Elite Hotel Arcadia

A 1950s student residence that laid the foundation for Elite Hotels of Sweden

Elite Hotel Arcadia is located at Körsbärsvägen 1 in Östermalm, next to Tekniska Högskolan underground station. From there, according to the hotel's own information, it is approximately five minutes to Stockholm Central Station by underground, which makes the hotel easily accessible for travellers arriving by train or bus. The Royal Institute of Technology is one of the nearest neighbours, and Stureplan can be reached on foot in approximately fifteen to twenty minutes.

The hotel's history is directly linked to the origin of the entire Elite Hotels chain. In the 1950s, the building functioned as a student residence and stood empty during the summer months when students travelled home. The then chairman of SSRS – Stockholm Student Reception Service – Bicky Chakraborty, saw a business opportunity and the student association began renting out the apartments to tourists. That summer hotel became the starting point for what is today Sweden's largest privately owned hotel chain, Elite Hotels of Sweden.

In 2008, the hotel underwent renovation, as stated in the chain's official history. The hotel is today a four-star hotel and holds Green Key certification, which is an international environmental label for tourist facilities issued by the Foundation for Environmental Education. All Elite Hotels are certified according to Green Key, and the certification for Arcadia is issued and valid according to available information. The hotel's location on the border between Östermalm and Vasastan, with Valhallavägen as the nearest major thoroughfare, provides a relatively quiet neighbourhood despite the central location. Garage parking is available at the hotel, and electric car charging is available in connection with the parking.

Ninety rooms in five categories with garden views and pillow menu

The hotel has 90 spacious rooms with pleasant furnishings and details in cheerful colours, according to Elite Hotels' official website. In addition to the rooms, there are two apartments with equipped kitchenettes, suitable for both shorter stays and longer Stockholm visits. The room categories are Superior Double, Deluxe Double, Family Room, Junior Suite and Apartment, which provides a wide range for a hotel of this size.

Standard amenities include minibar, desk, safe, kettle with tea and coffee, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. The rooms have wi-fi and are non-smoking. The Junior Suite is the most spacious category with a balcony overlooking the garden with evening sun and a sitting room with comfortable furniture and desk. Some rooms have a balcony with a view of the internal garden, which gives a quieter impression than rooms facing the street. Elite Hotels offers a pillow menu at all hotels in the chain, including Arcadia, for those who wish to exchange the standard pillow for another option – a concrete detail that distinguishes the hotel from many comparable facilities.

Reception is staffed 24 hours a day and luggage storage is available. Room service is offered and daily cleaning is provided. The hotel accepts pets and has rooms adapted for guests with disabilities as well as wheelchair access. A lift is available in the building. Gym and sauna are available for overnight guests. Overall, the room range gives the hotel a breadth that suits couples, families and solo business travellers equally well.

Restaurant Otis with seasonal menu, breakfast buffet and summer terrace overlooking the garden

The hotel's restaurant is called Otis and is a recurring feature in the hotel's own presentations. The restaurant serves food in a relaxed environment, and during the summer season, a terrace opens overlooking the hotel's garden, providing the opportunity to dine outdoors in a secluded and quiet location. This is an advantage for guests who want a peaceful dining environment without traffic noise from the street. The hotel's garden is accessible to guests and is described by the hotel itself as a place for recuperation and tranquillity in the middle of the city.

Breakfast buffet is served daily in the restaurant premises. The hotel also has a bar and lounge, making it possible to stay at the hotel for a drink without booking a table in the restaurant. Conference bookings via Elite Hotels' own systems include the option of breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon coffee, dinner buffet and à la carte dinner as parts of conference packages. Restaurant Otis works with a seasonal menu, which the hotel highlights in its own presentations of the food offering.

Odengatan with its restaurant offering and Humlegården park are within walking distance of the hotel. For those seeking restaurants outside the hotel, there are several options in the neighbourhood and along Valhallavägen in various price ranges. Djurgården with Skansen and the Vasa Museum can be reached by bus from stops near the hotel, making it a reasonable base for tourist visits to Stockholm. The hotel is pet-friendly and offers pet accessories for guests travelling with animals. Gym and sauna are available to the hotel's guests and are confirmed via elite.se and bokningsbolaget.se.

Four conference rooms with windows overlooking the garden for up to 55 participants

Elite Hotel Arcadia has four conference rooms with a combined capacity of up to 55 participants in the largest configuration. The rooms are named Valhall, Professorn, Studenten and the combination Valhall and Professorn, which can be combined into one room of 54 square metres. All rooms have windows overlooking the hotel's internal garden, providing natural daylight without overlooking from the street – a concrete difference from conference rooms in basements or facing busy roads.

The combined room Valhall and Professorn accommodates up to 55 people in theatre-style seating and is suitable for lectures and presentations. The individual rooms Valhall and Professorn each accommodate up to 20 people, whilst Studenten takes up to 20 people depending on table arrangement. Outside the conference rooms, a refreshment buffet is served. The hotel offers conference services, modern technology and food and beverages as parts of conference packages, including the option of lunch and dinner in restaurant Otis.

For those combining conference with overnight stay, the hotel's 90 rooms provide space for medium-sized groups without having to split the party across multiple facilities. Gym and sauna are available for overnight conference participants. The hotel's location near the Royal Institute of Technology and KTH makes it a natural choice for organisations with links to the university and research world in northern Stockholm. The underground's red line provides connections to the city centre, and garage parking at the hotel is an option for participants travelling by car.