Hotel St. George Helsinki

"With its origins as the print house for Finland’s first newspaper, it’s no wonder the 148-room Hotel St George in Helsinki’s downtown is obsessed with art. Over 300 artworks can be found throughout the property: Ai Weiwei’s Tianwu Dragon of silk and bamboo greets guests at the entrance hall and a 20-feet brass-wire bird—“Learning To Fly” by Finnish sculptor Pekka Jylhä—floats above the hotel’s Wintergarden restaurant. Being able to take home some of the standout Nordic design is a bonus: the hotel’s St. George Collection ships worldwide." - Yulia Denisyuk

"I love the Hotel St. George in Helsinki, Finland, for its natural light, calming color palette, and overall relaxed feel. But what makes me want to return again and again is the artwork and design finishes throughout the place. Everywhere you look is something amazing: large-scale floating sculptures, custom wallpaper, and Alvar Aalto lighting. Doubles from $265." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Greeting you at this hotel is Ai Weiwei’s “Tianwu” – a silk-and-bamboo kite that is the artist’s only work on permanent public display. Equal thought and care has gone into the rest of the St George, which occupies two merged 19th-century buildings, formerly home to the Finnish Literature Society. Under the guidance of Carola Rytsölä and Mirkku Kullberg (ex-CEO of Artek), these were transformed into 148 eminently graceful rooms and five suites. The feel is more elegant home than pillow-for-the-night: hardwood floors, walls in soft olive hues, abstract artwork by Finnish artists and solid-oak furniture by Sibast. The St George sets a new benchmark for the city."

"Set the scene for us.A 19th-century newspaper building overlooking a patch of green in the city center, which has been cleverly transformed into whimsical spaces with sculptures from Ai Wei Wei and slick Monocle-branded cafés (how very Stockholm of them). Pretty, sunlit, and grand; this is a tasteful hotel in a city whose tastes tends to skew a little... neon. What’s the story behind it?The building is magnificent: a former printing works from the 19th century. It was reborn as a hotel in 2018, thanks to the homegrown Kamp group, which has a collection of smart hotels in the city. The others feel like cool little spots for Helsinki—Lillia Roberts, for example, is poppy and fun, but lacks a certain maturity and outlook. But St George is grown-up and would be competitive among the great hotel cities in the world—it would give Sanders in Copenhagen a run for its money. What can we expect from our room?The rooms may be where the design and the narrative of the hotel come together best, with white walls, lilac curtains, and blonde wooden furniture carved with functional simplicity that would make Alvar Aalto proud. It all works with natural light, which here tends to be sharp in winter and soft in summer. We had a Studio, the lowest category of room, but never felt a need for an upgrade—it felt large, calming, and well-appointed. Exactly where you want to return to after a day island-hopping around the harbor. The tech nailed that Nordic sophisticated simplicity; the bed was plump with a marshmallow-like duvet that will swallow you up. And the Bruket bath bottles are so phenomenal you may feel like ordering some online for back home. How about the food and drink?An interesting fusion at the Andrea restaurant, with Turk-Finnish recipes from Istanbul-based chef Mehmet Gurs (he was born in Finland, so the connection is not too tenuous). Flatbreads and fish are elegantly plated. And at breakfast, there is quite possibly the tastiest rye bread in all Helsinki, paired with Gurs's note-perfect shakshuka if you’re feeling adventurous. The bakery café is run by Monocle magazine, and risks feeling a little austere in that way Scandi-design can default to, but the aroma of cinnamon rolls softens it up. Anything to say about the service?Attentive, invested, but not particularly memorable—no bad thing. The spa staff were especially helpful on Finnish beauty rituals, and able to talk you through various versions of creams and washes from homegrown brand Lumene. Who comes here?A sharply dressed, modest crowd—Finns who have worked in Stockholm or Copenhagen and have returned home. Sharp denim. Tailored blazers. Good hair. Glasses that may be ornamental. Alongside Americans with money to spend (Russians would more likely be at Lillia Roberts around the corner). How does it fit into the neighborhood?This is right downtown. Helsinki is a walkable city—anywhere on foot takes no more than 20 minutes. St George is set on a lovely little patch of green, flanked by large Beaux Arts buildings. It is lovely to begin your day with a stroll through the park instead of walking straight out onto Helsinki traffic. Anything you'd change?Some of the common spaces are so large and the hallways so long, that the cosmetic touches and art pieces get lost. Anything we missed?This is Helsinki, so the spa and sauna are more important than the restaurant. The pool and fitness rooms—underground, very sleek—are incredibly extensive. Is it worth it—and why?Helsinki is becoming more confident as a destination to rival other Nordic capitals, with a fashionable sauna scene and excellent dining. St George is the hotel that cements its spot as capital of refined cool." - Erin Florio

"Finland's handsome capital has never topped the list of Nordic cities on a traveler's radar. It doesn't have an Old Town like Stockholm. Or the food scene of Copenhagen (though Tommi Tuominnen's mini empire is starting to change that). It didn't even have a hotel doing for the city what The Thief did for Oslo. Until—until—last May, when homegrown hotel group Kamp turned an old newspaper publishers a couple blocks from the water into a modern Grande Dame. The stylish St George walks the line between show pony for local design and emporium of international tastemakers. There is the charmingly minimal blond wood desk and chairs in each sunlit room, where function matches design in a way to make Alvar Aalto proud. Ai Wei Wei's wonderfully bizarre hanging dragon commands the space downstairs from the check-in desks. Down the checkered hallway, a Monocle cafe where sharply dressed Finns tap at laptops and sip strong coffee channels Stockholm but serves the city's most fragrant rye rolls, a Finnish staple. The 18th-century building was originally designed by Onni Tarjanne, who also did the National Theater across town; it's why the grand public bar resembles the old winter gardens, with its canopy of plants and pale blue walls, that were fashionable in the 1700s. It's an appropriate way to modernize the city's past, in a hotel that will finally land it on the traveler's itinerary. FLASH POINT The sleek downstairs sauna has a huge thermal bath and sells Finnish beauty brand Lumiere, which is hard to track down outside the country. +358 9-4246-0011; stgeorgehelsinki.com; Doubles from about $180." - CNT Editors