Story Hotel Riddargatan

The Story Hotel is a hipster haven conveniently located in central Stockholm, where the vibe is artsy, the bar cocktails creative, and the decor equal parts industrial chic and boho quirky. The effect is a textbook example of Scandinavian cool. The hotel has done away with reception desks and lobbies, and replaced them with a MacBook station at the entrance where guests are invited to check in themselves (staff is on hand for guests who need help). 

The hotel has a laid-back atmosphere and attracts hip travelers with an eye for art and design. The interiors mix urban chic with an art-student vibe and a dose of opulence -- bare cement walls, exposed pipes snaking their way across ceilings, and concrete floors spruced up with velvet armchairs, vintage furniture, and lots of colorful artwork for an eclectic effect. The Story is certainly no chain but a hotel full of character and charisma. The Story Bar & Lounge attracts local residents as well as guests staying at the hotel, so there’s plenty of opportunities for mixing and mingling, or simply observing hipster Swedes in their natural habitat.

The Story Hotel is situated on a quiet, hilly street in the Ostermalm District, a posh area of central Stockholm where the "rich and famous" reside. The streets surrounding the hotel are full of designer shops and high-fashion boutiques. There are many restaurants, bars, and art galleries in the area, and several museums are within a short walk, including the Army Museum, the Royal Dramatic Theater, and the Swedish History Museum. The waterfront is a five-minute walk from the hotel and the historic Old Town, Gamla Stan, is within a 15-minute walk. The Ostermalmstorg T-bana station is around the corner.

The Story Hotel has 12 different room types to choose from, divided into three categories -- small, medium, and large -- depending on guests' needs. The tiniest room, the Super Squeeze, is for those who just require a bed to sleep in, while the largest, the Attic Suite, comes equipped with a small kitchenette, dining and living room area, and an exercise bike. The rooms are saturated in the industrial chic/artsy boho decor that pervades the entire hotel, though they're minimalist and uncluttered. Raw concrete walls covered with faded and peeling wallpaper are the backdrops to the fluffy beds. Oriental rugs adorn the wooden floors, and a lot of art prints  -- a mixed jumble of photography and pencil drawings -- cover the walls and are available for purchase at the hotel’s e-shop. The effect is quirky and intriguing, and a tip of the hat to the hotel's name -- these rooms look as if they have a story to tell, a tale hiding behind peeling walls and a patchwork of art.

Rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, work desks, and a mini-fridge with free soda and water that is replenished daily (larger rooms also stocked with beers). Suites have living room areas and the Attic suite also has a kitchenette with a Nespresso machine, water boiler, and large stocked fridge. Besides the larger suites, most of the rooms lack storage space, with only a clothes rack to hang garments on. Guests complain of noise in some of the rooms above the bar on the lower floors, and the hotel makes a point to equip these with earplugs.

Bathrooms are small, but stylish, with a retro vibe but modern amenities, like raindrop showers and bath products courtesy of FACE Stockholm. Decorative sink basins are beautifully painted and bare bulbs dangling from the ceiling illuminate the space. 

The Story Bar & Lounge is a destination in itself, attracting a hip Swedish clientele with a colorful cocktail menu and DJ sets in the evenings. The space is large and open, and has a bit of an underground feel with dim lighting and windows overlooking the sidewalk. The raw cement walls covered with quirky paintings, eclectic vintage furniture (purple velvet chairs and plaid couches), twinkle lights, and fresh flowers maintain the artsy, industrial-chic vibe. Every morning, a free breakfast served to all guests --  a simple but delicious spread of fresh breads and pastries, hams and cheeses, homemade granola, yogurt, fresh fruit, and juices. The bar serves an assortment of snacks throughout the day and evening, but the food menu is small and limited (burgers, salads, sandwiches) as the focus is on drinks.

There is a cute courtyard area full of spray-painted garden furniture and potted plants. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. There is no fitness center.