Victory Hotel

Occupying a 17th-century building in Stockholm's picturesque Old Town, this upper-middle-range hotel features atmospheric maritime-inspired interiors. Named after a British ship (with guest rooms named after Swedish sea captains), the property is chockfull of nautical antiques and memorabilia that make for intriguing and visually captivating spaces. Model ships and figureheads abound in the lobby, where leather couches and armchairs are paired with Persian rugs on wooden floors. The atmosphere is cozy, perhaps no more so than in the hotel's Tweed bar, an inviting wood-paneled den with handsome leather Chesterfield armchairs and lashings of tweed patterns. Djuret, the on-site restaurant, pairs exposed brick vaulted ceilings and green walls with Persian rugs, tufted leather chairs, and crisp white tablecloths. Clientele is mainly composed of leisure travelers seeking to explore Gamla Stan and other parts of the city. With a breadth of meeting rooms, the property also draws business travelers.

The hotel is centrally situated in Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town. It's on a quaint cobbled street in an area full of dining options and bars. Many top attractions are within a short walk of the hotel, including the Nobel Museum (three-minute walk), the historic and picturesque Stortorget square (three-minute walk), the Royal Palace (four-minute walk), and Storkyrkan church (four-minute walk). The Gamla Stan metro station is just a four-minute walk away, giving easy access to other popular tourist destinations, like the open-air museum Skansen and the Vasa Museum, both of which can be reached in 23 minutes by public transportation. The central train station is seven minutes away by subway or a 15-minute walk. Arlanda Airport is about a 30- to 50-minute drive, depending on traffic, or 30 minutes by public transportation. Bromma Airport is a 20- to 35-minute drive, or 35 minutes via public transit.

Rooms are clean and inviting, with homey maritime-inspired decor, but the cheapest ones are small, so guests seeking something spacious might want to upgrade to one of the higher-category options. Guest rooms are named after Swedish sea captains, and each features knickknacks and memorabilia about the captains and their ships, including paintings and photographs. Neutral hues are pared with rich textiles like Persian rugs, bed throws, and elegant patterned curtains. All rooms, including entry-level Single Rooms, have desks and armchairs or sofas. Grand Cabins have separate living rooms. The grandest and largest option, Captain Johansson's Suite, has a separate living room with a dining area. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, Bang & Olufsen stereos, mini-fridges, safes, trouser presses, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Though there are no in-room tea/coffee facilities, there are free beverage stations on every floor. 

Navy and white bathrooms are a bit small, but they're clean and pleasant with lovely decorative tiling in the shower areas (which feature rainfall showerheads). Bathrooms have underfloor heating as well as magnifying mirrors, plus toiletries, hairdryers, and robes are supplied. Some upper-category rooms have whirlpool tubs. Most rooms have lovely views of the neighborhood, but noise can be an issue in some. 

Features here are convenient and provide relaxation. The hotel has an atmospheric restaurant, Djuret, that serves four-course menus with an emphasis on local and mostly organic fare. The menu is meat-heavy, but vegetarian menus are also available. There's also a cozy pub-like bar that serves drinks and bar snacks like charcuterie and burgers. The bar has a collection of Cuban cigars that can be enjoyed outside in the courtyard, which also has a seasonal outdoor bar. The hotel is home to a wine bar and bistro, The Burgundy, that serves French fare for dinner, plus it has an extensive wine cellar with about 2000 different labels. Breakfast (including hot items) is included in rates, plus there are beverage stations with free tea and coffee on every floor of the property. Other features include a sauna and a small hot tub (which can be reserved for private use) as well as a lounge room with seating and a fireplace. A computer is available for guest use in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Thirteen meeting rooms are available for business events. Due to the historic neighborhood and narrow streets, there isn't any parking here.