First Hotel Reisen

From coffee house to Hyatt hotel at Skeppsbron

What is today marketed as Hôtel Reisen in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt has a long history on the eastern waterfront of Gamla Stan. The building's foundations date to the early 1600s, and over the centuries the property has served as a coffee house, tavern and literary haunt before becoming a hotel. For a long time the property was operated by the First Hotels chain under the name First Hotel Reisen. In October 2020, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced a franchise agreement with First Hotel Reisen AB, and the hotel joined Hyatt's The Unbound Collection in early 2021 under its current name. The name change is therefore genuine and not merely a rebranding: the operations and positioning have changed in a way that is noticeable in both pricing and target audience.

The hotel is located at Skeppsbron 12 in Gamla Stan, directly facing the water with views towards Skeppsholmen and the sailing ship Chapman. The Royal Palace is approximately 250 metres away, and the Nobel Museum and Stortorget are within walking distance. The location means that guests find themselves in one of Stockholm's most visited tourist areas, which provides easy access to attractions but also busier street life outside, particularly during high season.

The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brings together historic and design-driven hotels outside the standard chain format. Hôtel Reisen is the only Swedish representative in the collection and profiles itself on the combination of visible architectural history and contemporary Scandinavian interior design. The hotel contains a total of 144 rooms and suites, and the character of the property is clearly evident in the fact that the rooms have individual layouts rather than standardised dimensions, which is a direct result of the building stock originating from different periods and never having been homogenised into a modern hotel block.

Twelve room categories with clear differences in views and own facilities

The hotel offers twelve room categories, from single rooms and standard rooms with queen or king-size beds to four suite categories. The standard rooms are decorated in muted colours and offer either views towards Gamla Stan's narrow alleyways or towards the water and Skeppsholmen. Rooms with water views come with binoculars and a map, which signals that the view is an intentional part of the offering. Deluxe rooms are available in variants with water views, a balcony or a private sauna, and it is a concrete difference to keep them separate: balcony and sauna are not combined in the same category but are separate choices requiring active booking.

At suite level there is the Nordic Suite with private sauna, Stockholm Suite with water views, Corner Suite with water views and Chapman Suite with views towards the islands. Because the hotel is housed in older adjoining properties, the size and shape of the rooms vary considerably, and it is reasonable to expect that, for example, ceiling height and window placement differ between categories. Several rooms feature visible brick walls from the 1690s as an architectural feature.

The rooms are equipped with interactive television, bathrobe, luxury bathroom amenities, walk-in shower, kettle, iron and safe. Minibar is available in all categories. Bathrooms in certain categories also have a bathtub in addition to a shower. Room service is available but is not included in the base price, which means a separate charge on top of the booking. The hotel accepts pets and offers parking for a fee, including a charging station for electric vehicles.

Spa Tjärn in 1690s brick vaults and the gym alongside

The hotel's spa is named Tjärn and is housed in the basement vaults beneath the hotel. The vaults were built in the 1690s as part of Gamla Stan's buildings, and the walls were largely laid by women; a footprint in the brick from that time is said to still be visible. The spa contains a dry sauna, a cold plunge pool and a relaxation room with lounge chairs beneath the medieval cross vaults. The concept mimics a Swedish forest lake but in a historic stone setting, and the combination of raw brick architecture and Nordic bathing spa tradition is a clear part of the hotel's identity building.

Directly next to the spa is the hotel's gym, open 24 hours, with exercise machines and free weights. The spa also offers treatments for an additional charge, including massage, facial treatment, manicure and pedicure. The hotel has no outdoor pool; the cold plunge pool mentioned in various sources refers to Tjärn's indoor pool in the basement level, and this is a distinction that is important for those seeking an outdoor pool during the summer months.

Spa Tjärn is not automatically included in the standard room price. Guests wishing to use the spa should check current packages and additional charges directly with the hotel at the time of booking, as terms may vary depending on booking type and period. The total cost of a stay with spa use may therefore differ noticeably from the base price, something worth calculating in advance. The hotel also has conference facilities decorated with original interiors from the Swedish steamship S/S Per Brahe, which gives the meeting rooms a distinct maritime character.

Restaurant Reisen with water views and Bar Brahe with live jazz

The hotel's dining room and bar are located at the front of the building with direct views towards the water. Restaurant Reisen serves international brasserie classics and is known for its martinis, all with views towards Stockholm's waterway. The breakfast buffet is served in the restaurant and is available for an additional charge. The hotel has two separate bar areas with distinctly different character, which means that guests with different preferences can find an environment that suits them without having to leave the building.

The Martini Bar is an open and airy space facing the water, focused on cocktails and a more relaxed atmosphere with views towards Stockholm's waterway. Bar Brahe, on the other hand, is a small, tucked-away space with a speakeasy feel, located further into the hotel's ground floor. Bar Brahe hosts live jazz performances on Thursdays and Fridays and offers gin tastings focusing on Swedish and Finnish distilleries. This is a concrete difference from the Martini Bar: those seeking calm water views choose the Martini Bar, whilst Bar Brahe suits those who want a more active bar area with music and a denser, more intimate atmosphere.

The hotel's conference facilities are decorated with original interiors from the steamship S/S Per Brahe, which gives the meeting rooms a distinct maritime character that sets them apart from standard conference rooms. Parking is available for a fee, as is a charging station for electric vehicles. Pets are welcome according to the hotel's policy. For current opening hours for the restaurant and bars, it is recommended to contact the hotel directly, as times may vary between seasons.