Of all the many boutique hotels in Helsinki, Hotel Lilla Roberts in central Helsinki best embraces the Nordic concept of ‘hygge’, the creation of the feeling of comfort and relaxation even on the darkest of winter nights. This is felt in the comfort of the rooms, the ‘drop in’ atmosphere of the restaurant, and the fireplace and wooden furniture in the lobby bar.
Yöpuu has numerous unique rooms of different styles, in everything from Slavic to Haitian. Some examples are the Suomi Filmi room, which is decorated with classic film pictures or the Strawberry Field room, which has an adorable red and white colour scheme. In the summer, the hotel’s outdoor wine terrace is a great place for breakfast, dinner, or just a glass of wine.
If you are visiting Lapland and Santa Claus, the Arctic Light Hotel in the Lappish capitol of Rovaniemi is an ideal base, as it is centrally located for all Lapland activities and excursions. The hotel itself includes modern stylings but with a warm and cosy feel that is especially important in Lapland during the winter. All of this has earned the hotel the 2017 Traveller’s Choice Award from Trip Advisor. The accompanying Arctic Boulevard restaurant is also one of the best in Lapland.
In Helsinki’s fashionable and stylish design district is Hotel Indigo, which fits with the area’s modern image while still maintaining Scandic tradition in its restaurant menu. The street it is built on was designed after a Parisian boulevard. The accompanying Bröd restaurant is an upscale bistro selling a combination of Finnish and European foods, many of them Helsinki-inspired.
On the Åland Islands on the gulf between Finland and Sweden in the quaint village of Kvarnbo is Kvarnbo Gästhem, or ‘Captain’s House’, a boutique hotel located in a charming 18th century country estate building. Located close to the beach, a golf course, and a historic castle – and with an annual Viking market in the village – it is a perfect place for a summer country getaway.
Herrankukkaro is not only a boutique hotel just outside of Turku but also a conference and recreation centre with a spa and sauna. Located in the archipelago and designed after a fisherman’s dwelling, it boasts the world’s largest smoke sauna, traditional archipelago dishes, and cottages which look exactly like quaint Finnish homes.
As fitting for a hotel named after Finland’s national epic poem, Hotel Kalevala is a little more rustic and located in an antiquated building. Yet it still has luxury suites, a wellness spa and sauna, and a high class restaurant. Pets are also allowed, making it a great hotel for a country holiday.
If a fancy manor is more to your taste, Haikko Manor & Spa in Porvoo is perfect for you. The manor dates back to 1362, although the current building was built in 1913, and frequently hosted members of the Russian imperial family and influential artists. Today, the manor has a range of spa treatments, banquet rooms, several restaurants and bars, and beautiful rooms.
This central hotel is ideally located for the nearby Himos ski resort and the cities of Tampere and Jyväskylä. The surrounding area is also stunningly beautiful and even home to some Iron Age archaeological sites. The interior decoration of the rooms is top quality and based around a Finnish nature theme.
Quite possibly the most luxurious high class boutique hotel not only in Helsinki but in all of Finland. Hotel Kämp is worth the price for the movie star treatment, fine dining, and a chance to stay in surroundings which are polished to perfection.