Scandic Sergel Plaza

The Scandic Sergel Plaza certainly won't be winning any design awards, as most of the areas feel like they haven't been touched in 30 years. That said, the common areas are airy and bright, thanks to the huge, circular windows in the high-ceilinged roof over the lobby and restaurant area, and there's a welcoming feeling throughout. The restaurant is decked out with purple and tan chairs, and black tables, although the bar area feels slightly less dated with its clean-lined sofas and armchairs. During the day, the place is abuzz with tourists, business people, and families, and breakfast is especially busy, but staff are efficient and the buffet runs smoothly. The hotel feels calmer at night, when families with young children have retreated to their rooms, leaving others to chill out with a drink in the bar.

The hotel is centrally located on a quiet street not far from Gamla Stan, and the Gallerian shopping center is just a three-minute walk away. A metro line connected to Central Station stops just outside the front door, a convenient tram that will take guests to the Nordic Museum, Vasa Museum, amusement park Gröna Lund, and the open-air museum, Skansen. It's a short 10-minute walk to the old town, Gamla Stan, which is home to the Royal Palace. Tour boats can be found at Red Sightseeing, a 15-minute stroll away. Sodermalm, Stockholm's hippest area, is a 20-minute train ride from the hotel and is home to some of the hippest shops and coolest bars in the city. The nearby Kungsträdgården, the King's Garden, is filled with fountains and trees, and even has an ice rink in the winter.

The rooms at the Scandic Sergel Plaza are bright and light, with hardwood floors and a barebones aesthetic, and many have quiet courtyard views. All are perfectly fine, if dated in style and worn around the ages, although the rooms do get better the higher-tier they are. Standard rooms have a no-frills comfort and the bathrooms look slightly run-down, while the Le Corbusier Suite has a huge living area and a livelier vibe, thanks to pendant lighting, colorful furniture, and some artwork. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and good closet space with a safe, but lower-tier rooms lack coffee-making facilities and mini-fridges. Dated tiled bathrooms have tub/shower combinations, and toiletries from the high-end Face Stockholm brand. Rooms are noticeably quiet, as the hotel is located on a quiet street and the rooms are sound-proofed.

The Scandic Sergel Plaza hotel is a good choice for families, as the in-room TVs have Disney channels and there's a kids' playroom off the lobby a huge blackboard for children who like to draw and a home-corner with a kiddy kitchen. In addition to a small gym, the hotel offers bicycles and walking poles to borrow, and strollers to rent. The hotel has a popular restaurant and bar, and the free daily breakfast is an organic-certified buffet with gluten- and lactose-free menu options. There are a number of meeting rooms for business travelers, including a banquet hall, and there's a business center off the lobby. A small shop can be found near the lobby, selling toiletry essentials, food items, and plush toys. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.