Hotel Hellsten

An 1898 building with tiled stoves, stucco work and antiques from three continents

Hotel Hellsten is located in a rental building from 1898 at Luntmakargatan 68 in Vasastan, a neighbourhood parallel to Sveavägen. The hotel is owned by Per Hellsten, who worked as an ethnographer and photographer with fieldwork in Africa and Asia. It is this background that has clearly shaped the entire interior design philosophy: the rooms are furnished with antiques and objects from Europe, Asia and Africa, combined with modern elements that create a layered and personal atmosphere.

The hotel has preserved original architectural details such as tiled stoves, stucco work, joinery and mirrored doors, and these have been actively integrated into the interior design rather than hidden behind renovation. The wall colours are bold and vary between rooms, which means that each room looks different. There is no uniform hotel aesthetic in the sense that all rooms look the same – this is an intentional and carefully considered part of the concept. Seven of the rooms have balconies.

This is a boutique hotel where the interior design is a curatorial choice rather than a standard package from an interior design firm. Because the rooms differ markedly in character, colour scheme and details, it is reasonable to expect variation even within the same room category. Guests who prefer a neutral and minimalist room should bear this in mind when booking. Those seeking a room with a balcony should specify this when booking, as these details are not standard in all categories.

Room categories: from economy at 11 square metres to junior suite at 23 square metres

The hotel has 78 rooms with different styles, colours and furnishings, divided into several categories with clear differences in size and design. The economy double room is the smallest option and measures 11 square metres with a queen-size bed of 140 centimetres – a format suitable for one person or a couple who prioritise location and price over space. Standard double or twin rooms are 14 square metres and come in two variants: twin rooms with separate beds or rooms with a double bed. Superior double rooms are also 14 square metres but have, according to the hotel's categorisation, a more distinctive and carefully considered design. The junior suite is the most spacious category and measures 23 square metres. Seven of the rooms have balconies, and several rooms are characterised by tiled stoves, stucco work, joinery and mirrored doors that preserve the building's original character from 1898.

All rooms have wooden floors, telephone, television and free broadband. The bathrooms are equipped with hairdryer and underfloor heating. Complimentary coffee and tea are available in the lobby 24 hours a day, but this is not the same as free breakfast. Breakfast buffet is served in the hotel's glazed breakfast room and is a separate paid service if not included in the booked package. Room service is available.

Pets are not allowed at the hotel. Parking is available in a nearby garage for a fee and requires advance booking, as the hotel has no parking facilities on the premises. The hotel also has conference and meeting rooms as well as a bookable sauna. The City Library is within walking distance, and Rådmansgatan station on the green line is a quarter away, making the hotel's location in Vasastan easily accessible for visitors using public transport.

Hellsten Earth Bar: artefacts from three continents and jazz every Thursday and Saturday

Hellsten Earth Bar is physically located in the sister hotel Rex Hotel across Luntmakargatan, but is considered an integrated part of Hotel Hellsten's offerings. The bar is furnished with objects from the owner's travels: African masks, drums and spears, Asian cabinets and Chinese paintings, as well as a selection of Per Hellsten's black and white photographs from fieldwork in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The bar menu is Lapland-inspired and offers Swedish and foreign beers as well as cocktails, including the hotel's own signature drink Mr. Hellsten. The interior design and menu thus reflect the owner's background as an ethnographer and photographer and give the bar a distinctive character that sets it apart from an ordinary hotel bar.

Every Thursday and Saturday at 8 pm, the bar transforms into a jazz venue with live music. Every other Saturday, concerts are arranged with African Jazz Club, featuring rhythms from afrobeat, afrofunk and South African jazz. This means that African Jazz Club performs twice a month as part of the regular Thursday and Saturday programming. During the summer months, the operation moves to a courtyard across the street, which then changes its name to The Patio by Hellsten Earth Bar and takes on a more Mediterranean character with outdoor seating. This means that the bar's indoor environment and outdoor format differ depending on the season.

For guests who are not interested in live jazz, it is relevant to know that Thursday and Saturday evenings are active and that the bar is in direct proximity to the hotel's immediate surroundings on Luntmakargatan. The breakfast buffet is served in the hotel's glazed breakfast room, which is a separate space distinct from the bar environment.

The Vasastan location: underground station a quarter away, City Library and Observatorielunden within walking distance

The hotel is located at Luntmakargatan 68 in Vasastan, a densely residential area north of Stockholm city centre. Rådmansgatan station on the green line is a quarter away from the entrance, making it easy to get to Central Station and other parts of the city without having to account for a long walk to public transport. From Stockholm Central Station, guests can walk in approximately 15 minutes, making the location practical for those who want to move around the entire city without being dependent on a car.

In the immediate vicinity is Stockholm City Library, designed by Gunnar Asplund and located a short quarter away, as well as Observatorielunden – a park on a height with views over the city and home to Stockholm Observatory. Stockholm School of Economics is within a five-minute walk from the hotel. Along Odengatan and Sankt Eriksgatan there is a wide range of cafés, food shops and restaurants serving the local residential area and providing guests with good alternatives for meals and coffee outside the hotel's own premises.

For those travelling by car, there is a garage nearby for a fee, and advance booking is recommended as the hotel has no parking facilities on the premises. Vasastan is a relatively quiet residential area compared to the city centre, which can be an advantage for guests seeking a quieter setting without compromising accessibility to the city's central areas and communications.