Stockholm’s best hotels: handpicked favourites from luxury to budget

It’s hard to say anything about Ett Hem that hasn’t already been said. The luxury hotel in Lärkstaden, an exclusive part of Östermalm, has attracted more attention than most, and rightly so. Here’s what you need to know: it’s exclusive, secluded and grand without ever feeling showy, the food is outstanding and every last detail, from the art to the textiles and designer furniture, has been chosen with impeccable taste. The concept is the vision of owner Jeanette Mix, brought to life together with acclaimed interior designer Ilse Crawford.

Despite the hotel’s international reputation, stepping through its metal gates still feels like being let in on a well-kept secret. There’s nothing to suggest that one of the world’s most acclaimed luxury hotels is hiding here, apart from a discreet sign bearing the words ‘Ett Hem’. It sits on a quiet side street in a peaceful residential neighbourhood, albeit one of Stockholm’s most exclusive, filled with embassies, diplomatic residences and cars with blue number plates.

One of the things Ett Hem does best, and has won the most praise for, is challenging the idea of what a hotel should be. There’s no traditional check-in desk or conventional lobby. Instead, you step straight into a large, cosy living room of sorts, and as a guest you have access to pretty much the entire house and its many communal spaces, dotted with comfy armchairs, weighty coffee-table books and cocktail bars where you can mix your own drinks.

📍Nearby? Stockholm’s nightlife hub Stureplan is a 15-minute walk away, taking you through Humlegården park and past the National Library of Sweden, while the nearest metro station is just two minutes away. You don’t have to venture far for excellent neighbourhood restaurants and bistros, either. Fine-dining restaurant Ärla, much-loved Bar Nîmes and consistently impressive Animo are all within walking distance, while Mr Cake and Bullar och bröd are just around the corner if you’re after a fika. There are also several acclaimed art galleries nearby.

Time Out-tips: Here’s one of Stockholm’s best travel hacks. You can experience Ett Hem without actually booking a room. Its restaurant is every bit as impressive as the hotel and welcomes non-residents for both lunch and dinner, with a set menu. Places are limited, though, so booking a table is essential.

Address: Sköldungagatan 2, Östermalm

Price: Double rooms from around SEK 7,500.

Nearest metro: Tekniska högskolan, red line

At boutique hotel Ruth, you get a charming lobby, a neighbourhood packed with some of Stockholm’s best restaurants and a breakfast that steals the show. You are slightly removed from the thick of the city centre, but if you’d rather stay among Stockholmers than fellow tourists, this is the place. And Stureplan is only a five-minute taxi ride away.

Decked out in floral wallpaper, lounge chairs and sofas in bright pops of colour, the warm lobby doubles as a living room for the neighbourhood, equally good for an after-work drink or a more indulgent weekend breakfast.

The hotel sits in Sibirien, a pocket of Vasastan that barely registers on most tourists’ radars but is a serious foodie destination, with heavy hitters such as Svartengrens, Prospero, Bord and charming neighbourhood favourite Babette just around the corner. Ruth’s 62 rooms are spread across five floors. They’re relatively compact, but what they lack in space they make up for in personality. Each is unique, even if certain design details crop up throughout.

The real magic, though, happens at breakfast. This is where Ruth really comes into its own. The buffet, a delicious spread of house-roasted granola, seed crackers, bagels, excellent cheeses and strawberry cake, is quite simply the best in Stockholm.

Price-wise, Ruth sits in the mid-range. But throw in the cosy atmosphere, characterful interiors and that breakfast, which is included in your stay, and you’re looking at what is probably Stockholm’s best-value boutique hotel.

📍What’s nearby? Odengatan, one of Vasastan’s main streets, is just around the corner and takes you past one of Stockholm’s best-known landmarks, Stockholm Public Library, which is currently closed for a major renovation due to be completed in 2028. Both the red and green metro lines are within a ten-minute walk.

Time Out-tips: Sweden’s most iconic stand-up venue, Norra Brunn, is just down the street. Slip in for a drink and catch a set from Swedish or international comedians before heading back to bed.

Address: Surbrunnsgatan 38, Vasastan

Price: Rooms from SEK 2,300 per night.

Nearest metro: Rådmansgatan, green line, or Tekniska högskolan, red line.

There’s something almost sacred about the light at Stockholm Stadshotell. The way the shadows fall beneath the penthouse’s circular skylight. Or how the light settles softly on the curved oak staircase that forms the centrepiece of the bistro. Like a kind of via sacra, it leads upstairs to the inner sanctum: the dining room, an intimate part of the hotel with marbled walls, golden cherubs and its own kitchen, opened up for special guest appearances and private bookings.

Then again, we are in a former chapel. Like the rest of the building, the space has been carefully restored and renovated. Many original details remain, including the burgundy and emerald-green stone floor. Others have been added, such as Klara Knutson’s wonderfully intricate marquetry inside the hotel lift, with wood inlays depicting different Stockholm scenes. Then there’s the art, the lion-yellow lamps in the bar and the substantial headboards made from marbled birch by Tre Sekel. Every corner of the hotel is defined by a sense of luxury that is elegant but carefully considered.

The building itself, which resembles a small palace, was commissioned by Dowager Queen Josephine of Leuchtenberg in memory of King Oscar I and stands in Fatbursparken on Södermalm. It sat empty for years before Stockholm Stadshotell moved in, finally giving Södermalm a luxury hotel to rival those of Östermalm and Norrmalm. There are 28 spacious rooms, two corner suites and two penthouse suites measuring 94 and 100 square metres respectively. A pleasant courtyard with parasols and outdoor service when the weather allows sets the tone, while downstairs there’s a sauna with a refreshing and compact, emphasis on compact, cold plunge. The owners’ restaurant background is clear, too. Food is taken seriously here, and they describe the place as more of a restaurant you can stay at than a hotel with a restaurant.

📍What’s nearby? The new Slussen, which has become something of a new entertainment hub with several new restaurants, as well as the Monteliusvägen viewpoint. Södermalm is the part of town for anyone who values trendy wine bars and cafés serving perfectly whisked matcha over traditional sights and attractions.

Time Out-tips: Fatbursparken, where Stockholm Stadshotell is located, sits midway between Mariatorget and Götgatan, Södermalm’s main artery, with countless little cafés, wine bars and bistros tucked along the surrounding side streets. One of the best ways to explore is simply to wander and see what catches your eye, but for a few concrete tips, try Michelin-starred Celeste, Italian wine bar Ottocento and friendly neighbourhood restaurant Nook.

Address: Björngårdsgatan 23, Södermalm

Price: Double rooms from around SEK 3,800.

Nearest metro: Medborgarplatsen, green line.

Urban, central and topped with a rooftop pool. Check, check and check! You don’t stay at Scandic’s Downtown Camper for sprawling rooms or five-star luxury. The big draw? A wallet-friendly price tag paired with an unbeatable location right in the thick of things at Brunkebergstorg. T-Centralen and Sergels Torg are on your doorstep, with the entire metro network beneath your feet and the shopping buzz of Drottninggatan leading you straight to the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan.

Up on the ninth floor, you can take it all in while soaking in the hotel’s open-air pool. At the spa, The Nest, you can warm up in the sauna, a sort of bird’s-nest-like structure, or sink into one of the wide lounge chairs and gaze out over Stockholm’s towers and rooftops.

Last but not least, Downtown Camper’s sociable atmosphere is one of its biggest selling points. There are more than 500 rooms, including several so-called coliving rooms. These work a little like apartments with shared spaces, though no kitchens, and sleep between six and 12 people, making them ideal for families, groups of friends or larger parties. The hotel is also a great base for solo travellers who don’t want to spend their whole trip alone. The activities calendar is packed with everything from yoga and cinema screenings to marshmallow roasting, group runs and guided city walks.

What’s nearby? Downtown Camper really does put you in the heart of Stockholm. Several shopping centres and major shopping streets are right outside the door, while both Stureplan and Gamla Stan, home to the Royal Palace, are a 15-minute walk away.

Time Out-tips: See the city on two, or four, wheels. You can hire a bike or longboard from reception for SEK 100.

Address: Brunkebergstorg 9, Stockholm

Price: Rooms from SEK 2,600 per night.

Nearest metro: T-Centralen, which connects all of Stockholm’s metro lines, is 300 metres away.

Five-star Lydmar pulls off the tricky feat of combining classic elegance with a fresh dose of continental swagger. Dark wooden floors and elaborate stucco sit alongside bold, almost decadent interiors, with handpicked design classics and large-scale photography covering the walls. The location on Blasieholmen, right next door to Nationalmuseum, is hard to beat. Come summer, the sun-soaked waterfront terrace also becomes one of the city’s most sought-after meeting spots, where the atmosphere is every bit as appealing as the view.

The hotel has 46 individually designed rooms and suites, most overlooking Saltsjön, the Royal Palace or the historic façades of Gamla Stan, putting some of Stockholm’s most iconic views right outside your window. Settle down with a book in the lounge, play a tune on the grand piano or make yourself at home in the welcoming ground-floor dining room, which serves bistro classics from lunch until late. Hotel guests mingle with in-the-know Stockholmers here, and there are occasional live performances, plus jazz brunches at weekends.

All of this makes Lydmar one of Stockholm’s most distinctive addresses, a hotel with an elevated yet refreshingly unstuffy atmosphere that draws international luxury travellers without losing its local edge. It’s confident, elegant and chic. Quite simply, Lydmar is where you want to be.

📍What’s nearby? Lydmar is next door to Nationalmuseum, one of Sweden’s best art museums. The Royal Swedish Opera and NK department store are also close by.

Time Out-tips: The hotel also sits right by the bridge to Skeppsholmen, the small island home to the acclaimed Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities (Östasiatiska museet), Moderna Museet and ArkDes. The island also has some of Stockholm’s loveliest walking routes, so a morning lap is always a good idea.

Address: Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2, Norrmalm

Price: Double rooms from around SEK 4,000.

Nearest metro: Kungsträdgården.

How about a dip in a seventeenth-century cellar vault? That’s exactly what you can do at Hotel Reisen, which has a prime spot on Skeppsbron in Stockholm’s Old Town.

Lower yourself into the cool water and let the noise fade away for a while, as reflections from the surface cast dancing shadows across the brick walls around you. There’s no mistaking that you’re in the part of town known as Stockholm’s historic heart. From a 300-year-old footprint forever preserved in one of the bricks to old photographs and a private dining room decorated with details from the century-old steamship S/S Brahe, the whole place is steeped in history.

Hospitality is part of the fabric of the place, too. In the eighteenth century, Reisen was one of the few establishments in Stockholm licensed to serve coffee, and its doors have been open ever since to sailors, locals and visitors looking for rest, a place to stay and entertainment. After changing both guise and ownership over the centuries, the hotel is now part of Hyatt’s The Unbound Collection, which handpicks independent hotels with a strong historical identity.

The sunny yellow façade forms part of one of Stockholm’s most postcard-perfect views and makes for a particularly pleasant backdrop when you take a seat on the narrow outdoor terrace. With a morning coffee or pre-dinner drink in hand, you can watch archipelago boats, cycling commuters and tourists passing by.

What else? As well as 144 rooms and suites, there’s of course a gym and an evening restaurant serving dishes from a modern brasserie menu with Nordic and French influences.

📍Nearby: Its Old Town setting puts you within easy reach of both the city centre and bohemian Södermalm, as well as the new Slussen area. The Royal Palace, Nobel Prize Museum and Stortorget are all within comfortable walking distance.

Time Out-tips: Make sure you book a room overlooking the water if your budget allows. Waking up to the morning sun sparkling across the water is one of the most magical hotel experiences you can have in Stockholm.

Address: Skeppsbron 12, Gamla stan

Price: Rooms from around SEK 2,000, or from around SEK 3,000 with a sea view, and a suite with a sauna from around SEK 5,000 per night.

Nearest metro: Gamla Stan, red and green lines.

The city’s grande dame is a historic institution dripping with old-school elegance. The hotel opened in the late nineteenth century and for more than 150 years has offered the very finest the city has to offer. When it first opened, it boasted modern innovations of the day such as running cold – and hot – water, but the biggest sensation was Stockholm’s very first passenger lift. Today, the standards are just as high.

The 300 rooms, 70 suites and 9 signature suites are sleek and stylish, and the service is impeccable. Grand is also one of the few hotels in the city with a dedicated concierge service – and probably the best. A helicopter ride to the archipelago? A table at a fully booked restaurant? Last-minute theatre tickets? If Grand’s concierge can’t make it happen, chances are no one can. Whatever the request, they work their magic behind the scenes to make every stay feel seamless and tailor-made.

There’s also a Nordic spa with cold-water bathing, a well-equipped gym and several restaurants run by some of the country’s leading chefs – well worth a visit even if you’re not staying at the hotel. Among them are star chef Mathias Dahlgren’s two restaurants: modern bistro Matbaren, where dishes range from gubbröra to pork buns with Chinese five-spice, and the exclusive Seafood Gastro, where sea-themed tasting menus are served on crisp white tablecloths.

📍Nearby: Skeppsholmen, the Royal Palace, Gamla Stan, Kungsträdgården, rooftop bar Le Hibou and Nationalmuseum. (Grand Hôtel and Lydmar are neighbours)

Time Out-tips: The drinks at Cadierbaren really are next level. As well as being served like little works of art in fabulous glassware, the setting – with its dark wood panelling and lavishly decorated ceilings – is something else.

Address: Södra Blasieholmshamnen 8, Norrmalm

Price: From around SEK 4,000 per night.

Nearest metro: Kungsträdgården, blue line.

Sometimes you don’t need lavish luxury or complicated concepts – just a stylish room, a great location and a comfy bed without emptying your savings account. Miss Clara delivers exactly that. Housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau building on Sveavägen, the hotel combines minimalist Scandinavian design with affordable comfort. You’re within walking distance of both Stureplan and the shops and bustle of the city centre, making it an ideal base for an easy city break.

The 92 rooms and suites, spread across eight different categories, are pared-back but stylish. Dark herringbone parquet floors meet white walls, leather details and dark storage furniture. Many have large windows, while the bathrooms come stocked with products from Swedish fragrance brand Byredo. The hotel, which opened in 2014, takes its name from the headmistress of the girls’ school that occupied the building in the early twentieth century. There are two restaurants: Giro serves Neapolitan pizza, while the bar that shares the hotel’s name offers a weekly lunch and brunch. There are also rumours of a new concept in the works, but for now you’ll find classic dishes and cocktails at the bar, which turns things up a notch with a DJ booth for weekend brunches.

Nearby: Miss Clara has a central location, with Konserthuset, Hötorget, Kungsgatan and Drottninggatan all close by.

Time Out-tips: If you’ve got a sweet tooth, the milkshake with white chocolate and fresh strawberries is ridiculously good.

Address: Sveavägen 48, Norrmalm

Price: From around SEK 2,000 per night.

Nearest metro: Hötorget, green line

Behind heavy doors in a listed eighteenth-century building on Södermalm lies NOFO Hotel – a family-run boutique hotel with an eclectic yet incredibly charming look. Its 109 rooms each have their own aesthetic, inspired by cities and global metropolises around the world.

The vibe is laid-back yet sophisticated and the location – not far from Medborgarplatsen and the lively restaurant scenes around Nytorget and SoFo – makes it perfect for anyone keen to explore everything Södermalm has to offer. Think vintage shops, natural wine bars, alternative hangouts and live music venues.

Come evening, guests and Stockholmers alike gravitate towards the lovely courtyard – one of the hotel’s biggest draws – settling in beneath large parasols and strings of hanging lights. In summer, it comes alive with a laid-back atmosphere and live sessions, while autumn sees the action move indoors to the equally inviting wine bar, where the knowledgeable sommeliers are happy to steer you towards interesting artisan wines and small producers.

📍Nearby: The Tjärhovsgatan address puts you right in the middle of Södermalm’s cultural scene. Södra Teatern’s concert and club stages at Mosebacke and Fotografiska’s exhibitions down by the waterfront are both a short walk away. Head north and you can be in Gamla Stan or at Slussen in under 15 minutes.

Time Out-tips: Get to breakfast with plenty of time to spare. The local charcuterie, freshly baked bread and seriously good coffee make this one of the neighbourhood’s most relaxed and delicious ways to start the day.

Address: Tjärhovsgatan 11, Södermalm

Price: From SEK 1,300 per night.

Nearest metro: Medborgarplatsen, green line

Clarion Hotel Stockholm by Skanstull may be a big chain classic, but beneath the conventional surface lies a surprisingly good base for anyone looking to skip the usual tourist trail. The rooms are clean, all the essentials are covered and you can save more of your travel budget for things that are more fun than hotel decor.

The hotel’s biggest surprise is up on high: Elements Spa, where a heated outdoor pool lets you gaze out over the greenery of Årstaviken with a drink in hand. You’re just moments from Skanstull metro station, with a price tag that’s considerably kinder than comparable hotels in the city centre. The location also makes it easy to discover a more local, less explored side of Stockholm. Just a few minutes’ walk away is iconic nightclub Trädgården beneath Skanstullsbron, while across the canal you’ll find hip Slakthusområdet with its industrial concert venues and clubs.

📍Nearby: Nytorget, with its many great bars and restaurants, is ten minutes away. For two specific recommendations, try Bleck and Bacchanale. There are also some lovely walking routes nearby.

Time Out-tips: At weekends, children can use the pool during certain hours. Dogs are welcome too. At the hotel, that is. Not in the pool.

Address: Ringvägen 98, Södermalm.

Price: From just over SEK 1,200 per night.

Nearest metro: Skanstull, green line.