Five stylish places to stay in Stockholm

I thought it was time I put together another round-up of stylish places to stay in one of my favourite destinations and, as I currently have all things Stockholm on the brain, the Swedish capital seemed like the obvious choice…

Hotel At Six

I’m starting with the base for my recent trip – Hotel At Six, which is housed in a Brutalist former bank building just off Stockholm’s main shopping street. Created by London-based Universal Design Studio, its sophisticated interiors mix blackened steel, brass and polished granite with soft leather and wool in subtle shades of grey and brown, and the whole place is a masterclass in pared-back luxury.

The first thing you notice is the giant sculpture of a head in the lobby, which was hewn from solid marble by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa. Beyond are two eateries where I enjoyed delicious food and drink – a cosy wine bar on the ground floor serving cheese and charcuterie, plus a smart Asian-Scandinavian fusion restaurant at the top of the stairs.

The delights continue in the monochrome rooms, which have vast beds with quilted leather headboards, beautiful honey-stone bathrooms, Ruark speakers and sleek lamps by Swedish brand RUBN (who seem to responsible for the lighting at all my favourite Scandinavian hotels). Most also encompass sitting areas – ideal for putting your feet up after a busy day of sightseeing (or, in my case, fair-trawling) – and the higher-end categories come with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the city.

Hotel At Six, Brunkebergstorg 6, 111 51 Stockholm; double rooms from SEK 2,495 / £220

Miss Clara

Another firm favourite is the super-central Miss Clara, where I’ve stayed on previous trips to Stockholm (read my full review here). It occupies a 1910 mansion that was once a girls’ school, and its name is a tribute to former headmistress Clara Stromberg. The interiors have been reconfigured by architect Gert Wingårdh but many of the beautiful period features remain, including arched windows and a sweeping staircase.

The 92 rooms have a sober grey-brown colour palette that reflects the building’s past life, but they’re jazzed up with eye-catching features. Built-in storage units are topped with cushions so that they double as window seats, and chair backs are attached to the end of each bed (the idea being that you and your partner can sit opposite each other as you read). There are also Anglepoise lamps, bent-wood headboards from Swedish brand Gemla, and dark parquet flooring which extends up the walls.

The ground-floor restaurant and bar are slightly more glamorous affairs, with cut-glass Lee Broom pendant lights, leather banquettes and striking portraits by photographer Max Modén, but the feel remains relaxed and low-key. And the food is very tasty – a mix of European bistro classics with a wine list to match.

Miss Clara, Sveavägen 48, 111 34 Stockholm; double rooms from SEK 1,990 / £180

Hobo Hotel

Next up is Hobo Hotel, created by Berlin-based designer Werner Aisslinger. I haven’t stayed there myself but it gets the thumbs up from fellow blogger Hannah in the House, who took these photos and whose opinion I trust completely. It’s actually the sister hotel of At Six and sits right next door, but the two couldn’t be more different in terms of style and approach. The rates here are much cheaper and the feel is more laidback and bohemian, with lots of botanical greenery and tribal prints mixed in among the minimalist lighting and furniture. There are also plenty of fun touches, including a wall papered in old book covers in the bar and lounge area, and a hanging herb garden in the lobby which supplies the on-site restaurant.

The rooms themselves are small but cleverly designed, with metal bedheads that act as frames for back-rest cushions, bedside lamps and even magazines. On either side are pegboards with hooks to hang your clothes, plus a handy map detailing recommended places to eat nearby. And most importantly of all, the kingsize beds are apparently very comfortable.

Hobo Hotel, Brunkebergstorg 4, 111 51 Stockholm; double rooms from SEK 900 / £80

Hotel J

Hotel J is a little way out of town, on the shore of Nacka Strand, but it’s worth the 20-minute ferry ride for a break from the city hubbub. It also makes a wonderful base for exploring the Stockholm Archipelago, and we spent a very relaxing few days there a couple of years ago.

Spread across a 19^th-century summerhouse and a series of modern blocks, the hotel was decked out by GANT in a subtle nautical theme – nothing tacky or overdone, but a crisp blend of white and navy. There are tongue-and-groove walls, canvas-fronted cupboards and star-patterned throws – and, this being Sweden, candles glowing from every available surface. Our room was perched at the very top of the highest wing, with a roof terrace looking out over the water, and we spent lazy evenings watching steamboats pootle past over G&Ts.

There’s also a cosy bar with sink-into-comfy linen armchairs and a crackling fire, and sprawling grounds shaded by trees. And Restaurant J, which occupies an old boathouse on the marina, makes a great spot to linger over fresh seafood as the sun drops behind the opposite shore.

Hotel J, Ellensviksvägen 1, 131 28 Nacka Strand; double rooms from SEK 1,575 / £140

Ett Hem

Finally, no list of stylish places to stay in Stockholm would be complete without the multi-award-winning Ett Hem, which sits in an Arts & Crafts mansion in a leafy district just north of the city centre. Its name translates as ‘At Home’ and this sets the tone throughout: guests can help themselves to drinks and snacks from the kitchen at any time of the day or night, seasonal food can be served whenever and wherever you want, and the fire-lit lounge is stocked with board games, books and a cocktail cabinet.

The interiors were styled by Ilse Crawford, who mixed antique and contemporary furniture, cosy sheepskins, and art and photography from owner Jeanette Mix’s personal collection. Some of the 12 rooms have traditional tiled kakelugn stoves; others four-poster beds, glass chandeliers and luxurious marble bathrooms. And at the back of the house are a spa room and sauna, a walled garden and a glass-encased sun room brimming with plants – true oases in the middle of the city.

Ett Hem, Skoldungagatan 2, 114 27, Stockholm; double rooms from SEK 3,575 / £320

Please note some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission for the referral. You will never pay more when clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly. 

Hobo Hotel photography by Hannah Trickett; At Six images 2,5 and 8, Miss Clara images 2,5 and 7 and all Ett Hem images via the respective hotels; all other photography by Abi Dare