When researching ‘family friendly hotels in Stockholm’, Hotel J was coming up time and again. With the silver-plated nod that comes from being a Design Hotel and being listed with Mr and Mrs Smith, I had high hopes for our Stock-home away from home! Hotel J hit every style and location note I was hoping for but as with many city hotels it was a great crash pad for families rather than having an overwhelming amount of family facilities.
The Room
Our double room with a pull out bed was an oasis of cream textures and wood. The bed was a sumptuous fluffy cloud and the bathroom was a generous affair with a walk in waterfall shower, laden with Byredo products. The small touches like a Nespresso machine and being able to log in to our own streaming services meant that it was the perfect spot to wind down after a long day of city sightseeing. We reserved our room too late to secure a archipelago-view room, but I would recommend booking one of those as each has a balcony and waking up to that view each morning would be a sensational addition to your trip.
The Food
The hotel serves a buffet breakfast and the hotel restaurant, Restaurang J, is a harbour-side nautical hotspot. With large open fires and fresh lobster on tap, little ones are well catered for with brasserie favourites like hamburgers and of course the ubiquitous Swedish meatballs.
The breakfast buffet was ample to fill you up ahead of a day sightseeing – but on busy days it felt a little cramped and there was some queuing for food. Everything was delicious but if the hotel seems busy you may wish to be circumspect about when you head down to breakfast!
Amenities
There are some grown-up amenities which gently allow you to unwind in this picturesque setting. With an archipelago view sauna, spa treatments and state of the art gym – wellness devotees are well catered for.
The hotel is just a few minutes walk from the port of Nacka Strand, where you can get to the very centre of Stockholm in around 20 minutes by boat. The Number 80 boat takes you direct from Nacka to the centre of Stockholm – Hotel J will equip you with a a timetable, but don’t worry too much as the service is very frequent! Read my full review on why Stockholm is a great city break for kids here.
If you are looking to get out into nature then taking a boat and sailing into the archipelago should be high on your list. From the same port you can take the Number 4 boat to the pretty town of Vaxholm and many other islands of the archipelago.
Useful Tips
How to get there: Stockholm Arlanda airport is a 30 minute transfer from Hotel J. We hired a car ahead of our two-week road trip and there was ample parking available at the hotel.
When to go: Heading to Stockholm just as schools break up for summer in July means you will have long sun-filled days to explore the city to your hearts content! The weather starts to cool by mid to end August.
Length of stay: Depending on how much you want to explore the archipelago you could easily fill a week. But I would allow at least three full days to explore the full extent of the city and dip your toe into the wider islands.
Overall
As well as being a comfort rich crash pad with access to one of Europes great cities, Hotel J also serves on location. Waking up every morning and walking down to the water for breakfast and being able to sail to the full breadth of Stockholm and its archipelago was such a huge treat. As city spots go, this one felt more remote than urban while being perfectly positioned for exploring.
That Holiday Mum x
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