Sommerro Brings Art Deco Delight To Norway’s Capital

Olivia Emily catches the last of the summer sun in Oslo, Europe’s ‘It’ city for culture vultures and fashion lovers seeking some Scandi cool. And where better to stay than the city’s coolest hotel? Here’s what to expect at Sommerro.

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Hotel Review: Sommerro, Oslo

It’s always reassuring to find locals drinking at your hotel bar. Sommerro is a huge brown stone, neoclassical-yet-functionalist building originally constructed from 1917 to 1930 as the headquarters for the city’s energy company, Oslo Lysverker. The long, imposing structure occupies most of a block and almost glows in the sunlight when we approach, finding the curb filled with day drinkers soaking up the 25° heat. It’s September, but a last-wind summer has come to Oslo – and we’re lucky enough to be here to experience it.

With 231 rooms and suites to its name, Sommerro feels at once like a grand address and a homely village, staff greeting you hello and goodbye as you arrive and leave for the day. Rooms come in all shapes and sizes, but all are approached through cavernous corridors painted in warm yellow hues with amber cornicing and wall molding, perfectly complementing the wood floors. Inside, find your spacious home-from-home sumptuously decorated in a refined and romantic art deco style: think dark patterned wallpapers and rugs, soft red velvet sofas, splendid wooden marquetry bar carts (hiding a fridge drawer and topped with a Nespresso machine) and huge windows with the heaviest of curtains, all meticulously curated by Adam Greco and Alice Lund, co-founders of New York and London-based design firm GrecoDeco who spent a year delving into the local culture to painstakingly craft Sommerro’s bedroom aesthetic. Beds are thick with similarly hefty featherdown duvets and squishy pillows for a superbly comfortable sleep; the snooze button might be prodded just a few times.

It is all in the details here, from the rich checkerboard inlayed wood headboards to the in-bedroom leaflet comprising a detailed guide to the hotel (and neighbourhood beyond) to snazzy technological embellishments you’ll be surprised you ever survived without. Make-up specific lighting in the bathroom? Yes, please. Blinds that open with the press of a button? How could I resist? An elevator that delivers you to your bedroom with the wave of a keycard, no buttons needed, accompanied by a magical flourish which literally sounds like a fairy casting a spell? I could get used to this.

Oslo is your oyster at Sommerro, which is a stone’s throw from the likes of the Royal Palace, the Nationaltheatre, Henrik Ibsen’s House (a museum dedicated to the playwright), the National Museum and even the harbour. The local area of Frogner – one of Oslo’s oldest neighbourhoods, brimming with 19th century architecture – is also a must-stroll, with coffee shops and bakeries in the day and buzzy bars come evening. To seize the city, find the tram right on Sommerro’s doorstep whisking you into the city in a matter of minutes — or all the way to the other side in a few minutes more. Best of all, you’re also a five minute stroll from the Nationaltheatre train station which the high speed airport train, Flytoget, conveniently stops at every 20 minutes (so, on your way home, you can skip the crowds at central station and snag a supremely spacious seat).

Vestkantbadet (© Francisco Nogueira)

There’s so much to explore across Oslo, but wellness lovers won’t want to tear themselves away from Sommerro, which is also home to a whopping 15,000 sqft subterranean wellbeing haven, known to be favoured by a certain Norwegian Premier League football player… Head down to find eight treatment rooms, a high-tech gym and sleek beauty stations alongside traditional wooden changing rooms, all orbiting a tranquil shop. But the best space of all is Vestkantbadet, the building’s original public bath which dates back to 1932. Head there for a dip, and try not to be completely distracted by the mesmerising restored mosaic wall featuring swimmers frozen mid-glide beside walruses. Finish with a visit to the sauna in true Scandi style, followed by a rain shower accompanied by redolent Byredo products, also found in the bedrooms.

At the hotel’s opposite end is another pocket of wellness: a glass fronted sauna overlooking a gently year-round heated rooftop pool. This is a real oasis, with limited space (snag your spot on check-in) and views over the National Library, Frogner and Oslofjord on the horizon. Grab a chilled can of Sprite or Coca Cola from the ice box, sip refreshing Norwegian water from the tap, and loll on the plush loungers in the lap of luxury.

The rooftop pool and sauna

With a total of seven eateries under one roof, Sommerro is also a foodie mecca and a hot spot for tourists and locals alike to get their fill of delicious food, delightful cocktails and good company, all in artistic surroundings. As well as the pool, TAK Oslo sits atop Sommerro, a Nordic-Japanese fusion spot from chef Frida Ronge – a magnet for foodies. The Japanese theme continues down on floor seven, whether Izakaya Bar & Restaurant serves up informal street food alongside sake, cocktails and mocktails, soundtracked by live DJs at the weekend. For Thai food, Plah & Ahaan is the place to be, helmed by Norway’s best Thai chef Terje Ommunsen, while Basque tapas is served at Barramon, washed down with a wide selection of wine. In the daytime, turn to To Søstre for mimosa-fueled afternoon tea and return for champagne and oysters come evening, while the all-day Parisian-inspired Kafé Lucy sits in the lobby for quick bites including sandwiches, salads and cakes as well as soft drinks and coffee.

The most traditionally Norwegian restaurant of the bunch is the stunning Ekspedisjonshallen brasserie, a cavernous yet moody speakeasy ’30s-style marvel hidden at the back of the hotel. Think maroon tones, sumptuous velvet arm chairs, dark wood tables complete with tabletop lamps and an original sunken floor at the central bar orbited by stools and occupied by mixologists shaking up a storm. It is in this room that locals paid their electricity bills in the building’s former life. Today, a breathtaking fresco by legendary Norwegian artist Per Krohg spreads across the entire back wall, illustrating life before electricity, with jazz musicians performing on a stage right in front of it four nights a week. The menu is comprehensive yet concise with seasonal picks and plats du jour, all cooked to perfection.

Breakfast is served here every morning, too, with a huge array of cold meats, breads, cheeses, fruits, yoghurts, chia puddings, pastries and chocolate. There’s also a hot counter, serving up Norwegian and English breakfasts alike – the perfect way to start you day before delving beneath the surface of the city.

Ekspedisjonshallen (© Francisco Nogueira)

BOOK IT

Rates at Sommerro, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ prestigious Legend Collection, start from £225 per double room including breakfast. For more information, visit preferredhotels.com

Olivia was on holiday in Oslo when this review was conducted.