Oslo’s Sommero is, Judith Baker discovers, an opulent neighbourhood gem of a hotel
Norway’s cool coastal capital has seen a wave of new openings this year with new museums, ambitious architecture and cultural initiatives.
And it has also lifted the curtain on the fabulous Sommerro in the elegant Frogner district. The stunning building was formerly the headquarters of Oslo Lysverker, the city’s electrical company and a 1930s landmark. The classical building has been reimagined into an opulent hotel with the city’s only rooftop pool, original 1930s baths complete with a breath-taking mural, Art Deco furnishings and five ground breaking restaurants.
Not only is Sommerro a beautiful property sure to attract visitors from all over the world, its heralds a new chapter for the hospitality industry in the city, with a focus on providing facilities for culture-loving locals as well as for international travellers in search of luxury. The hotel stands as a community in its own right with its hub of chic restaurants and bars, a library, small cinema and that gorgeous rooftop pool, sauna and terrace with sweeping views over the capital.
I’m staying in one of the fabulous rooms looking over the city with a sumptuous red chaise longue, huge 1930s wardrobe and retro Marshall radio.
There are 246 rooms in total ranging from cosy lofts to sumptuous suites, each with rich Art Deco details combined with classic Norwegian style, and there are also 56 branded residences. I loved the parquet floor, decadent chandelier and pretty marquetry mini-bar in my room. There are heavenly toiletries and a super-efficient shower in the stylish black and chrome bathroom
Food & Drink
Sommerro has five restaurants and three bars. TAK Oslo is a Nordic Japanese rooftop restaurant by award winning chef Frida Ronge. Izakaya is an informal street food and cocktail bar in an elegant interior designed by New York and London based GecoDeco. All day dining is at Ekspedesjonshallen serving classic brasserie style food with a backdrop of stunning mural by Per Krohg and gentle jazz.
Plah & Ahaan is a Thai restaurant on the ground floor and Barramon is a pintxos and wine bar serving delicious tapas that focus on the Basque country.
Facilities
Sommerro has a huge wellness space with a 400square metre gym, eight treatment rooms and Vestkantbadet – the newly reopened city’s public baths, with swimming pool, cold pool, sauna and wellness shop. There are several meeting and event rooms, and my favourite spot, a rooftop terrace with heated pool and sauna with great views over Oslo. There is a 100 seat theatre for intimate events including cabaret and magic shows, harking back to a golden age of entertainment. One can book a package such as ‘wine dine and crime’ where a lunch or dinner is followed by a screening of an Alfred Hitchcock movie, for example.
Rates at Sommerro, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ prestigious Legend Collection, start from £225 per double room including breakfast.
Sommerrogata 1, Oslo, Norway
Tel: +47 214 04900