Clarion Sign, rather like its elder sister hotel, Clarion, makes the cut on the back of its style credentials, dominated by airy, light-filled interiors and voluptuous pieces of modern furniture in bright colours.
Telephone: 08 676 9800
Url: www.clarionsign.com
Price: 1,525kr–7,600kr
When it opened in February 2008, the 558-room Clarion Sign became Stockholm's biggest hotel. Although primarily targeting business travellers who appreciate its proximity to the Central Station and the Arlanda Express, the hotel is worth knowing about even if you're not in town for a conference or a kick-off. For one thing, the hotel is far from bland. It's a monolithic building of black stone and glass. The design of the exterior echoes the pattern of the railway tracks that run alongside it.
Inside there's a spa on the 8th floor and, off the lobby, the Aquavit Grill & Raw Bar. This is a spin-off from Aquavit in New York City, a Swedish restaurant run by Marcus Samuelsson, an Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised chef. Of course, no one would come to the Clarion for a romantic weekend, but its location and sleek design make up for the lack of real charm.
