Impressive sharp 21st-century architecture
Playful touches and Scandinavian design throughout
Overlooking pleasant park in the center of Stockholm
10 minutes' walk to the central train station
Smart contemporary rooms some with city views
Extensive buffet breakfast (included) with organic
produce
Rooftop spa with heated pool, sauna, and poolside bar
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Breakfast service
gets very busy
Lack of privacy
in bathrooms
Fee for spa and pool
(discounted for guests)
The Clarion Hotel Sign is a large, upscale chain
hotel characterized by sleek contemporary architecture and a young, playful
vibe. The location is excellent, opposite an attractive park and with most of
the city center easily accessible on foot. Rooms are clean and well-maintained with
plenty of space -- apart from the budget-level category -- while some feature
great city views. Although breakfast can get busy, the food is generally very
good and included. Most impressive is the heated rooftop pool -- a relatively
rarity in Stockholm -- and while rates are a little higher than most, this
certainly goes some way to justify them.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Large chain hotel with quirky modern vibe and Scandinavian design touches
Upon arriving at
the imposing, granite and glass-fronted facade of the Clarion Hotel Sign it
will come as no surprise to learn that its the second largest hotel in
Stockholm. Constructed in 2008 and designed by Swedish architect Gert Wingard, the building is characterised by bold
contemporary architecture that combines with acute-angled overhangs that jut
out over mid-air. Stepping inside, this mixture of modern and playful
continues, with sleek 21st-century styling offset by numerous quirky touches.
These include four elevators, each labelled by music playing inside -- rock,
pop, jazz, or lounge and feature instrument on the ceiling. All 10 floors are themed for one of four Scandinavian
countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden), while further Nordic
nods includes pieces by various regional designers, including iconic Arne Jacobsen’s egg chairs dotted around the lobby. Despite
its chain hotel origins, its vibe is original, on-trend, and youthful,
attracting an even mix of business guests, couples, and young families.
Location
Overlooking small park in central Stockholm's Norrmalm district
The hotel is situated opposite a small but
pleasant park in Stockholm's central district of Norrmalm, well within walking
distance of most of the city center. Norrmalm features Sweden's largest
shopping area complete with underground mall, while the city's charming old town
-- on the island of Stadsholmen -- is a five-minute cab journey. The city's
central train station is also under 10 minutes away on foot, with tunnelbana
(Stockholm's metro rail) and the Arlanda express train which connects to
Arlanda International Airport in about 20 minutes. Alternatively, it's 35
minutes by car to Arlanda or 20 minutes to Bromma Airport.
Rooms
Fresh and simple contemporary rooms with HD TVs and free Wi-Fi
The hotel has 558
rooms in five categories, including Moderate (the budget, lower-end rooms), Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Suite. Decor is characterized by simple, clean contemporary lines, splashes of colored fabrics, and classic modern
Scandinavian furnishings. The main difference between the rooms is size -- however
all rooms besides Moderate-class are spacious, and Deluxe Rooms are positively roomy. All
rooms come with minibars, free Wi-Fi, and HD TVs with sports and movie cable
channels (though some minibar shelves are too small for drinks). Bathrooms are
well-maintained and suitably modern, with Superior Rooms and above having walk-in
showers and separate tubs -- though some might find that the frosted glass doors lack
privacy. Superior and Deluxe Rooms also tend to have better views -- over the park
rather than inner courtyard -- while Suites have cityscape views over Stockholm.
Features
Heated rooftop swimming pool with summer bar and DJs
An extensive
buffet breakfast of hot and cold items (including a good choice of organic
products) is served in the bright and airy Atrium or at long tables in the American
Table restaurant. Breakfast is included in the room rate, though beware it can
get very busy, especially weekend mid-mornings. A brunch buffet is
also on offer at on weekends (with pitchers of Bloody Mary or margarita) and American
food with a Swedish twist is served daily for lunch and dinner.The eighth floor Selma CitySpa includes a rooftop
swimming pool heated all year round, while its poolside bar is open in the summer
with DJs. The spa also offers a sauna and massage treatments, but while guests
receive a discount, admission is not free. A second-floor gym is free to all
guests as is the Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
