Lydmar Hotel

Situated in a five-story beige building dating back to the early 1800s, the Lydmar Hotel features decorative lintels and top dormer windows. Inside, the vibe is hip and the design-oriented spaces display contemporary-classic decor with a subtle Scandinavian edge. Hardwood floors throughout, funky light fixtures, cool wall art (including modern paintings and large framed photographs), and button-tufted couches and armchairs in leather or velvet are found throughout. The property feels less like a hotel and more like an impeccably decorated house in a design magazine. Each floor has its own living room area adding to the intimate atmosphere. There's a lovely outdoor patio that overlooks the harbor and is often host to live DJs, while the two-floor lobby boasts a popular library-like restaurant, with inset shelves filled with books and memorabilia. Tourists and leisure travelers -- especially couples -- frequent the Lydmar Hotel, but business guests and families stay here as well.

Lydmar Hotel is located in Norrmalm, the main borough of Stockholm's city center overlooking the water. The hotel is a one-minute walk to the National Museum, and a 10-minute walk to Gamla Stan (Old Town), where a number of attractions are located, including the Stockholm Cathedral, Royal Palace, the Nobel Museum, and the Riddarholmskyrkan church. The opulent Hallwylska Museet can also be reached in 10 minutes on foot, and restaurants, shops, and theaters are within walking distance as well. The Kungstradgarden T-bana station is a five-minute walk away, giving access throughout the city, and harbor ferries are just down the street, a mere one-minute walk away. Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is about 35 minutes away via Arlanda Express rail service or 30 to 40 minutes by car, while Bromma Stockholm Airport is about a 20-minute drive.

The hotel's sleek, earth-toned rooms are individually designed (no two rooms are the same) and heaped with high-style details. Big windows, cool lighting fixtures, artsy framed photographs, wooden floors, and beige walls with fresh white molding are typical embellishments. Button-tufted headboards, leather or velvety armchairs and couches, and layers of plush bedding give rooms a luxe yet homey feel. Modern gray bathrooms tend to be roomy and feature white fixtures, including tubs or showers with rainfall showerheads. 

Rooms are air-conditioned and include small sitting areas, flat-screen TVs, reading material, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms also have Nespresso coffeemakers, free bottled water, and minibars generously stocked with snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Bathrooms include toiletries and hairdryers. Entry-level rooms begin at about 215 square feet (20 square meters), while the property's largest rooms measure 538 square feet (50 square meters) and include separate living room areas. Rooms may have views of the street, park, or water. Guests occasionally note noise from the hotel's own live music, though this tends to wrap up before midnight. 

The Lydmar Hotel offers lively indoor and outdoor dining and bar facilities, which are well-liked among guests and locals alike. The Dining Room has the ambiance of a private living room and serves seasonal Swedish and French dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is always included in the room rate, and there's a nice selection of hot and cold buffet standards, plus cooked-to-order options like smoked salmon, pancakes, and omelets. The Dining Room also has a bar and lounge spaces, or guests can have drinks outside on The Patio, at the front of the hotel, or on The Terrace, an outdoor lounge space on the second floor. Both spaces are large and stylish, with their own bars and lots of dining and sitting areas. The Terrace serves lunch, dinner, and cocktails during the summer and spring, while The Patio has its own small performance stage. Both indoor and outdoor venues may be host to live DJ entertainment. Room service is available.

One of the hotel's main flaws is its lack of on-site wellness facilities -- though guests do have free access to the fitness center at the next door Grand Hotel. Use of the pool, sauna, and spa facilities incurs an extra fee, however. 

The hotel has a 24-hour front desk and helpful staff who can arrange for dry cleaning and laundry service, currency exchange, babysitting, and concierge services like recommendations, reservations, etc. Pets are allowed. Parking can be arranged, but it costs an extra fee. A Mac desktop computer and printer are available for guest use, plus Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.