Berns Hotel

Berns sits on the edge of Berzelii Park in the middle of Norrmalm, one of the most central and animated corners of Stockholm. It is a boutique hotel of about eighty individually furnished rooms, and it sits inside a larger entertainment complex that has been part of the city's social life for generations. That gives it a different character from a quiet design hotel: there is a buzz in the building, with restaurants, bars and a nightclub under the same roof, and the lobby feels like a place where Stockholmers come to meet as well as a place for guests to check in. If you like a hotel with atmosphere and a sense of occasion, this is one of the best choices in the centre. The rooms are not uniform, which is part of the appeal. Furnishing is individual from room to room, and the range runs from compact doubles, which are neat and efficient and suit a short city break, through larger superior and deluxe rooms, to junior suites and signature suites with balconies and city views. The largest suites are genuinely spacious, with room for a sitting area, and they work well for a special occasion. Beds are comfortable, with down bedding and a choice of hypoallergenic options, bathrooms are modern, and each room has a flat-screen television, a safe, a kettle and free wifi. Room service is available around the clock, which is useful after a late flight or a long evening out. Eating and drinking are central to the identity of the place. There are two restaurants in the building, one of which serves Asian cuisine, along with two bars, so you can have dinner and a cocktail without leaving the premises. A breakfast buffet is served in the morning. There is also a library, a gym for a morning workout, and a concierge to help with theatre tickets, restaurant reservations and tours. Because the building is lively in the evening, it helps to mention at booking if you want a quieter room, particularly on weekends. The location is the real draw. The King's Garden, the Royal Dramatic Theatre and the waterfront are almost on the doorstep, and Stureplan, with its smart shops and bars, is a few minutes away on foot. The Royal Swedish Opera is a short walk, the tram stops close by, and the Vasa Museum can be reached on foot in a little over a quarter of an hour, or more quickly by tram or bus. Gamla Stan is across the bridge, and the Nationalmuseum and the ferry quay at Strömkajen are close enough that most of central Stockholm becomes a walk rather than a journey. It is also a convenient base for the airport train and for the city's metro, with Stockholm City Station a short way off. Berns suits couples, friends celebrating something, and travellers who want a stylish, social hotel rather than a quiet retreat. Business visitors like the central address and the round-the-clock service, and the on-site dining makes it easy on a short stay. Families can manage here too, although the evening energy of the building is more adult than child-oriented. Valet parking is available for a daily charge, and pets are not accepted. The hotel holds an environmental certification, which will matter to travellers who like to choose greener places to stay. Rates sit in the upper-middle range for Stockholm and move with the seasons: highest in summer and in the weeks around the Nobel festivities in early December, and softer in late winter. If you can choose, book a room on a higher floor or one facing away from the busiest side of the building for more calm, and check when you book what the current breakfast and cancellation terms are for your chosen rate.