Hotel Rival

We would like to thank all the staff at Hotel Rival for an absolutely fantastic stay. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, providing guidance on navigating around Stockholm which as first time visitors was invaluable. We chose to upgrade our room on arrival and were not disappointed. We ate breakfast in the hotel during our stay and had dinner at the Taverna on our first night. The choice and quality of all food was excellent. We would highly recommend and plan to stay again.

I stayed at Hotel Rival for 2 nights and everything was simply exceptional. My room was cozy, well-equipped with all amenities, and the comfortable bed with air-conditioning felt like heaven. The spacious bathroom with separate zones for the toilet and warm shower was definitely a plus. The view from my window was stunning and truly a highlight of the stay. Breakfast was outstanding, offering everything from a cheese board to bubbles for a morning aperitif. I also appreciated the 24/7 coffee and tea station on the 4th floor. The location is excellent, with both a metro station and bus stop just steps away. This is an outstanding stay in every way. Highly recommended.

We enjoyed or stay at Hotel Rival. The room was comfortable - bigger than we anticipated! The staff were welcoming. The bar was energetic and sophisticated. The location was perfect to access tourist sites, either walking or train. The breakfast was expansive and delicious! We appreciated 24-hour access to coffee and tea.

Love this hotel! Location was perfect. Staff was very accommodating and I especially appreciated the offer to upgrade my room on arrival. What I originally booked would have been great, but the upgrade put me on the park side with a wonderful view. One of my favorite parts of the trip was enjoying the complimentary sparkling water by the open window after a long day out. Breakfast was exceptional.

I stayed here because I’m a big ABBA fan and the hotel is owned by Benny. From the moment I arrived the staff were welcoming, incredibly interested in my story and not in a hurry. Then when I left I had a beautiful discussion with the reception staff about how special it was to go to the ABBA museum & we had tears. Nothing was ever a problem, breakfast the best I’ve had in any hotel, the room quiet and beautiful with the Church bells chiming. I would come back to Stockholm just for the experience of the hotel.

Hotel without equal. Basically the staff makes the place/experience and herein the hotel excels. Without exception, at all times, one is greeted with smiles, intelligent information and genuine concern. The details are all present- great bed, fine toiletries, opening windows, comfortable chairs and a TEDDY BEAR! No less important, the breakfast is simply outstanding. Again great staff, with strong coffee, Swedish pancakes, yoghurt, eggs and bacon, …. Hotel location is perfect on a delightful small park, multiple fine restaurants nearby, close to metro (underground). Gem in Stockholm.

We stayed at Hotel Rival for a weekend in Stockholm, and from the moment we arrived, everything felt effortless and welcoming. The staff was friendly, professional, and always ready to help with a smile.||Our room was stylish, cozy, and full of thoughtful details that made us feel at home, from the balcony to the small touches that set the atmosphere. The bed was extremely comfortable, and the room design made it easy to relax after exploring the city.||Breakfast was excellent, with fresh options for every taste, and the bistro served a dinner that we’ll remember for a long time. Location is also unbeatable, close to the heart of Stockholm but still with a calm, personal vibe.||Hotel Rival is more than just a place to stay; it’s an experience. We left with great memories and will definitely return. Highly recommended!

Friendly staff from check in and at breakfast. |Comfortable room and the bedding was amazing. Pillows were just wonderful as was the quilt. Slept wonderfully both nights. |The help yourself tea/coffee point was a nice touch. |Great location opposite the gardens in the square. Saturday the area was busy with friends and families and felt like a really great area to stay in. Handy for the subway system too. |Really great place to stay.

Nice hotel located in a great location. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Rival. This hotel is located in the hipster neighborhood of Södermalm, which is very safe and boasts many cool shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes. It is easy to get to all of the main attractions and other neighborhoods in Stockholm from here as well. Fun fact: this hotel is owned by the famous Swedish music group, ABBA. The rooms are nice and very big for Scandinavia, with huge windows, which is a big plus. Some of the appliances in the rooms are a little dated, but other than that, no complaints. The staff at the hotel is extremely hospitable - they were happy to help us plan a day to the Archipelago, and when we had an issue with our sink, they fixed it immediately and also comped us a bottle of wine, handling it perfectly. Overall, I would definitely recommend it. If you do stay here, I would recommend Dryck Winebar for wine and small bites, as well as Hagabakeri for coffee and pastries. Both are just around the corner from the hotel.

Everything about this hotel was amazing. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The location is close to everything. The rooms were exceptionally clean. The included breakfast was delicious and fresh! I can't say enough good things about this hotel.

We stayed at the Rival during our massive seven-leg European trip, and it was one of our favorite hotels (if not THE favorite) that we stayed at during our vacation. It is everything you think of when you think of luxury, wonderful, comfortable hotel. The hotel itself is luxurious and swanky. When you walk into the lobby, it's bright and vibrant, fun and funky without being weird. Kind of modern but classy. To be honest, we are big fans of the Kimpton Hotel chain from Hilton, which are modeled after European boutique hotels like this one. But this was the real deal. From what I gathered, there are different color themes for the rooms but we happened to land in a purple room (my favorite color). This was likely not intentional but it was a very happy coincidence. I loved our room. The bed was lovely, the linens were comfy, the room itself was well laid-out and I loved our view of the popular little square/park just opposite the hotel. We watched people walk, play with their dogs, children play and snow fall. It was idyllic and just perfect. The staff was always friendly and helpful, happy to play tour guide as well as host. The woman who checked us in was almost overly enthusiastic about giving us recommendations (that's a compliment). In addition to our room itself, there was a self-serve coffee bar on the 4th floor, which made me so so so happy. It was really nice to be able to grab a coffee whenever we liked with no waiting, especially as we fought travel jetlag. Also extremely notable, breakfast is included in your room rate and it was so good that I never wanted to eat anywhere else for breakfast. The buffet was a pretty nice breakfast buffet, and the croissants from a nearby bakery were SO good. SO flaky. And remember we had just come from a week and a half in France! I didn't say it but possibly better than the majority of croissants we we ate in France (and we ate a LOT of croissants in France). And they made small batches of French style scrambled eggs, which just were so good and so much better than most buffet eggs. I seriously just wanted to eat breakfast there and drink coffee. Also notable, there is a small little menu full of other delicious things you can order from the kitchen - also totally included in your room rate and the morning breakfast. The woman who runs the breakfast service (I didn't get her name of course) was wonderful and even remembered our preferences after the first morning. 5 star. My only complaint at all was that our TV remote control was pretty gross. There was a lot of dirt and dust in the cracks (see my picture), which the internal clean freak in me thought was gross. We would stay at the Rival again in a heartbeat. Highly recommend.

Very nice rooms. Excellent staff members who were warm and helpful. The breakfast buffet was as good as any we've had throughout Europe. The Taverna (their casual restaurant) was only average.

I know I should do reviews, but rarely do. The Rival stands out. It is centrally located, has a park at its portal and can I say responsive staff. We're in Sweden to escape South Carolina's heat and appear to have brought it with us. With no air conditioning it wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't 22C either. Carol mentioned in her review that a fan would be nice. We returned to a thoroughly nicely cleaned room, And, and a fan. Definitely would return in no small measure because they demonstrated they care. The. Breakfast is fantastic....it has a buffet and you can special order omelets and Swedish pancakes. Outside our room is a station with coffee, juices, ice, a computer and delicious butter cookies. This place is stellar. Buses are close too.

The staff was exceptionally helpful in every situation. We loved our room with a balcony overlooking the square. Wonderful, leisurely breakfasts. Loved the hotel!

Louis R loves superstar treatment at hotels...in Sweden. This spot is money. From the hotel decor to the promptness of staff to the cleanliness of rooms to the stylish bar to the fresh outdoor patio on the 2nd floor facing the quaint park across the street...money. So money. It is located next to Old town, and the hip restaurant-laden side streets and boutique stores where locals shop...not IKEA. Be like Louis R, stay in a superstar hotel in Sweden.

During our recent visit to Stockholm, my husband and I stayed at Hotel Rival and enjoyed it so much that when we were supposed to move to a second hotel we reserved, we canceled the reservations so we could stay at the Rival for the remainder of our time in Sweden. We did not regret the decision. Located in the trendy but quiet area of Mariatorget, the hotel is situated with close access to the metro station, wonderful restaurants, great cafes, bakeries, and other points of interest. We appreciated the neighborhood feel of the general area and how quiet it was at night. Our room was well-appointed and fairly spacious with beautiful views of the courtyard and the roofs the nearby buildings (I believe we stayed in room 609). Each room is outfitted with a teddy bear whose whimsical presence will greet you when you enter. There is a mini bar, ironing board, blow dryer, wifi, and other basic amenities you would find in any and all hotel rooms. If you need access to a teapot or a computer, there is a coffee station and a small business center on the 4th floor. Depending on the type of room you stay in, breakfast is included which I would encourage you to take advantage of as the food is absolutely delicious. It is served from 7-11 a.m. daily. It is a buffet but there is a menu you can order from free of charge and the pancakes from that menu are not to be missed. The service at the Rival was some of the best we've experienced on our travels. Everyone was so friendly and went out of their ways to make sure we were satisfied with our experience there. The concierge, Sean, was especially helpful in pointing out different restaurants, giving us directions on how to get to the hotel via the airport train, and any other questions we had. The blog he maintains is also a great source to look into before you arrive- http://stockholmtourist.blogspot.ca/. Overall I couldn't recommend the Rival more. It was located in an area that was easy access to other parts of the city, the customer service was excellent, and the rooms were well laid out and met all our needs. And again, don't miss out on breakfast and those pancakes should you choose to dine there in the morning!

Benny of Abba owns this hotel...so it does beckon "take a chance on me." I did. My room? Tiny tiny tiny. I dont know why. Super chic, super efficient, no natural light from the tiny prison window, but damn...I've never been in a hotel with the bathroom larger than the rest of the place...and no that's not a spectacular comment. The TV had like 9 channels, mostly Swedish. And the chip card didn't really work well to get me to my floor in the elevator. The bar + lounge is nice and they have great food + included breakfast (the croissants are spectacular...like crazy good). But I can't help thinking there's a cheaper, cuter hotel somewhere nearby.

Hotel Rival is located in Mariatorget in Södermalm. Södermalm used to be the old poor working class hoods but have now turned into a uber trendy area. Södermalm is full of restaurants and a busy nightlife. Hotel Rival is a boutique hotel where a lot of effort has been put on the design of the rooms. Or lets say, the signature rooms. The standard rooms, at a boutique price level, are not worth the price, and they are not suited for business travellers e.g no hairdryer, no bodylotion or other amenities that you normally would find, no kettle in the room, instead you have go to the coffee/tea centre on the 4th floor. (The whole idea with an in room kettle is that you do not have to leave the room.) So, if you are in Stockholm for a holiday Hotel Rival is a really good place to stay at in a busy area of Stockholm. Just remember to spend some extra money and upgrade your room.

Unexpectedly awesome. Fast free wifi. Very close to the Mariatorget T-bana station. Easy access to all of Södermalm, including Hornsgatan and Götsgatan. Nearby lots of great international restaurants and husmanskost. Breakfast is really good, and they have their own smoked salmon preparation that is buttery amazing. Friendly staff. En suite bathrooms with doors. Also if taking the Millenium Walking Tour it is very close to the starting point. Times visited: 1

Hotel is situated in Sodermalm, just a 10 minute walk from the Gamla Stan. The hotel is modern, with clean rooms and friendly staff....and a great breakfast buffet. Would certainly return back next time I am in Stockholm

One of the best hotels I've stayed at! Firstly, the staff were fantastic. There were some complications with our Expedia booking, but everything was handled professionally and smoothly, resulting in no hassle at all. Thank you Hotel Rival! Secondly, the rooms were comfortable and well prepared. Everything was clean and available if and when we needed it. Thirdly, the breakfast was great! There was a large variety of buffet foods that were delicious, as well as a number of dishes you could order at no extra charge. The cafe environment was quiet and relaxing. Lastly, the location of the hotel was perfect. We were able to walk to all the spots we wanted to check out. The hotel itself also seems like a hot spot at night, with large crowds and music playing. There are also plenty of cute shops surrounding the hotel that should definitely be checked out! We would not hesitate to stay here again the next time we visit Stockholm!

This hotel is incredible! It is trendy and contemporary with a very comfortable and Amenity-rich atmosphere. Pros: - awesome bar and restaurant in hotel - modern and completely renovated. Bathrooms and hotel rooms spotless; extremely well maintained and clean! - plenty of in-room television channels and free access to 100+ DVDs and CDs to play in-room too - free 24 hour coffee bar - front desk and concierge staff are very friendly and knowledgeable - evening bed turn-down and towel replenishment - location convenient and can fare reasonable from Stockholm Arlanda airport - close to Olde City and water way - grocery and 24-hour 7-11 convenience stores within one block - beautiful city park across from hotel Cons: - None. I can't think of any. One, I guess: I saw a pre-pay discount available some time prior to my stay. Unfortunately, I waited too long and when I went to pre-pay in the few weeks prior to my stay, the pre-pay offer expired. Tip: book early and take advantage of the pre-pay discount if offered. I plan to stay at Rival again. Highly recommend!

I've had the pleasure to, at several separate occasions, enjoy shows, the café, the bar, the brunch and most recently a hotel room at Rival. All have been nothing short of wonderful. Our room for our stay was extremely cosy with a balcony over the treetops facing Mariatorget. Perfect for enjoying a morning coffee in late August. The room was ready in time and spotlessly clean. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Both the breakfast and brunch holds a very high standard and have a good selection of cold cuts, yoghurt and granola, as well as bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs et cetera. Pancakes, french toast and more is included and prepared on order. For afternoons, the café is available with coffee and teas, pastries and more.

Spent a weekend in Stockholm in March and stayed at the Hotel Rival. I reserved one of their economy single rooms. It was perfect for one person. The bed was comfortable, the desk and wifi were fine. Even a safe in the room that can hold a laptop. Even though it was a small room, there was plenty of storage and even an iron and ironing board. DVD's are available to watch in the room if you are so inclined and the Teddy Bear was a fun touch. The staff is very friendly and informative. Providing information on attractions and the best way to get to them. There is a metro station close by and plenty of choices for eating nearby. It is also an easy walk to the Gamla Stan. There is a terrific view of Stockholm up the hill to the North of the hotel. The one drawback was the DJ playing in the bar on Friday and Saturday nights. I was on the second floor and could hear the music from the bar. Not really loud, but noticeable. I will request a higher floor next time I am in Stockholm.

Hotel Rival was highly recommended and deservedly so. Beautiful hotel. Very nice rooms (reasonably sized). Right on a park and conveniently located. Friendly/helpful staff. And a great included breakfast. But there is no air conditioning in most rooms, and sometimes it was too warm in summer and hard to sleep without A/C.

I was in town for 3 hours on a layover and met with a friend that lives in the area. He suggested we try this place for lunch, as they have tables outside and the weather was nice. The place is really busy around lunch time, but once you placed your order the food gets served pretty quickly. My friend had the salad with goat cheese and I opted for the chicken sandwich (it's pretty much the only dish they have sans cheese, and I don't like cheese, so). The prices were also very reasonable, considering the quality of the food, which is great. All in all a nice place with great food, but also great coffee and pastries. PS: if you plan on using the bathrooms downstairs keep your receipt as it has a password on it for the toilets (4-number code).

We decided to go for dinner fairly late (that is late to be in Sweden, so after 9) and had not made any reservations. It is not that easy to get a table on a Saturday night the same weekend that people have gotten their salaries but the very friendly staff at Rival managed to find us a table. The food was very good, especially the 'Wallenbergare' (a veal patty) was very good but all the food was high quality. Service was knowledgeable and it managed to be both friendly and professional. Even on a busy night there were no real waiting times and things went really smooth. Good wine list and also some decent options for beer would make it possible to just drop in for something to drink as well.

Great hotel. Loved the service and the atmosphere. Location is fantastic. Steps away from Gamla Stan (old town) and in a cute neighborhood of Stockholm (Sodermalm). By far the best service and the best breakfast we had in Scandinavia re: hotels. At the breakfast buffet, we had a lot of options AND a menu we can order off of? Amazing! The pancakes were amazing! From an American perspective, the 'Swedish' pancakes were even better than the ones in the States, and the ones in the States are pretty tasty to begin with. The amount of butter and flavor in the ones at Hotel Rival were to die for. I fear we'll never be able to replicate the taste here, but we'll certainly try. The service was also top notch. As soon as we arrived, we were given a short tutorial on the taxis in Stockholm and the fact that the taxis are not regulated so we have to be careful about what taxis to take and what not to take. It was a strange realization and we're glad that they warned us about it, because I never in a million years would have guessed that any taxis in any city would be deregulated. The staff also gave us some good suggestions on what to do in Stockholm and how to get around, where our hotel was located in relation to the rest of the city, and other insider tips. Only complaint is that the bathroom was tiny. I mean tiny. I realize that the hotel is probably working within existing room constraints, but come on. We're paying a decent amount of money to stay here, so would have definitely appreciated a larger bathroom. We probably should have upgraded to a superior room so that may be our only regret.

Reminds me of Bowery hotel in Nyc. Nice rooms and hipster vibe in great Brooklyn like neighborhood. Get room with balcony. Overlooks small park and has great free breakfast and nice restaurant for dinner. Stayed with my kids and they made us feel very welcome.

The staff are very nice and the food is pretty good. The rooms are small but nice though the beds are hard and uncomfortable. The noise level is awful. The constant hammering of the beat from the club below makes sleep almost impossible on the second floor, laying awake all night angry isn't a lot of fun. I would strongly, strongly suggest anyone stay some where else or make sure they don't place you on the second floor or anywhere near the club below unless your a very heavy sleeper. This was our first trip to Sweden and I can't begin to tell you how much we loved the country, the sights and the Swedish people, sleep deprived or not.

Call me a super nerd, but I was uber excited when I found out that Benny from ABBA owns this hotel--alas, I was glad we "took a chance." Rival is located in Mariatorget, a very trendy and cool area of Sodermalm. I'd say this is a more "posh" area of Sodermalm, unlike SoFo (think lower east side in NYC). The hotel looks like a movie theater from the outside. The interior of the lobby and bar is very retro, and the Rival cafe outside seemed to be always popping. The service was excellent. The staff is very friendly and hip. They were able to hold our luggage while we explored the city as we got there before the regular check-in time. They also accommodated our request for a single bed instead of two bunk beds which we appreciated. As this is a boutique hotel, it is quite pricey so I was glad to see that we were not given a tiny room. It was actually quite spacious and it had big floor to ceiling windows on one side, which added to the aesthetic of the room. The design is cool, and of course, there were ABBA CDs. There is a music button in the washroom, where you can listen to whatever station your TV is on for some extra privacy. The use of space was brilliant when it came to the ironing board, which was installed in the closet and could easily be slid in an out without taking it out. The blow dryer's power was industrial strength so I was very VERY happy about that. There is no kettle in the room, but on the fourth floor, there is a coffee station as well as a mini business section. I liked that they had cups so that I could take the coffees to my room every morning. I actually thought they could have done a better job with the line of shampoos/soap line they have (Crabtree and Evelyn). It would have been cool to see a Swedish line like Byredo. Note: The concierge of Rival, Sean has his own blog about Stockholm etc. and it is indeed very useful. Check it out here: http://stockholmtourist.blogspot.ca/

A long-overdue follow-up review... This hotel is dope. The rooms are impossibly cute and Ikea-tastic. If the hotel isn't fully booked ask to explore the available rooms (which have different floor plans) and settle on the one you like best. The staff is incredibly helpful. The location, near a subway station and overlooking a city park, is fantastic. And the killer breakfast buffet.... holy crap. I'm 37 years old and I will remember the breakfast buffet on my death bed.

This is a six-star hotel. Benny from ABBA is an amazing hotelier. One of the top five hotels I have ever stayed at anywhere in the world and certainly the best hotel I've stayed in Northern Europe. First, the staff -- an intangible -- are amazing. All have a great, friendly attitude. They love working at the Hotel RIval. And that makes every interaction with them pleasing. We got great restaurant ideas for outside the hotel (Da Luigi and 8T8). Good help with transportation and getting around. Second, the room design is superb. Not large rooms, but amazingly well-designed. The closets are huge - with room for a his and a hers separate closet (nice!). Each nook has outlets and lights and books or another wonderful touch. Bathroom was great with a heated floor, dimmable lighting. Shower was awesome -- great pressure, the overhead waterfall thing as well as a wand. Best room design I've seen in the last 15 years of travel. Very well thought out. Way to go Benny. We stayed in Room 222. And had 224 and 225. Third, Mariatorget is just a hop over the locks to Gamla Stan and then beyond if you are on business to the central business district in Ostermalm. Mariatorget itself is a great quiet area on the island of Sodermalm. And Saint Eric's Cathedral was nearby for a Catholic mass option (in English); Sunday schedule and Saturday night vigil mass at 5pm. Da Luigi Italian is nearby (cozy) as is raw food emporium/grocery store/cafe 8T8. Great area. Outside the hotel's front door is a beautiful little park with fountains. Fourth, the rest of the hotel deserves special mention. They have a 24-hour coffee bar on the fourth floor. Always stocked with cookies, teas, and cups, etc. and next to the courtesy computers. Thoughtfully there is both milk and soy -- this is such a wonderful touch. The bar is hopping on a weekend night (but no noise in our room thank you!!). Bar staff is great: we arrived back one night at 11pm and just wanted burgers -- they set us up in the comfortable couches in the lobby and we were well-fed while the bar crowd hit the hotel. A very thoughtful accommodation for a family with children. The Rival boasts a bistro-cafe attached with great service. Had two croque-monsieur grilled cheese sandwiches over the course of my stay (yum!). Excellent bakery. Beers on tap. I like the Swedish tradition of good water always offered for free. I liked the whole vibe of the place too. Three Andy Warhol Ingrid Bergman works greeted me on the way to the lobby each morning. Superb. I really liked the art design of the Rival wallpapering. I liked the free maps with that artwork on it. Awesome. In short, I could go on and on. This is a really special hotel. It is amazing and telling that there are rave reviews for this hotel just from folks who've seen the public spaces.

We stayed here for 5 nights. As suggested by other reviews, we upgraded to a superior room. Everything was in order. Room was not large, but nicely appointed. Bathrooms had full shower doors, heated floors and rainfall shower. Helpful staff, charming neighborhood, pretty good location, fun/trendy atmosphere. Breakfast was included in our room rate and was excellent, far better than what most hotels provide. We also had dinner there the night we arrived, and everything was very good. This place is #1 for Stockholm hotels on Tripadvisor, and I think it deserves its rank. There are more luxurious hotels if that is what you are after, but we really liked this one and thought it provided great value.

This is overall a very good venue! I've enjoyed everything from shows, the bar, the bakery, the restaurant and a good nights sleep. I have nothing bad to say at all!

Ended up here after the Hilton (do not recommend) overbooked us! A groovy, retro place owned by one of the ABBA members - fun bar and lounge area for the nighttime or just an afternoon pick me up! Breakfast was delicious with great service. A boutique homey feel very safe and easy to walk to all the major sites! Staff was helpful, great English, and looked out for our family during our time there. Staff also gave great recommendations for dinners around town! Fourth floor cookies and tea were a fun bonus! Highly recommend! We will be back!

Quiet and comfortable room. Small but with everything you need. Wonderful location. Overslept breakfast due to jet lag and Susie in the dining room was kind enough to quickly put a plate of food together and even help me carry it to the room.