Despite being in a city that’s not short of fine, five-star hotels, the Hotel Diplomat, Stockholm stands out as what is arguably the most effortlessly chic and elegant. After all, the building was commissioned by King Oscar II himself in 1911 and since its conversion to a palace of hospitality in the 1960s has been the place where the world’s jet-set rubs shoulders with Stockholm’s elite.
Our suite at the Hotel Diplomat, Stockholm in the Swedish capital overlooked the water on the chic Strandvägen, in a beautiful and classical Art Nouveau building (complete with wrought-iron balconies, sienna awnings, marbled floors, extravagant fireplaces and vintage elevators).
The rooms are in the classical style, yet offer luxuriously modern accommodation, each a little different from the others, mostly because of the Hotel Diplomat’s quirky architecture. Ours on the fourth floor was characterful, an L-shaped suite with high ceilings and oversized windows – more of a city apartment than a hotel room – featuring a comfortable Dux bed and white and gold bathroom.
The team at the property was warm and friendly, not to mention cute (it is Sweden after all) and it seems its bar-restaurant is the place to be seen, even though summer had not yet fully set in. Local fashionistas in their J.Lindeberg shirts and pastel-coloured cashmere knitwear slung over their shoulders, jostled for a table outside on the street, large glasses of rose wine in hand.
We were content inside, with a view of the harbour through the huge, extensive windows as we worked our way through the menu of fresh local cuisine with a touch of the Mediterranean. For the quintessential Swedish fika, we grazed and caffeined up at Butiken – part cafe, part deli and the perfect place to hang like a local and people watch. When (if) you’ve had enough of the beautiful people, escape to the hotel’s Retreat spa for an extra special treat.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Sophisticate | ARN | GMT +1 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Not that Stockholm is a particularly hectic city, but to experience a little bit of archipelago life and its green open spaces, take a short walk to Royal Djurgården close to the hotel. It was once the hunting grounds of the Swedish royal family and full of holiday homes of the city’s elite, but today it’s a beautiful park-like escape that’s perfect for an evening stroll. On Djurgården you’ll find other delights like the Vasa Museum and ABBA The Museum. |
Photography courtesy of Hotel Diplomat
