Hotel Diplomat

Housed in a gorgeous, palace-like building overlooking the Nybroviken Bay in central Stockholm, the Hotel Diplomat is a sight to behold. Situated on the prestigious Strandvagen Boulevard, the hotel is flanked by similarly palatial buildings and Art Nouveau architecture. The interiors are elegant, but with a Scandinavian touch. There’s plenty of natural light from the large windows in the T/Bar restaurant that adjoins the reception area, where the large honey-hued wooden front desk presides over a cozy lobby full of plush seating, dim lighting, and a marble fireplace. A wood-paneled lounge room and small library on the first floor are like postcards from another era, posh but inviting, with sumptuous chairs and chaise longues, artwork in gilded frames adorning the walls, a fireplace with a marble bust on the mantle, and wooden bookshelves in the library that abuts the cocktail bar.

The Hotel Diplomat houses a collection of works by notable Swedish artists scattered throughout the hotel, and the first-floor lounge often hosts contemporary photography exhibitions. 

The central location is within walking distance of Old Town and popular sights, and attracts many international travelers. The hotel’s abundance of well-equipped meeting rooms and spaces that accommodate many different types of functions are draws for business travelers. The atmosphere is quiet and discreet. The T/Bar restaurant is popular with local residents as well as guests, and is a great spot for people watching.

The Diplomat Hotel is centrally located on Strandvägen Boulevard in the wealthy Ostermalm District. It is within walking distance of many restaurants, shops, and attractions, and is well-served by public transit. The street is lined with beautiful buildings, and the hotel faces the Nybroviken Bay. Several buses and the No. 7 tram run along the street and stop outside the hotel. The Östermalmstorg T-bana stop is a seven-minute walk away. There is a ferry port across from the hotel. The historic Old Town, Gamla Stan, is a 15-minute walk away.  

The Diplomat's 130 rooms and suites are airy and filled with light, and elegantly decorated with a Scandinavian touch. Rooms are quite spacious with high ceilings, large windows shrouded in floor-length curtains, and a light color palette that favors grays, creams, and beiges -- from the bedding and walls to the elegant jacquard headboards and plush rugs. The neutral shades are complemented by wooden floors and velvet armchairs in bold accent colors such as olive, mustard, or turquoise. The effect is peaceful and classy, regal but modern. The centerpieces are the sumptuous Dux beds cloaked in linens from the hotel’s own signature collection. Rooms are equipped with elegant work desks, iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and a selection of international magazines and coffee-table books. The larger suites have more living room seating, and include  Nespresso machines. Fresh flowers  enhance the elegant and calm ambience.

The lovely bathrooms are beautifully tiled in light colors and stocked with designer products. Many have separate showers and tubs, though some guests complain that bathrooms are small.

Street-side rooms have views of the waterfront, though they might receive traffic and tram noise from the fairly busy Strandvagen Boulevard. Some rooms have lovely wrought-iron balconies facing the inner courtyard.

The ground-floor T/Bar restaurant is a popular spot among locals and travelers alike. It offers great views over the waterfront, and a lovely terrace that's open in the warm months. T/Bar serves a blend of traditional Swedish cuisine with a Mediterranean influence that emphasizes seasonal, local produce. It's often busy, and guests have complained about slow service. The first-floor cocktail bar, which has a Belle Epoque elegance, is open in the afternoons and evenings. The Diplomat has a fitness center (though not open 24/7) equipped with a range of machines, free weights, and other fitness apparatus but lacks treadmills. Guests can reserve an "exclusive" hour for themselves at The Retreat, which includes a sauna, whirlpool, and beautiful tiled showers, and offers  skin treatments, hair styling, manicures and pedicures. There are several meeting rooms available for private events, functions, dinners, and conferences. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.