Hotel Rival

The charming area around Mariatorget seethes with activity and is crawling with culture profiles. Rival was a combination of cinema, restaurant, bakery – and a hotel – all the way back in the late 1930s. The new owner since the turn of the millennium, Benny Andersson (yes, Abba features both on the walls and in the speakers), has stuck to the concept. The scene lives on, as do the warm red tones in the lobby, bar and bistro. Black-and-white portraits of film stars and famous artists add further character. In its new version, the hotel has a more modern interior and additional rooms, plus smart Swedish design, clever solutions and technological finesse. And a consistently cheerful reception at all levels. Some of the rooms have balconies with marvellous views of Maria-torget; others overlook the roofs of Söder. Boldly different carpets in vibrant colours enhance the corridors. The rooms in the new part have red-lacquered entrances and ingeniously decorated workspaces. The luxurious suites are on the top floor and feature pine floorboards painted white. Many rooms have a tongue-in-cheek detail, such as a brass frog on the edge of the bathtub or teddy bear on top of the television. The breakfast buffet is a fresh delight, with scrumptious bread from the house bakery.