One of the latest additions to Oslo’s vibrant architectural and cultural scene is the beautiful Sommerro Hotel, found in the heart of the Norwegian capital’s elegant Frogner district, writes Judith Baker...

Lead Image: Sommerro House

The stunning property was formerly the headquarters of Oslo Lysverker, the city’s electrical company and is a 1930s landmark.

The classical building has been reimagined into an opulent hotel with the city’s only rooftop pool, original 1930s baths complete with stunning mural, Art Deco furnishings and five ground-breaking restaurants.

The hotel also aims to redefine the hospitality industry in the city, with a focus on providing facilities for culture-loving locals as well as international travellers in search of Scandinavian luxury.

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The hotel stands as a community in its own right with its hub of restaurants and bars, a library, small cinema and that rooftop pool, sauna and terrace with sweeping views over the capital with its spectacular skyline.

I entered though grand carved stone pillars into a main hall dominated by the original elegant wrought iron staircase. Ahead is the huge bar and restaurant featuring a giant industrial mural from Norwegian artist Per Krohg.

When I take a closer look, I see it has references to the building’s electrical history. There are intriguing features and artworks throughout. The interior design was undertaken by GrecoDeco, the team behind The Ned in London.

My room is one of 241 rooms and suites, featuring lovely hand woven rugs, oak parquet floors and Art Deco touches such as a marquetry mini bar, retro Marshall radio and telephone. It is like walking into the film set for a period Agatha Christie movie with its 1930s inlaid wooden furnishing and mismatched fabrics.

The luxurious black and chrome bathroom was a showcase of contemporary Norwegian design and functionality. I drank it all in, swaddled in my coral coloured robe and the fabulously comfortable designer mules provided, before heading for a cocktail in the bar, where a jazz trio were playing, one of a nightly programme of music and performance to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Sommerro has five restaurants and three bars. TAK Oslo is a Nordic Japanese rooftop restaurant by award winning chef Frida Ronge. Izakaya is an informal street food and cocktail bar in an elegant interior designed by New York and London based GecoDeco.

All day dining is at Ekspedesjonshallen which serves classic brasserie style food with a backdrop of a stunning mural by Per Krohg and gentle jazz.

Plah & Ahaan is a Thai restaurant on the ground floor and Barramon is a pintxos and wine bar serving delicious tapas that focus on the Basque country.

Spoilt for choice, I opted for drinks in Barramon followed by a delicious cod dish in Ekspedesjonshallen.

Sommerro has a sprawling wellness space with a 400square metre gym, eight treatment rooms and soon to be opened, Vestkantbadet - the city’s reopened 1930s public baths.

Sommerro is a few minutes’ from National Theatre Station where you can pick up the Airport Express Train, Flytoget, Norway’s only high speed train. Oslo’s attractions, harbourside and museums are all nearby.

Rates at Sommerro, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ prestigious Legend Collection, start from £225 per double room including breakfast.

What’s New In Oslo

The city has a new cultural and aesthetic buzz with a surge of openings.

The Nasjonalmuseet, which opened in June, is the largest museum in the Nordics.

It has over 80 rooms displaying 6500 artifacts all part of a collection created by the coming together of works from five other cultural institutions.

The new Munch museum opened in October 2021 to display the collection that Edvard Munch bequeathed to the city.

You can’t miss Tracey Emin’s brand-new bronze sculpture, a 29ft-tall female nude lowered into its permanent home in front of the museum at the start of June.

The Mother is in a wildflower meadow on the pier outside the museum facing towards the fjord, with sapling silver birch trees that will grow to cast shade on her, creating a new space in the city for people to enjoy.

For more information, visit sommerrohouse.com and visitoslo.com

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