Why You Should Book Bank Hotel For Your First Trip To Stockholm

My hotel for a recent jaunt to Stockholm had to meet three requirements. I needed a central location, so I could easily scoot around Sweden’s impossibly charming capital city. I also craved a boutique property for a more local, less corporate vibe. Last but not least: I wanted a place that included breakfast, so I had one less meal to plan. (As much as I love to eat, I am resolutely not a morning person.)

After some online research and asking an old pal who lives in Stockholm, I picked Bank Hotel. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World™, a vetted portfolio of independently-owned boutique properties spanning the globe, this intimate 115-key hotel checked off all the boxes, and much more.

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Occupying a gorgeously preserved 1910 structure by architect Thor Thorén—even the original massive bronze double doors still greet guests—Bank Hotel (which previously housed several banks) has been one of Stockholm’s top hotels since opening in 2018. Though it’s tucked away on a fairly quiet street, it’s also situated in Norrmalm, the heart of the city, where there’s cultural attractions, restaurants, and shopping galore.

Unlike many of its peers—who lean heavily into Scandinavian design’s minimaliast mandate—Bank Hotel instead embraces a bolder, more colorful aesthetic. The public spaces, like the lobby, are kitted out with Venetian chandeliers and rich mahogany panels, while the accommodations by local interior designers Ida Lauga and Lo Bjurulf take a softer route with muted tones contrasted by jewel tones and bright botanical prints in the pillows and furnishings—all of which were produced expressly for Bank Hotel.

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Other memorable touches included the welcome amenity of Lazy Estate non-alcoholic sparkling tea, a wooden box in the bathroom stocked with essentials you might have forgotten to pack, and complimentary bottles of Vitamin Well’s Focus functional drinks. (They came to the rescue after one irreverently late night.) There’s also a smart range of room categories to suit all kinds of travelers, from the posh Bank Rooftop Double Suite to the Vault rooms, snug windowless boltholes that ensure a curious sense of peace and privacy.

Eating and drinking well here come easily, thanks to several tempting options. To start your morning off on a bright note, just amble down from your room to Bonnie’s, the hotel’s signature restaurant. Under soaring glass ceilings while surrounded by swirling jade green stucco columns, plush furnishings, and lush greenery, you can dig into a lovely spread of fresh fruits, juices, cold cuts, cheese, and baked goods, along with a hot a la carte item of your choice. (I especially loved the fluffy omelet stuffed with creamy mushroom stew.)

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Since Sophie’s, a swanky champagne lounge known for its bottle service and live DJs, was closed for the summer season, I met friends for a couple rounds at The Papillon Bar, a handsome den resembling a well-appointed private office. But it’s Le Hibou, Bank Hotel’s rooftop bar, where my travel companion and I loved planting ourselves nightly. The setting is glam—imagine a velvet rope at the entrance, a crisp black-and-white decor, and two outdoor terraces—and while there’s plenty of original cocktails on deck, like the the rum and ginger-spiked Hoot Hoot, don’t hesitate to go off-menu. The staff here, as with the rest of the hotel, are totally warm and conversational, and will go out of their way to ensure your first visit to Bank Hotel certainly won’t be your last.