Blique by Nobis

Sigurd Lewerentz Philips warehouse from 1930 transformed by Wingårdhs in northern Vasastan

Blique by Nobis is located at Gävlegatan 18 in northern Vasastan, near the border with the emerging Hagastaden. In 1930, Sigurd Lewerentz designed an office and warehouse for Philips at this very address – a concrete building with a strictly repetitive façade and numerous small windows reflecting the industrial aesthetic of the era. The hotel has since taken shape in close collaboration with Wingårdhs, under the direction of star architect Gert Wingårdh, with a design concept rooted in Lewerentz's legacy. The original structure with exposed concrete and industrial material choices has been deliberately preserved rather than concealed, giving the interior a distinct character of early 20th-century factory architecture.

In addition to the Lewerentz building, there is also a rear building constructed in 1990 by Alenius Silfverhielm Åhlund, featuring a softly curved façade and larger window openings that contrast sharply with the older section. Approximately half of the hotel's rooms are located in this part of the complex. Together, the two buildings give the hotel an architectural tension between the strict functionalism of the 1930s and a later, softer form that emerged six decades later.

The location in Vasastan means the hotel is situated in a vibrant residential neighbourhood with galleries and local cafés nearby, but without direct connection to Stockholm's tourist centre. The hotel is a member of Design Hotels and is part of Marriott's Bonvoy programme, which enables point collection and redemption. Parking is available on site, bicycle hire is offered and pets are welcome. Reception is staffed 24 hours a day and WiFi is included in all rooms and common areas.

249 rooms in three categories – from windowless Sleep Rooms to Studios with kitchenettes

The hotel has a total of 249 rooms divided into three main categories with clear differences in function and design. Sleep Rooms – internally called Sleep Tight and Sleep Deeper – are smaller rooms without windows, intended for guests who prioritise darkness and rest over views and daylight. There are 50 such rooms, which may be an active choice for those travelling during bright Swedish summer nights or working irregular hours, but is a clear compromise for those who want natural light.

Blique Rooms are the standard rooms with windows and make up the majority of the offering. The rooms are space-efficient and well-planned, with bathrooms clad in terrazzo and toiletries from the Swedish brand Byredo. Wingårdhs architects have worked with timeless design and high material standards throughout the hotel, and the industrial features from the Lewerentz building are reflected in the rooms' aesthetic. The combination of robust materials and thoughtful room planning makes the standard rooms feel functional without being spartan, and the architectural whole bears clear traces of the building's industrial origins.

The third category is Studios, of which there are 58. These are equipped with kitchenettes and Marshall speakers and are aimed at guests staying for longer periods in Stockholm. The studios offer a more independent form of accommodation and are more spacious than standard rooms. The presence of a kitchenette means guests can prepare simple meals themselves, which together with the extra space makes Studios a natural choice for longer stays where flexibility and independence are highly valued.

ARC Rooftop on the eleventh floor and Boketto in the basement – two restaurants with different characters

The hotel's most distinctive dining venue is ARC Rooftop on the eleventh floor, a restaurant and bar with 360-degree views over Stockholm's rooftops. The menu focuses on Southeast Asian flavours with dishes designed for sharing, and the service is complemented by cocktails. ARC is open to the public and not exclusively for hotel guests, making the restaurant a natural meeting point for Stockholm residents who do not stay at the hotel. The restaurant can be booked for private events, and the hotel also offers a separate space on the twelfth floor for more exclusive gatherings seeking a more secluded environment high above the city.

Boketto is located half a flight down from the courtyard and has a completely different character from ARC. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch with South American influences in an urban setting and is open to both hotel guests and external visitors. The South American character gives Boketto a distinct identity that clearly sets it apart from the rooftop restaurant's Southeast Asian food concept, and together the two restaurants cover a broad spectrum of flavours and atmospheres.

In addition to the two restaurants, there is Origo, a bar in the lobby that functions as an urban living room and is used for work during the day and events in the evening. The courtyard, called Gården, is used during warmer months for food and drink outdoors and is a central part of the hotel's social concept. Altogether, the three dining venues give the hotel a distinct identity that extends beyond the purely hotel-related and positions the facility as a cultural meeting place in Vasastan.

The cinema Röda Bergen, sauna and courtyard event space – the hotel's shared facilities

In addition to the restaurants, Blique by Nobis houses a number of shared facilities that affect the stay depending on purpose. The gym is on site and is described as well-equipped. A sauna is included in the facility. The hotel also has an indoor cinema called Röda Bergen which can be booked for exclusive events such as preview screenings, music video releases or workshops – an unusual feature for a city hotel.

For meetings and conferences, there are a number of named rooms, all named after buildings from Lewerentz's portfolio. Among these is Ås at 37 square metres with direct access to the courtyard. St Markus and St Petri are each 35 square metres and are located next to the Boketto restaurant with direct access to the courtyard. Blomsterkiosken is the hotel's largest event space and adjoins the courtyard, enabling combined indoor and outdoor arrangements for larger groups. The fact that the meeting rooms bear names drawn from Lewerentz's architectural legacy reflects the hotel's overarching ambition to keep the building's history present even in the functional parts of the facility.

The courtyard is a recurring feature in the hotel's identity and is used for pop-up events, DJ sets and live music. The hotel actively positions itself as a cultural meeting place rather than merely an overnight accommodation, and the programme varies continuously. Those seeking quiet and secluded accommodation should consider that the lobby and common areas are designed for movement and social interaction. Luggage storage and dry cleaning can be arranged via reception.