St George Hotel

Checking into the St. George is guaranteed to make you feel important, elevated and smart. Receptionists in mint green jackets welcome you in a subdued but super-stylish reception area, it’s as if you’ve just stepped into the offices of a high-end fashion magazine. An imposing sculpture of a mischievous silk and bamboo dragon is suspended mid-air in the soaring lobby. Signed by Ai Weiwei it is part of acurated art selection of more than 400 piecesin the property. This relatively new hotel, situated mere steps from Helsinki’s iconic department store Stockmann, is the ne plus ultra of sharp Finnish style and design. It’s also a favorite staycation destination for locals craving the good life.

All rooms feature high-end details like adjustable lighting and artworks by contemporary creatives. The serene spa area with two pools and saunas is a rabbit-hole for true relaxation. Impeccable design abounds, extending into the small Monocle-curated gift shop and the in-house bakery, it spills into feelgood features such as a book club, temporary art exhibits and a gym that offers yoga sessions. 

Andrea, St. George’s restaurant, is helmed by Finnish-Turkish Chef Mehmet Gürs whose Istanbul eatery, Mikla, is a fine dining-mainstay. Here, his menu is a feast of Turkish flavors and Finnish produce. At breakfast you’ll find a great assortment of baked goods, as well as menemen, or Turkish scrambled eggs, and freshly squeezed orange juice, just like they sell it in the streets of Istanbul. Satisfy your sweet tooth with cranberry scones from the St. George Bakery; watch out, you will get addicted.

Published July, 2019