RADISSON BLU SEASIDE HOTEL
By Dawn Gibson
Situated in a prime waterfront location which affords guests sweeping vistas of Helsinki’s West Harbour and icebreaker shipyard, the Radisson Blu does seaside with a difference. Think glorious views of glittering blue water as cruise ships dock and ferries head off to Russia and Estonia, and fit Finns cycle past as you stroll along the expansive harbourside, all a short distance from the city’s popular Hietaniemi Beach. The Radisson Blu Seaside is in Ruoholahti, which is located along the western seafront of the city and is a 15-20-minute walk or 10-minute tram ride from the centre. The area was created in the early 20th-century by connecting several small islands to service the nearby port, and was reinvented in the 1990s as a distinctive residential, office and business district where cool shops now sit side-by-side with commercial premises. The hotel showcases its local heritage via Nordic design with a maritime flavour: sailing ship-style ropes are suspended from the ceiling in the lobby, while the 349 guest rooms and suites feature sleek minimalist furniture and cutesy touches such as striped bed linen and a quirky port-hole-style window in some bathrooms. Meanwhile, the previously industrial function of the hotel’s main wing as a dairy plant is re-told via red brick-walled corridors and industrial-style concrete floors, all in keeping with Radisson Blu’s slick, trademark smartness. A wide variety of rooms is on offer, from a 15m2 entry-level to a 70m2 Seaside Suite, the latter boasting two large terraces and a private rooftop spa with sauna and hot tub. Meanwhile, business category rooms have their beds on a second tier facing the view. Some rooms have walk-in showers, some have bath tubs, and some have their own private saunas. The Cultured Traveller stayed in a two-level “Business Class Room” on the seventh floor, which was more like a sophisticated bijou studio in New York or London rather than a hotel room. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill one wall, affording guests stunning views onto the harbour, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of the luxurious king-size bed or from a private balcony. Connected via a metal spiral staircase, the room’s lower level is home to a lounge area, desk nook and bathroom with rain-shower. Hotel facilities include a large and well-equipped gym; in-house Katto Sauna & Lounge located on the top two floors; a no cost “Grab & Run” takeaway breakfast option for guests on the go, and Bistro Gimis which prides itself on serving fresh seafood and other locally sourced ingredients from small producers. The Radisson Blu Seaside ticks all the right boxes for a perfect city stay, complete with friendly, polite and efficient service, beautifully appointed rooms and a substantial buffet breakfast. Whatever room you opt for, at this hotel a sea view really is a must! www.radissonblu.com/en/seasidehotel-helsinki 92 The Cultured Traveller Sep-Nov 2018