57 Jungfrugatan, Stockholm, Sweden | (618) 248-8274
Peaceful residential setting a five minutes' walk from the metro
Modern rooms have attractive Art Deco touches -- some come with
balconies
In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs with cable
channels
Breakfast, afternoon snacks, and dinner all included in
rates
Up-to-date sauna, steam bath, and mini-gym on-site
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Poor selection of bathroom
toiletries
Bathrooms have tiny shower stalls
Some rooms are
small
No in-room air conditioning
The Clarion
Collection Tapto is an upper-mid-range, 140-room hotel situated in a leafy
and largely residential neighborhood a 10 minutes' drive from the center of
Stockholm. Rooms are clean and sleek (if simple) with free Wi-Fi . Some have balconies,
but some are quite small and bathrooms are underwhelming with tiny shower stalls and green tiling. Free breakfast and
dinner is a real bonus, and fitness facilities are impressively modern. If the location
isn't an issue, this Clarion is a solid pick, though for a more
central setting check out the Clarion Hotel Sign, which also has a pool.
Scene
Friendly modern hotel with a military past and jazzy lounge vibe
Part of a large
complex made up of two concentric semi-circular rows of buildings, the Clarion
Collection Tapto bestrides one of the wide roads that passes underneath from
the outer to the inner section. The name originates from the military signal means
"go and rest," and the hotel was first opened to accommodate visitors
from the nearby National Defense Headquarters. While reference to this can be
seen throughout the building's seven floors, with small exhibitions of Swedish
military life from 17th century to the present day, the vibe nowadays is
relaxed and welcoming. Soft velvet lounge seating and a lobby featuring
cascading strings of cut glass and jazzy metallic accents also certainly feel
more nightclub than barracks. Clientele is a mix of business and tourism, the latter being mostly families who appreciate the more relaxed vibe away from the city
center.
Location
Set in a quiet residential neighborhood, a 10 minutes' drive from city center
The hotel is
located in the middle of the Ostermalm district of Stockholm, in a relatively
leafy and upmarket residential neighborhood with wide pavements, children's
playgrounds, and not a great deal of traffic. While set a little away from the
city center, the Stadion T-bana metro station is a five minutes' walk away and
connects to the central station in 10 minutes. Alternatively, it' s about eight to 10 minutes in a
cab to the city's main central shops, bars, and dining options. Stockholm
Olympic Stadium, however, is just seven minutes away on foot and the Royal
Institute of Technology is a brisk 15-minute walk. Arlanda International Airport
is around a 45 minutes' drive away.
Rooms
Art Deco touches in all and balconies available on request -- though bathroom shortcomings exist
The hotel has 140
rooms -- Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Suites -- all of which are
decorated in attractive modern styling with New York Art Deco touches and parquet
floors. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, minibars, and large flat-screen TVs with
cable channels, while upgraded rooms also include fluffy cotton bathrobes. Bathrooms are simple with wall-mounted hairdryers
and soap dispensers -- no separate shampoo or conditioner. Three of the four
suites open to balconies, as do three of the Superior rooms which can be
requested if available. Some Standard-level rooms, however, are on the small
side while the lack of air conditioning can be an issue during hot weather.
Features
Buffet breakfast and dinner included -- plus decent health facilities
An outstanding
feature of this hotel is the inclusion of not only breakfast, but also an
afternoon snack and dinner in all room rates. Breakfast is
served buffet style in the bright and modern dining room, with homemade cakes
and cookies in the afternoon, and a selection of soup, salad buffet, main course, and dessert
for dinner. Coffee, tea and fruit are also available around the clock and the
lobby bar is open until late. The hotel also has a steam room, sauna, and
mini-gym, all of which feel fresh and nicely up-to-date.