The 8 Best Boutique Hotels in Stockholm
A trip to trendy Stockholm deserves a cool place to spend the night. And I’m always on the hunt for good boutique hotels – I’m a big fan of the personal touch and more intimate experience they provide. And luckily there’s plenty of them in Stockholm. This guide covers my pick of the very best ones in the city, why you should stay there, and how much it’ll set you back.
First up, what area of Stockholm should you stay in?
Stockholm is one of the most unique places I’ve ever visited. It’s a city made up of 14 islands, connected by bridges crossing over Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. Beyond that is the archipelago, a cluster of around 30,000 islands (although only around 200 are inhabited).
When you Google Stockholm, you’ll be met with beautiful pictures of a quaint square lined with colourful houses. That’s Stortorget, the main square in Gamla Stan (Stockholm’s old town). The whole of Gamla Stan is stunning, filled with beautiful buildings, winding streets, and plenty of bars and restaurants. So it’s a good option if you’re visiting Stockholm for the first time.
If you like to be further away from the hustle and bustle, Södermalm is only 15-minutes away from Gamla Stan by public transport, and is full of independent shops, green spaces, and galleries.
In all honesty, you’ll be fine wherever you stay. The public transport system in Stockholm is really efficient – there’s trams, buses, underground trains, and even boats to help you get around.
Best boutique hotels in Stockholm
A guide to the price:
£: Under £150
££: £150 – £250
£££: £250 – £350
££££: £350+
#Number 1 Pick – Miss Clara by Nobis
8.7* “Fabulous” Rating | ££ | In the heart of Stockholm
Being a member of Design Hotels – a heavily curated guide to independent and design-focused hotels, you can be sure that Miss Clara is one of the best boutique hotels in Stockholm. The hotel’s based in a former school, originally designed by Swedish architects Hagström & Ekman in 1910. And it’s a beautiful building outside and in. There’s 92 rooms, and whilst the interiors feel quite understated, they perfectly compliment the buildings original features. The arched windows flood the rooms with light, which is a huge selling point for me when I’m choosing a hotel.
The onsite restaurant is open all day, serving brunch, lunch and dinner. At lunch time, expect salads, fish and a vegetarian selection, whilst dinner showcases a variety of international dishes. There’s also a bar within the hotel with plenty of cocktails and wine to choose from. The perfect place to grab a drink before heading out into Stockholm. Plus, there’s a gym and relaxation area, complete with machines, weights and sauna, open 24 hours a day.
Best Boutique Hotels in Stockholm – £
Hotel J
8.6* “Fabulous” Rating | £ | Perfect location for exploring the archipelago
Also a member of Design Hotels, Hotel J is owned by the same group as Miss Clara. And with no availability at Miss Clara when we booked our last-minute trip, Hotel J was the perfect second contender. Although it’s not in the centre of Stockholm, it’s just a short boat trip away on Nacka Strand. This is the perfect location if you’re wanting to explore the archipelago, as you can get a boat tour just a 5-minute walk from the hotel. What I loved about staying here is that it offered a really unique experience of Stockholm. We could easily head into the city to explore, and then retreat to our own slice of nature.
There’s a nautical design throughout, that almost feels like you could be in The Hamptons. It suits the hotel perfectly, especially if you book a room with a terrace looking over the water. Restaurant J is renowned for incredible views and delicious food using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Where possible, they try to use produce from around the archipelago. There’s another snug inside the hotel, with roaring fires and lots of cosy corners, which were perfect for escaping to during our snowy visit in November!
Hotel Sven Vintappare
9.1* “Superb” Rating | £ | Rustic feel
Hotel Sven Vintappare is a beautiful rustic hotel with plenty of charm. Whilst the design isn’t as sleek as other hotels on this list, it feels warm and inviting, almost like staying over at your Grandma’s house. It’s located in a small alley in Gamla Stan, and has only 7 rooms. Each bedroom retains original features from the buildings history, dating back to 1607. Breakfast is included in your room rate and consists of fresh products, from homemade granola to smoothies.
There’s no restaurant on site but you won’t need it with the heart of Stockholm city centre on your doorstep. This is the perfect boutique hotel in Stockholm if you’re looking for something authentic, in a great location, whilst staying kind to your bank balance.
Berns Hotel
8.3* “Very good” Rating | £ | Central location
Just an 11-minute walk from Gamla Stan, Berns Hotel is a great choice if you want a boutique hotel in the heart of Stockholm. It overlooks Berzelii Park and the Baltic Sea, so you’re almost guaranteed a good view. There’s 81 beautifully decorated bedrooms, ranging from a cosy space perfect for a couple of nights, right up to their Clock Suite, spread over two floors with its own sauna and views over the park.
Berns Asiatiska is the hotel’s restaurant and the first Chinese restaurant in 1940s Sweden. Nowadays, the menu takes inspiration from all over Asia, serving up a selection of sushi, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Over in their bar, Berns Salonger is an iconic building in the city, often holding concerts and shows under the dazzle of the chandelier.
Blique by Nobis
8.6* “Fabulous” Rating | £ | Amazing rooftop
Another member of Design Hotels, Blique by Nobis is one of the best boutique hotels in Stockholm. As well as its 242 immaculately designed rooms, there’s two restaurants, multiple bars, a courtyard and an amazing rooftop bar with views over Stockholm. This place is more of a community than just a hotel. Once a warehouse built in the 1930s for Philips, the stripped back industrial feel is still very much present throughout the building.
Blique by Nobis is in between Hagastaden and Vasastaden, an area often referred to as Stockholm’s gallery district. So whilst you’re about a 20 minute train to Gamla Stan from here, there’s plenty to explore on your doorstep. Plus, you’ll benefit from amazing views over the city from Arc rooftop, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar. As well as cocktails with a view, there’s a brilliant choice of pan-Asian courses from the a la carte menu. Or, you can choose the 5-course tasting menu with favourite dishes set by the chef. Downstairs, you’ll find Boketto, serving breakfast classics and a street-food inspired lunch menu.
Best Boutique Hotels in Stockholm – ££
Hotel Frantz
9.1* “Superb” Rating | ££ | Family-run
Found in the Södermalm neighbourhood (the one I recommended as a great substitute to Gamla Stan), Hotel Frantz is one of the best boutique hotels in Stockholm. It’s a small, family-run hotel, with beautifully designed bedrooms, an excellent food offering, and a cosy bar. It’s based in one of Stockholm’s oldest buildings, originally built in 1647 for tailor Frantz Bock.
Each of the 48 bedrooms is uniquely decorated, all with luxurious beds, a soft colour palette, and thoughtful details. On-site restaurant, Boka Bord focuses on leaf and root vegetables, with a selection of meat and fish to ensure a sustainable offering. Menu highlights include panko deep fried pear, feta cheese dip & walnuts, deep fried bao bun with chantarelles, miso dip and pickled cabbage, plus cheese, fresh truffle, gruyere and basil mayonnaise.
Best boutique hotels in Stockholm – £££
Bank Hotel
9.1* “Superb” Rating | £££ | Central location
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, you probably don’t need me to tell you that Bank Hotel is one of the best boutique hotels in Stockholm. The building was originally home to the head office of the Södra Sverige Banking company in 1910, and over the years has played host to many other banks. So when the hotel opened its doors last year, it only made sense to pay homage to the buildings history with the name.
It’s just a 10-minute walk from Gamla Stan and only moments from the waterfront, the locations unrivalled. There’s 11 different room types, all combining a neutral colour palette with elegant touches that give them a really luxurious feel. The Elegant Essential rooms are perfect if you don’t want to spend loads of money, but if you’re looking to treat yourself, the suites are definitely the showstoppers. The rooftop terrace suite comes 2 double bedrooms, a freestanding tub in a magnificent bathroom, and a large terrace overlooking the city.
Bank Hotel really is a destination, and there’s enough here that you don’t really need to leave. There’s two restaurants and two bars, offering plenty of choice to even the most discerning travellers. In the old bank hall is Bonnie’s, smart causal dining under the incredible glass ceiling. After dinner, wander over to the Papillon bar – an intimate setting and the perfect place for date night. Upstairs on the roof you’ll find Le Hibou, a cocktail bar with interiors inspired by Parisian style. On the weekend, the second bar, Sophie’s, opens on the roof – the place to go if you want a bit more atmosphere.
Best boutique hotels in Stockholm – ££££
Ett Hem
9.7* “Exceptional” Rating | ££££ | Luxury experience
Ett Hem is undoubtedly one of the best boutique hotels in Stockholm (you only have to look at the rating). But it’s so much more than just hotel. “Ett Hem” means home, and it’s made up of three private houses, specifically designed to feel like a home, not a hotel. There’s just 22 rooms, as well as a gym, library, sitting room, garden and a sauna. It’s a design masterpiece, the interiors are exquisite, and the attention to detail isn’t forgotten. Each room comes complete with a flatscreen TV, iPad, iPod dock, minibar, and Susanne Kaufmann toiletries.
There’s a simple menu cooked up everyday by the chef, designed to be eaten amongst company on the communal dining table. The bar is found in the corner of the living room, cosied up next to the piano. Everything here feels like you’re staying over at a familiar friends house. Albeit a very rich, stylish friend.
Hopefully you found my guide to the best boutique hotels in Stockholm helpful. Let me know in the comments if you end up booking one!
