Solo Sokos Hotel Helsinki

Hotel review

A stylishly renovated (2022), minimalist hotel ideal for culture lovers and serious shoppers, just off Helsinki’s main shopping street Aleksanterinkatu. Exhausted from exploring endless high-end boutiques, museums, and restaurants, design mavens will appreciate their hotel’s interior design, too. It’s a tribute to Helsinki’s architecture, wallpaper nodding to landmarks like the Market Square and iconic main railway station (handily, just 400 metres away). Spacious and elegant rooms are ideal to retire to, with wooden floors, modern bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light. The best part? In uniquely Finnish style, some boast private saunas, so you can recharge in peace. Aside from not having to share your sweat session, Italian-inspired dishes at Pauli’s Pizza & Grill are a highlight of stays here; think fresh pasta and wood-fired pizza, served late into the night. Breakfast is equally good, featuring a buffet of local specialties like local Karelian pies of rice porridge baked in rye flour, and smoked salmon. In the summer you can dine on the outdoor terrace, and when the weather’s not on your side, there’s plenty to do. Make use of the 24/7 gym before trying out the communal rooftop sauna; you won’t forget cooling off on the attached terrace, with its sweeping views of Helsinki and the Cathedral. Toast your bravery at Lobby bar Bar HKI, ready to conquer the rest of the city.

Amy Rose Everett Review published: 28/11/2023