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“Small, cosy and impeccably run boutique hotel in the heart of Helsinki. Luxury rooms feature clean designs, monochrome details and uber modern bathrooms. A chic bar is the ideal spot to unwind with a drink in the evening and a Finnish breakfast to die for.”

Hotel review

The Fabian is a super-cosy Helsinki gem. It's great in all seasons but comes into its own in winter when you leave the icy streets after window-shopping in the adjacent Design District and walk in to its warm, fragrant embrace.

Relax on cow-hide Barcelona chairs in the lobby library as a smiling staff member brings you a steaming glass of gluhwein (glögi in Finnish) and all will seem right with the world.

The rooms are an eclectic mix of minimalist design and flamboyant touches. Snow-white sheets are draped with charcoal, faux-fur blankets. Ink-black carpets are offset by zebra-stripe, bed-end stools and black-and-white harlequin floor tiles. Simple, wooden, three-step ladders act as bedside tables, hosting Tivoli radios and polished-chrome, Bauhaus-inspired reading lamps.

The Fabian's breakfast area is the heart and soul of the property. I'm not sure if it was deliberately designed to resemble a Finnish family farmhouse kitchen but that's the delightful result. It's small and cosy, with food laid out on a central island and wall benches. Anyone preparing for a long Helsinki walk should head straight for the cauldron of steaming porridge and the large bowl of kotimaiset marjat or Finnish berries. There is no better start to the day.

Matthew Brace
Matthew Brace Review published: 27/02/2024

Recommended for

  • City Style

    • An oh-so chic hotel just steps from Helsinki's Market Square.
  • Local exploring

    • Walking distance to many of the city's sights.
  • Other Activities

    • Historic Suomenlinna fortress is just a short boat ride from the city and a good spot for a picnic of Finnish delicacies
  • Learning

    • LUX light festival lights up the long Nordic nights, with installations and events across the city
  • Museums

    • Walking distance from the famed Museum of Finnish Architecture
  • Great walks

    • In winter, walk, skate or ski out on the frozen Baltic.
  • Local markets

    • Wander through the stalls at the iconic Market Square.
  • Sights nearby

    • Visit the Temppeliaukio Church, excavated into a rock.
  • Cycling

    • Hire a bike and explore the city on two wheels.
  • Watersports

    • Take a dip in the Allas Sea Pools
  • No restaurant

    • Breakfast served.
  • Luxury

  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Free wifi

  • Romantic

  • Contemporary

  • Disabled access

  • Child friendly

  • Pet friendly

  • Chic

  • Boutique

Facilities

  • No restaurant

    Breakfast served.
  • Parking

    Charges apply.
  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Bicycle hire

  • Bar

  • Free wifi

  • Wifi

  • Air conditioning

  • Disabled access

  • Child friendly

  • Pet friendly

Activities

  • Other Activities

    • Historic Suomenlinna fortress is just a short boat ride from the city and a good spot for a picnic of Finnish delicacies
  • Learning

    • LUX light festival lights up the long Nordic nights, with installations and events across the city
  • Museums

    • Walking distance from the famed Museum of Finnish Architecture
  • Great walks

    • In winter, walk, skate or ski out on the frozen Baltic.
  • Local markets

    • Wander through the stalls at the iconic Market Square.
  • Sights nearby

    • Visit the Temppeliaukio Church, excavated into a rock.
  • Cycling

    • Hire a bike and explore the city on two wheels.
  • Watersports

    • Take a dip in the Allas Sea Pools

Map & Location

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