At Six

A brutalist bank office at Brunkebergstorg transformed into a hotel

At Six is located in a building from the 1970s at Brunkebergstorg in central Stockholm. The building originally functioned as a bank office and is one of four buildings from the same era that surround the square. The hotel opened in 2017 following a comprehensive transformation where London-based Universal Design Studio was responsible for the interiors. The brief involved creating an environment that is authentic in relation to the building's brutalist character whilst simultaneously being warm and welcoming. The material choices – hewn stone, wood, polished granite and marble in combination with brass and darkened steel – are intended to reflect rather than conceal the building's origins.

The hotel contains a total of 343 rooms and suites distributed across ten guest floors. The location at Brunkebergstorg places the hotel in an area that underwent extensive urban renewal during the 2010s. Stockholm Central Station with the Arlanda Express is within walking distance, as are several underground stations in the area. The hotel has no dedicated drop-off point, which means arrival by car requires luggage to be unloaded on the street – parking can be booked separately.

Conference operations form an important part of the hotel's profile. The hotel offers a total of 3,000 square metres of event space, including an Executive Boardroom and private event venues. This makes At Six a relevant option for conferences in central Stockholm, not only for leisure or business travellers staying individually. The combination of central location, conference capacity and clear design profile is unusual among Stockholm hotels.

Room choice: courtyard, top floor or private terrace determines the category

The hotel's room categories differ primarily in location and view, not solely in size. Standard rooms are 22–25 square metres and face the courtyard. They have a seating area built into a window recess – a recurring design detail throughout the hotel – but those seeking city views need to choose a different category. Superior rooms share the basic layout with standard and are also 22–25 square metres. Deluxe rooms are located on the hotel's top floors and offer panoramic windows with city views, despite the area being no larger than in lower categories. The price difference between standard and deluxe is in practice about views rather than space.

Junior suites of 32–42 square metres accommodate up to three guests and feature a lounge area and panoramic windows. The 45 square metre suite has a separate living room and private balcony. The Masterpiece Suite at 115 square metres is located on the hotel's top floor and has a private terrace with views over Stockholm's skyline. It can be complemented with an adjoining room for additional guests.

Common to all rooms are beds from Swedish Hilding Anders, Ruark sound systems with music streaming, fully stocked minibar and flat-screen TV. Ecological Swedish toiletries are included in all rooms. Turndown service is included for suites but not for standard rooms. Breakfast is not included in the standard rate but is booked separately, which is important to factor in when comparing prices with hotels where breakfast is included. In-room dining is available for those who prefer to eat in their room.

The art collection with Jaume Plensa's sculpture as the centrepiece in the lobby

At Six has built up an art collection that is integrated throughout the hotel, curated by Swedish art historian Sune Nordgren, previously active at institutions including BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. The collection is distributed across public areas and guest floors and includes works by Jaume Plensa, Olafur Eliasson, Julian Opie, Sol LeWitt, Tacita Dean, Spencer Finch, Richard Long, Marijke van Warmerdam and Kristina Matousch, as well as photographs by Dawid.

In the lobby, Plensa's white marble sculpture Mar Whispering dominates the white granite staircase – one of the most immediately visible works for an arriving guest. Tacita Dean's photogravure is placed discreetly behind the reception desk. Universal Design Studio worked closely with Nordgren during the renovation to allow the artworks to shape the architectural atmosphere in specific parts of the hotel, rather than being placed as decoration afterwards.

The art collection is not placed separately as in a museum but is integrated into guests' movement patterns through the hotel, from lobby to corridors and guest floors. This means you encounter the works in passing, which provides a different experience than a planned museum visit. For those interested in art and design, this is a concrete reason to choose At Six – the collection gives the common areas a content that clearly distinguishes itself from standard hotel environments. It is, however, not a museum with guided tours or separate opening hours.

Food, drink and facilities: restaurants, bakery and gym open around the clock

The hotel has several food and drink options under one roof. Dining Room is the hotel's main restaurant with a menu focused on European and international dishes with seasonal ingredients. During the summer months, service is extended to the square outside. Blanche & Hierta is a combined wine bar, café and delicatessen with outdoor seating facing the square and a selection of small plates. The hotel also has its own bakery, which means bread and baked goods are produced within the building – a feature that strengthens the overall impression of self-sufficiency.

The gym is open around the clock and is included for hotel guests at no extra charge. It is equipped with machines from Technogym and Eleiko, two brands associated with more serious training facilities rather than standard hotel gyms. Adjacent to the gym is a sauna in separate changing rooms for women and men respectively. Spa treatments, including Swedish massage and deep tissue massage, can be booked for an additional fee. Personal training is available on request, which is relevant for those who wish to maintain a training schedule during longer stays.

The hotel offers parking for a fee as well as a private garage. Universal adapters are available for purchase at reception. The hotel is Nordic Swan eco-labelled. These concrete details illustrate that the hotel's service level is broad but that several services are chargeable rather than included in the room rate – something worth considering when planning your stay, particularly for those travelling with specific needs or staying for a longer period.