Just a short hop from central Stockholm, you can sit on your balcony in complete tranquility, looking out over the water to distant headlands as boats pass languidly by. Situated on the shoreline to the southeast of the city, Hotel J feels like a smart New England yacht club. Bright interiors mix natural wood, crisp cottons in navy and white, and plentiful nautical references - from signal flags and model boats to polished masts and rigging. Outside, catamarans line the private beach, and ferries slip into the jetty on their way out to the islands of the archipelago.
It's blissful in the summer, when deckchairs with blankets line the terrace, but step inside on a wintry day and find a perfect refuge from any storm. The spacious lounge is fragrant with lilies in huge vases and woodsmoke from the open fire, so help yourself to leaf tea and a fresh muffin, or sink into an armchair with a G&T from the honesty bar. Come evening, wander down to the marina and feast on fresh seafood at nearby Restaurant J, gazing out towards Stockholm’s lights glinting in the distance. Hope to be stranded for several days at least.
Highs
- A wonderful waterfront location - hop on a ferry to explore central Stockholm or nearby islands, then return to peace and quiet
- Fresh design, with smart and comfortable rooms (many with balconies) styled by GANT
- The homely, candlelit lounge - sit back in a fireside sofa and watch the watery world outside
- Tempting fare at popular Restaurant J, 300m away - as good during our most-recent visit as our first stay
- A genuinely warm welcome: couples, families and business travellers are all made to feel at home
Lows
- It's much larger than most i-escape hotels and hosts lots of conferences, but this doesn't diminish the relaxing vibe
- It's a 20-minute boat hop (or a 15-minute taxi ride) from the city centre, though the journey is part of the fun
- Not much to do in the surrounding area; the hotel is near a business centre and most places close during evenings and weekends
- Service is friendly but pretty relaxed: don't expect to have your bags carried
Best time to go
Stockholm is fun all year round, but remember it gets pretty cold from November to March. Spring and autumn are lovely, and Hotel J comes into its own in summer, when you can use it as a base for exploring the archipelago. If you come in September you might overlap with the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival, with tastings of several hundred lagers, ales, porters and malts.
Our top tips
If you're heading into Södermalm, don't miss Fotografiska. An internationally renowned photography museum, it sits in a converted dockside warehouse and hosts rotating exhibitions. There's also a café-bar on the top floor, where you can gaze over the harbour through picture windows as you tuck into lunch or cake.
- Boutique Hotel
- 158 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Boat hire
Rooms
The 158 rooms are split between the main building and a few newer wings, but all share the same nautical theme. Bold navy and white stripes give a stylish feel, and wood is used to great effect, with white tongue-and-groove walls and black-stained floors that echo the boat sheds nearby. Crisp GANT linen is covered with star-emblazoned blankets, and wide windows bring in lots of light. References to boat design include neat racks storing glasses, and wooden wardrobes with bleached cotton linings and knotted leather handles. Bathrooms are clad in smart navy and white tiles, and come with chrome rainshowers; the larger rooms have roll-top tubs, too.
Categories differ in size and lookout, and it’s definitely worth trading up to a sea-view room if you can (cheaper options face the woods behind the hotel). Most rooms have balconies, and the J Newport Sea View Rooms come with vast roof terraces; we stayed in one of these on our last visit, and loved lounging in deckchairs as boats chugged past. Top of the pile are the split-level J Suites, which have a kingsize bed on the upper floor and a spacious sitting area with panoramic windows on the lower level; one also has a Jacuzzi tub - ideal for honeymooners and romantics.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
Restaurant J is a short stroll from the hotel, in a converted boathouse by the marina. It’s a lofty yet cosy space, with flickering hurricane lanterns, open rafters, wooden tables and a buzz of cheerful chatter. Sun-weathered easy chairs line the deck outside, and in summer you can dine on a covered pier directly above the water. It’s open daily for lunch and dinner, and serves imaginative bistro-style creations featuring plenty of fish and seafood (meat and vegetarian options are available, too). Every dish we sampled was delicious: a chanterelle salad with radishes and Swedish cheese, a mound of fresh prawns with aioli, and a Mediterranean fish stew that was so good we ordered it on both evenings of our stay.
If you fancy a lighter meal, you can tuck into pasta, burgers and the like in the hotel’s lounge from 3pm onwards. There’s also an honesty bar where you can help yourself to wine, beer and spirits, and tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks are available throughout the day.
Breakfast is served in a restored 19th-century summerhouse in the hotel grounds. Tables are adorned with candles, and large windows look out over the water. The buffet is a generous smörgåsbord of pastries, hams, cheeses, cereal and fruit, alongside a few more unusual additions (pancakes, eggs and bacon, cardamom-dusted donuts, and wonderful homemade marmalades).
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
Activities
- There’s something mesmerising about sitting back and watching boats drift past on their way between Stockholm harbour and the open sea: very relaxing
- Or you could take a boat out yourself: the Hobie Cat catamarans on the beach are available for hire, with an instructor if you prefer. You can swim in the water, too - though the chilly temperature isn’t for the faint-hearted!
- Take the ferry into town. There are regular boats to Slussen (for trendy Södermalm and medieval Gamla Stan), Djurgården (home to many of the city’s top museums) and Nybroplan (the main shopping area)
- Or head in the other direction to the islands of the archipelago. Ferries from the hotel stop at Vaxholm (with restaurants, boutiques and a castle), peaceful Grinda, and countless wooded islets dotted with cabins
- Hotel J has an arrangement with a good nearby spa, Njuta Spa, and will book massages and other treatments, as well as use of the sauna and outdoor Jacuzzi
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Kayaking
- Nightlife
- Sailing
- Shopping / markets
Kids
Children are welcome and will thoroughly enjoy being by the water, watching boats of all shapes and sizes pass by. Stockholm is an easy place to be with children, and the ferries to and from the city centre are fun (and largely buggy-friendly). There are plenty of museums and attractions that will appeal to all ages, too.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
Choose either a Deluxe Family Room, which sleeps 2 adults plus 2 kids on a double sofabed, or a Junior Suite, which is a duplex with a double sofabed in the downstairs lounge. All rooms can take an extra bed and/or baby cot, though note that many don't have bathtubs.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots
- High chair
- Baby bedding
- Bottle warming
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
Kitchen staff will make small children something special for breakfast, or heat up baby food. Snacks are available all day in the lounge.
Kids Activities on site:
- Outdoor playground nearby
- Grounds to play in
- Small pebbled beach and jetty
- Catamarans for hire
Kids Activities nearby:
- Vasamuseet - a 16th-century warship housed on Djurgården
- Skansen - a huge outdoor museum of Swedish life on Djurgården, with reindeer, bears and replica villages
- Gröna Lund amusement park or Junibacken Museum inspired by Pippi Longstocken (both on Djurgården)
- Boat trips to the archipelago and around Stockholm harbour
- Take photos from viewing point Montelilsvagen, reached via cute cobbled streets
- Royal palace and armoury on Gamla Stan
Families Should Know:
Keep an eye out on balconies and by the water if you're bringing little ones
Distances:
- Airport: 45 minutes (Arlanda) or 1.5 hours (Skavsta), depending on ferry times
- Hospital: 5 minutes
- Doctor: 5 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Hotel J is in the Nacka Strand area of Stockholm, close to the sea entrance to the Stockholm archipelago, and a 20-minute boat trip from the city centre. There are ferries every half an hour during the summer months, though they're less frequent in winter.
By Air:
Stockholm has 2 international airports - Arlanda (55km away) and the smaller Skavsta (113km away). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them. The efficient Arlanda Express train (20 minutes) and Flygbussarna bus (45 minutes) run from Arlanda to Stockholm Central station; Skavsta is served by buses. From the station, it's a metro and ferry hop - or a taxi ride - to the hotel.
By Car:
If you want to hire a car then see our car rental recommendations. The hotel has an underground car park.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Sweden and getting around
Airports:
- Stockholm Arlanda 55.0 km ARN
- Stockholm Skavsta 113.0 km NYO
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 0.3 km