Hotels of the Month

Hotel of the Month, Sweden A glamorous, centuries-old establishment

Hotel Hasselbacken, located on Djurgården in central Stockholm, is an establishment born from notions of glamour, quality and being the centre of the party. It was founded in the 1700s and quickly grew into a popular watering hole for people with an eye for the extravagant and exciting. Nowadays, it is known for its great location, luxurious hotel rooms, its collaboration with and proximity to ABBA The Museum and Stockholm Cirkus, as well as exquisite food for every occasion. Today, it is taking steps to return to its former flair and entertainment.

By Hanna Andersson | Photos: Hotell Hasselbacken

“Hasselbacken has a bit of a cheeky history. It was established in the 1700s and was originally called ‘Dunderhyttan’ – the Thunder Hut! Which I think is simply wonderful,” laughs Ingmari Pagenkemper, CEO of Cirkus Venues, the group which Hotel Hasselbacken is a part of. “It truly was Stockholm’s centrepiece when it came to parties. In pictures from the 1800s, you will see masses of people, great orchestras, dancing, and loads of food and drinks. In the 1980s, we saw Hasselbacken hosting Stockholm’s first gay club, where the drag show groups After Dark and Surprise Sisters had some of their most successful years. It was fun, entertaining, exciting and ground-breaking.”

Evolving classic recipes A restaurant academy was run at Hasselbacken from 1947 to 1969, and its influence has persevered to the modern day. In 1953, the famous Hasselback potato was created.

“We focus on Swedish and French cuisine, with a mission to evolve and elaborate on classic recipes. We are definitely influenced by the restaurant academy, and we are always looking for ways to improve our menus and dishes. Professionalism, quality and years of experience give us the tools to provide a setting where guests can come and just enjoy,” says Pagenkemper.

In the 1990s, the hotel was renovated, and the newer hotel wing was built with a calmer, more sophisticated and elegant approach.

Crystal chandeliers and burlesque lunches The establishment has several grand and extravagant venues, including the Hazelius Hall, which feels like a trip back in time, the Crown Hall filled with crystal chandeliers and luxurious details, and smaller premises such as the Marie Antionette Room. Furthermore, there are 113 hotel rooms of various sizes, the newly renovated restaurant, a wonderful, leafy garden, and a grand terrace – perfect for big gatherings.

“We want glamour to be in focus. Our renovation of the restaurant and other venues has brought it back to the excitement Hasselbacken was famous for. We are arranging Champagne brunches and burlesque lunches. We have live music and DJs performing during our dinner services. We really want it to be the bustling hub that it’s made to be. You walk in and you’re immediately surrounded with generations of parties and elegance,” explains Pagenkemper. “It’s close to central Stockholm, but far enough away so as not to disturb anyone.”

Hasselbacken’s experience and knowledge also make it the perfect venue for a dream wedding. You might want a disco wedding or a tango band – Hasselbacken can provide it all.

Pagenkemper explains: “Not only do we have gorgeous venues, where you can have welcome drinks in the garden, a barbecue on the terrace, and party in the Hazelius Hall, but we can also provide you with personal requests regarding food, music, flower arrangements and photography. We also have all the necessary technology for you and your guests to pump up the volume and continue partying through the night. We have all the contacts you might need after over 100 years of entertaining.”

A one-stop shop at Djurgården Hotel Hasselbacken is part of Cirkus Venues, which consists of Hotel Hasselbacken, Cirkus Arena & Restaurant, Pop Story, Backstage Hotel and Konsthallen Restaurant & Bakery. ABBA The Museum is located just across the street from the hotel, and Cirkus Arena is just a two-minute walk down the road.

“Djurgården might seem far away, but if you look at a satellite map over Stockholm, it is actually located right in the middle! We want to make Pophouse Entertainment Group into a one-stop shop, full of excitement and quality with a focus on glamour. We want people to come and just have fun with us,” Pagenkemper says with a smile.

www.hasselbacken.com/en Instagram: @hotellhasselbacken Facebook: hotellhasselbacken

Hotel of the Month, Finland Parisian flair in the south of Finland

Tucked away in the idyllic town of Porvoo on the Finnish south coast, Hotel Pariisin Ville is as romantic as it is curious. Here, classic style meets modern features in clever displays, all brought together with a level of food and service that keeps guests coming back.

By Emma Rodin | Photos: Hotel Pariisin Ville

Less than 40 minutes’ drive from Helsinki Airport, Pariisin Ville is the ideal weekend stay for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A fantastic travel and food destination alike, it is a small, boutique hotel which was named after sculptor Ville Vallgren, who spent time in Porvoo at the end of the 19th century.

“Ville was a true connoisseur of the finest food and wine of his day,” says hotel manager Minja Sjöström. Known as a spontaneous, loud, impulsive and eccentric artist, Vallgren ultimately described himself as a ‘proud hedonist’, who loved everything life had to offer. “We simply share his view on life, with Pariisin Ville being a tribute to this,” she adds.

Inspiration station Indeed, the essence of Vallgren can be felt throughout the hotel itself. Not only in the art dotted around, but also in the hotel’s style and atmosphere. Speaking of style, Pariisin Ville has plenty. The lobby is pure Hollywood glamour, while the hotel’s dining room has a romantic feel of rural France. Additionally, each hotel room (of which there are only ten) is finished individually with a Parisian touch: its own separate lounge space and bathroom, while some even have their own saunas. Guests will also find plenty of antique furniture throughout the hotel, alluding to the classic sense of Porvoo’s Old Town district.

Small and intimate, Pariisin Ville is ideal for guests who value good service above all. “We put great emphasis on individuality here, making sure each guest leaves with their own personal experience in hand,” explains Sjöström. Though, it is not only about personal interaction, but also about detail. “We have lots of little ways

of adding that extra bit of magic, such as offering exquisite toiletries, serving food on beautiful porcelain and, of course, decorating with real flowers,” she adds.

Food (and wine) for thought However, there is more to this home away from home than just bed and breakfast. Locals and tourists alike come to enjoy a drink or two in the popular wine bar situated in the hotel’s lobby. And just like the hotel itself, the wine bar is small and intimate – though opens up onto a terrace in the summer months. A calm green oasis, the bar serves carefully selected natural wines.

After enjoying some wine, there is the opportunity to move on to The Meat District – Pariisin Ville’s own restaurant. This high-end bistro has a heavy focus on organic produce, including meat, fish and vegetables, and serves food with strong yet simple flavours. “We respect the local aspect of our operation and firmly believe that co-operation with small entrepreneurs in the surrounding area will provide an outstanding and memorable hotel experience for our guests,” says Sjöström.

Furthermore, the menu is designed to be shared with friends and follows the overall concept of ‘dining with a big heart’. Food aside, the restaurant’s atmosphere is relaxed and grounded, encouraging conversation and pure enjoyment. And conveniently, those who fancy a taste of The Meat District can also get it in the Finnish capital. Indeed, Helsinki is the home of restaurants Mat Distrikt and Albina, both of which follow the same theme as their Porvoo counterpart.

Visiting Porvoo “Porvoo is a very peaceful place with many describing their visits here as evoking a feeling of being abroad. Particularly in summer, people flock here to enjoy the great restaurants and bars,” says Sjöström. Other than eating and drinking, there are plenty of other activities to dive into, such as a river cruise to Helsinki and back. There is also an array of small shops to explore, as well as historical buildings and museums. Nature is also close by – why not rent a bicycle and go for a ride, for example?

Whatever pastimes guests choose in Porvoo, they can rest assured that their hotel experience will deliver. “We want every single guest to feel welcome, cared for and to enjoy an intimate experience,” explains Sjöström. “Our definitive goal is for them to feel like guests in a home rather than guests at a hotel,” she concludes.

www.pariisinville.fi Instagram: @pariisinville

Hotel of the Month, Norway A serene hilltop escape with views of forest and fjord

High above the Norwegian capital of Oslo, in the hills of Holmenkollen, lies an idyllic hotel with a fascinating history. From its perch on forested slopes, Voksenåsen Hotell enjoys mesmerising views of the capital and fjord below – but a sojourn here offers just as much culture as nature.

By Alyssa Nilsen | Photos: Voksenåsen Hotell

Designed in the 1950s by acclaimed architects Hans-Kjell Larsen and Terje Thorstensen, Voksenåsen Hotell offers a combination of stunning natural scenery and elegant mid-century Nordic architecture. Throughout the hotel, panoramic windows erase the boundaries between the interior and the sloping pine forests that surround –giving an effect of bringing the outside in. At 501 metres above sea level, the hotel terrace enjoys spectacular views of the Oslo Fjord beyond the woodland canopy, and the spacious hotel grounds feature an outdoor swimming pool, a walking trail and a Korean bell tower.

Inside, the hotel offers serene lodgings. The rooms evoke a signature Scandinavian simplicity, furnished with warm, neutral tones and sleek wooden flooring, and beam with light from huge windows overlooking forest and sky. “Our guests say they feel like they’ve come home,” says CEO of Voksenåsen, Maria af Klinteberg Herresthal. “It’s a place where you can re-

lax and find a sense of peace. It is a small hotel, intended for calm, focus and rest.”

Rich in history There’s a reason for Voksenåsen’s architectural majesty. At the end of the Second World War, Norway gifted the hotel to Sweden as a token of gratitude for their humanitarian aid. Today, it is wholly owned by Sweden and acts as a centre for cooperation between the two countries, hosting conferences, private events, meetings and parties. In that vein, guests at Voksenåsen can take advantage of its unique cultural programme.

“It’s a two-part initiative,” says Klinteberg Herresthal. “We have an ideological, cultural institute which arranges courses and classes for youth, intending to let them meet across borders. They do courses in skills development, music, masterclasses, history, neighbouring languages and more. And then the actual hotel is a separate entity.”

A home away from home. “The hotel’s original name was Svenskehjemmet (The Swedish Home),” Klinteberg Herresthal continues. “It’s a place to return the favour of welcoming people into your country and your home. Here, Norwegians can show the Swedes our nature, culture and hospitality.”

At Voksenåsen’s stunning, woodbeamed restaurant, the philosophy of sharing national fare is extended. The three-course dinner menu offers playful and inventive flavours, based on locally sourced produce and the traditions of Nordic cooking – with stunning fjord views from the table.

Though the mountains are ever-present at Voksenåsen, there are a wealth of nature experiences on the doorstep, for those who want to explore more of the surroundings. Nearby is the Tryvann Alpin centre, Holmenkollen Ski Arena and the vast forests of Nordmarka. In the winter, the area offers hundreds of kilometres of ski trails – some of which are illuminated at night, while hiking and biking trails, as well as idyllic high-altitude swimming lakes, are accessible in the summer.

Art, history and more With the hotel, Norway also gifted Sweden the Voksenåsen Collection, a collection of Swedish and Norwegian art dating from 1960s to modern. In 2019, new art by contemporary female artists was added by The Public Art Agency of Sweden, and today the collection consists of several hundred paintings, prints, textiles and sculptures. Voksenåsen works closely with the nearby Roseslottet – an outdoor sensory art park. Collaborative festivals, projects and guided tours are among the offers at the park, telling the story of the occupation of Norway through visual art.

All said, Voksenåsen offers a special kind of escape, in which you’re both close to, and protected from, the lively buzz of Oslo. Over the years it has accumulated a quiet prestige that seems to both emanate from within and seep in from the tranquil pine forest. Few such accessible venues can promise the same.

www.voksenaasen.no Facebook: voksenaasen Instagram: @voksenasenhotell

THE HISTORY OF VOKSENÅSEN Voksenåsen is Norway’s national endowment to Sweden in gratitude for the humanitarian aid received during the Second World War. From 1939-1945, this comprised material goods and food aid, including as many as 100,000 servings a day of the beloved ‘Swedish soup’. In addition, Sweden took some 70,000 Norwegian refugees, around 15,000 of whom were trained for the liberation of Norway in 1945. Both Sweden and Norway’s kings and prime ministers attended Voksenåsen’s opening in 1960.

Hotel of the Month, Denmark Unwind at Kerteminde’s historical seaside retreat

With its 150-year history, Tornøes Hotel in the quaint harbour town of Kerteminde offers a blend of tradition and modernity in a beautiful setting.

By Tina Nielsen | Photos: Tornøes Hotel

Tornøes Hotel, on the edge of the beautiful Kerteminde harbour, has plenty of stories to tell. Historically, the building was home to a brewery and a pub, but when a new wave of tourism saw the wealthier classes of Denmark go on beach holidays in the small coastal towns of Denmark, the demand for hotels increased. Tornøes Hotel was established in 1865 and has operated continuously as a hotel since.

Located on the island of Funen in the centre of Denmark, Kerteminde is an idyllic coastal town popular with tourists from Denmark and beyond. “Unlike many other popular coastal towns along the Danish coasts, Kerteminde feels very alive all year round,” says owner and director Ulrich Frandsen. “It is not just a summer town; there are many activities and events taking places outside the high season.”

The town, home to Skænkestuen – the oldest pub in the country, has a lively gastronomic life with many good restaurants. After the addition of a new building five years ago, Tornøes Hotel today has 59 rooms – from classic to superior with and without sea views, and including suites as well as facilities for conferences and functions. During the summer months, the guests span everyone from families to couples and business travellers.

The new building was constructed to match the historic visual appeal of the original building in such a style that nobody realises it’s actually a new build, according to Frandsen. “We take a lot of pride in maintaining the history around Tornøes. Respecting the original classic look of the buildings – inside and out – is important,” he explains.

The restaurant in Tornøes Hotel is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering a modern Nordic menu of classic Danish food, including herring, for lunch, while the dinner menu is focused on modernclassic dishes such as fish and steak.

The experienced staff of the hotel are experts in the area and are happy to guide guests in the many local activities. “There are so many things to do,” says Frandsen. “This really is a cosy and welcoming town.”

www.tornoeshotel.dk Instagram: @tornoeshotel