Best Western Premier Hotel Kung Carl
Why would this hotel have that many clocks every where?
Perhaps the reason why you will find beautiful pendulum clocks in almost every one of the uniquely decorated rooms of the Best Western Premier Hotel Kung Carl is that the hotel, like the city, is in a time and a space of its own.
Stockholm is indeed a very special place. It boasts what is arguably the largest and best-preserved medieval city centre in Europe - yet Sweden is one of the world's leading advocates of functionalist modern architecture. Renaissance architecture rubs shoulders with soaring skyscrapers. One third of the city's area is water. Another third is parkland. And the other third is a human-scale city. All three parts are set against a stunning natural backdrop of 14 islands, which are part of a larger archipelago of over 24,000 islands stretching to the Baltic Sea. This unique scenery in such a northern location that provides never ending days in the summer, probably explains the unique relation that the city and the hotel have developed with time.
Located in the heart of Stockholm near the Stureplan and Kungsgatan two of the most exciting streets of Stockholm, the hotel was built in the late 19th century as a home for girls run by a religious group led by Clara Johansson. You will find her name lovingly engraved on one of the hotel balconies. The hotel bears the name of King Carl XV, and you are reminded of this link to the country's royal family every day. The royal castle can be seen from some of the rooms, as can the royal guards as they march down the Stureplan in their typical clear blue uniforms and golden helmets with the famous point pierced for the ventilation. They are on their way to take their turn guarding the Royal Palace, which they have been doing since 1523.
The hotel bears the oldest hotel name of Stockholm as it was created in 1866 and moved to its current location in the early 20th century, which gives it its old-fashioned charm, as witnessed by the high ceilings and windows.
Scattered around the voluminous, bright lobby are gorgeous dark wooden tables and plush leather armchairs. Paintings by famous Swedish artists and photos of the city adorn the walls. Each guestroom is individually decorated, giving it a distinctive character. Some rooms transport you to the turn of the century. Others exude the charm of a country inn. While others are at the cutting edge of interior design, complete with leather furniture or an in-room bathtub. The eclectic style is the handiwork of the wife's owner, who strives to make each room feel as un-hotel like as possible. Some of the rooms feature beautiful tiled Swedish stoves. Scandinavian countries have always used this specific system without which man could hardly have survived. These typical stoves could heat a whole house on their own, providing a very comfortable warmth for hours with very little quantity of woods (in the 18th century when the country forest were becoming scarce because of the huge industrial and glass production requirements, Swedish engineers brought decisive progress).
If you are able to pull yourself out of the exquisitely comfortable bed, you will discover the hotel's other charms, including its lively multi-level brasserie restaurant. On warm days you can watch people from the sidewalk terrace. In the afternoon, escape the crowd at one of the mezzanine tables, or soak up the uniquely cosmopolitan ambiance in the main dining room in the evening.
The hotel's location makes it ideal for exploring the city. And the best way is on foot. The surrounding streets make up the city's liveliest districts. For a quieter time, slow to a crawl over coffee in one of the city's chandelier-lit cafés. Explore the narrow cobblestone streets of the medieval city. Go food shopping in the incredible Hotorgshallen basement food market; you should try dried strawberries, unpeeled rice, green raisins or sundried tomatoes!
Just take and make your time. The days in Stockholm at the Best Western Premier Hotell Kung Carl are perhaps the longest and most pleasant you might live…
| Best Western Premier Hotel Kung Carl |
| Birger Jarlsgatan 21, Stockholm, SE, Stockholm, Sweden - 111 87 |
| Phone: +46 (0) 8 4635000 Fax: +46 (0) 8 4635050 |