location, plus its many bells and whistles. These include a spa so you can sauna (when in Scandinavia…), the Veranda, which is a smorgasbord specialist, and two restaurants by star Swedish chef Mathias Dahlgren.
Lydmar
Another Stockholm hotel that’s right on the city’s beautiful waterfront is Lydmar, which has an art collection and a buzzy restaurant, as well as views of the old town. You’ll be well placed for exploring the Royal Palace, Nybroviken bay and the Strandvagen waterfront.
There are plenty of places to enjoy a drink at the hotel, including a terrace and patio, or settle in at the Dining Room restaurant, which is as inviting as it sounds.
Berns
The full name of this Stockholm hotel is ‘Berns Historical Boutique Hotel & House of Entertainment since 1863’, which may be a bit of a mouthful but gives guests an idea of its place in the city’s history. It’s surrounded by shops and restaurants, and overlooks both Berzelii Park and the Baltic Sea.
Berns’ days as a house of entertainment are far from over – it’s still home to various bars and hosts regular concerts and live DJ sets, making it an excellent choice for incoming night owls.
Miss Clara
Meet Miss Clara, a buzzy boutique hotel in an art nouveau building that was once an all-girls school. The central setting means many of the city’s best restaurants, bars and shops are all within easy reach – or you can stay put at the hotel, which has a patio for people-watching and drinks, all-day brunches and a pizzeria.
Noteworthy touches in the guestrooms include Byredo bath products, limestone bathrooms and church-like windows.
Blique by Nobis
There are many convivial corners at Blique by Nobis in Stockholm, but the rooftop restaurant Arc is hard to beat – don’t miss drinks on the terrace for sundowners with a skyline view. If you’ve overdosed on pickled herring and meatballs, you’ll be pleased to hear that the menu has a more Eastern lean, with a Korean sharing menu and other pan-Asian plates.
Boketto serves brunch at the weekend; or try Origo for coffees and remote working by day, and DJ sets by night on Fridays and Saturdays.
Hotel Skeppsholmen
Hotel Skeppsholmen is on a namesake island – you’ll be in the heart of the city, but in a leafy, rural setting, with incredible views of the maritime inlet. The hotel is in a building that dates way back to 1699.
Just around the corner are the Moderna gallery and the National Museum. Other activities include a round of tennis on Stockholm’s first court (which opened in 1882), swims in the harbour or a ferry ride around the archipelago.
Nobis Hotel
If you’re tall or just prone to claustrophobia, you’ll love having a drink at Nobis Hotel’s 28-metre-high lounge bar, which is popular with locals as well as guests. Drinks are also served at the Gold Bar, which is glittery and gilded thanks to the walls being lined with golden mirrors.
The hotel is also home to Bino, for lunch or dinner out on the patio; and Noi, a sociable spot for sharing menus and your pick of the wine list.
Caroline Lewis has been a travel journalist for more than a decade, reviewing luxury hotels and covering destinations all over the world, but with a soft spot for Greek islands and absolutely anywhere in Italy.
Among her most memorable trips are a month spent subsisting almost solely on guacamole in Mexico, sleeping in a room made of ice in Swedish Lapland and a rather lengthy but thankfully bear-free drive across America's wild west.
She was previously deputy chief sub-editor on the print team at Harper’s Bazaar and is a long-time contributor and editor at Mr & Mrs Smith. She writes about travel for Hearst Digital titles such as Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Red, Esquire and more. She read English and Philosophy at Durham, before doing a master's degree in magazine journalism in her hometown of Bournemouth.
When she's not testing out the buzziest new hotels, she's at home in London, probably baking.
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