Widely hailed as Stockholm’s first boutique hotel, the newly rehabilitated Hotel Rival is in the heart of the hip Södermalm district and comes complete with an entertaining pop culture connection in the person of owner Benny Andersson, of ABBA fame. Some say Andersson is the reason the Rival has been such a hit with visiting pop stars and the like, while others more soberly point to the thoughtful and extensive facilities, as well as the comfortable and accessibly stylish Art Deco décor—as attractive as you’d expect from Stockholm, with nothing cold or formalist about it.
Not every hotel has its own cinema—certainly the big chain hotels don’t—and very few have not just a bistro and a charming little café but an on-site bakery as well. The cinema is something of a theme here; the bistro’s walls are papered with a mosaic of nearly a thousand portraits of international film stars, and over each bed hangs an enlargement of a frame from a Swedish cinema classic (or, in some cases, ABBA: The Movie). 32” flat-screen televisions are standard, and the hotel’s extensive and well-curated DVD library replaces the usual pay-per-view arrangement.
The Södermalm island location is convenient and picturesque, right on the Mariatorget square, and the neighborhood adds a number of dining and entertainment options to the Rival’s already overstuffed list. The Rival is a social hub, something every boutique hotel with a bar aspires to, and though the bustle is enjoyable you don’t have to worry about being crowded out, as one of the two hotel bars is set aside for guests.
Rival’s Suites:
Their top of the line rooms are their suites which is perfect for a romantic visit. Suite 704 is the largest and most romantic room at Hotel Rival. The 50 sq m large penthouse suite is situated on the 7th floor, encompassing one bedroom and a separate sitting room with armchairs and a couch. The balcony has a view of Maria Square.
The bedroom has a 210 cm wide bed (King size +) with one mattress, the bed is made with Egyptian cotton sheets. The bed sports a view of the open-plan bathroom with a both a shower and a bathtub. There is a wide assortment of bathroom amenities, soft dressing gowns and slippers. In the sitting room, there are two large armchairs, ottomans and a round table in front of the Samsung Smart TV and Blu-ray player. Suite 704 has a workspace with free WiFi and cable connection. 15-20 DVD movies and a number of CD-records are also available. A wooden floor, air conditioning and a separate lavatory.
Suite 704 can be opened up, see image above, with Executive room 705 to create a two bedroom suite, the Bergman suite.
Deluxe Room
Their deluxe rooms have a roomy balcony and large windows. The rooms are situated at the front of the hotel with a view of Maria Square and range in size between 32-34 sq m. The beds are fitted with a 180 cm wide single mattress (California King size) and made up with Egyptian cotton and airy down duvets. All de luxe rooms have a Samsung Smart TV, Blu-ray player and a handful of music CDs and DVD films. The rooms are furnished with two comfortable armchairs and a table.
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The workspace has free WiFi and cable connection and all ten deluxe rooms have spacious bathrooms with both a shower and a bathtub, soft dressing gowns and slippers. The bathrooms are equipped with a window facing the room and they all have two double wardrobes, which are perfect for longer staying guests with a lot of luggage. There are also other options, what they refer to as standard and superior rooms.
They tout 99 rooms with rates starting at Sk 1,195.00 (roughly US $180)
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
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