An Art Nouveau masterpiece, Scandic Grand Central Helsinki’s building was originally the head office of Finland’s railway company VR before it was restored to its former glory and reopened as the current hotel in April 2021. The original building was designed by famed architect, Eliel Saarinen and you can still see many of his signature Art Nouveau works dotted throughout Helsinki.
Hotel
With an unbeatable location right next to Helsinki Central Station, you know it will be a convenient base to explore the very walkable city of Helsinki. With 491 rooms along with meeting and banquet facilities, you would expect the hotel to be a hive of activity. That is often the case, although the hotel has taken mitigating actions to limit any overcrowding, such as signs recommending hotel guests to pre-book their breakfast time slots and ideally avoid visiting just before service ends.
During the restoration process, they had to work closely with the Finnish Heritage Agency. If you embark on a tour of the building, you might notice original refurbished furniture, impressive light fixtures from previous decades, and even a marbled commemorative sign displaying those former railway staff who died during the war against the Russians.
The interior design team from Architect Jaakko Puro has created an effortlessly trendy environment, where the mismatching designer sofas blend in with the Art Nouveau structure of the building. You’ll find quirky touches in the lobby including a water-based fireplace, an oversized chessboard, and a cosy snack shop selling hip Finnish treats.
Room
With a plethora of rooms, you will not be surprised to find they have eight different categories. In addition, they have the original wing and a modern wing. Rooms in the former include decorative mullioned windows and thick walls that are perfect for soundproofing from the relatively busy Railway Square. Rooms in the latter are marginally smaller, but with floor-to-ceiling windows and an abundance of natural light, and these rooms are equally as popular.
Nordic vibes are accentuated by thoughtful touches like a faux fur throw on the bed. Technology-wise, the rooms are very much in the 21st century with USB charging stations next to your sumptuous bed. You can interact with the smart TV from your device, the only issue that might disappoint some guests is the lack of any pre-set news TV channels, although that might be considered a positive for others.
Food and drink
Scandic Grand Central has one of the most impressive breakfast offerings in the whole of Helsinki. They have a dedicated section for vegan, lactose-free, and gluten-free products, which is possibly a first in Helsinki. There’s also an expansive offering of cold and hot buffets, including comforting dishes like carrot and spinach pancakes, and tomato and cheese casserole. They also serve up local classics like the iconic rice pastries.
In the evening, the main restaurant, Brasserie Grand, serves up French-inspired flavours with a modern touch, such as pan-fried whitefish with roasted miso cauliflower, pea purée and sauce vierge. Their stunningly designed Bar G is the place to be if you want to enjoy a classy aperitif – they specialise in serving perfect Martinis like a Grand Vesper, which would even make James Bond proud.
If you are looking for a light lunch, nearby sister hotels include Hotel Marski by Scandic. At Cafe 7:01, they serve up coffee from award-winning, local micro-roastery, Kaffa Roastery, and you’ll find the best salad in town from their deli section. If you are wondering why the name, 7:01? Former president Marshal Mannerheim always enjoyed starting his day with a cup of coffee at 7:01 and the hotel has also been named after him.
Wellness facilities
Despite being a city hotel, their focus is very much on gym and wellness. There’s a decent-sized gym with state-of-the-art equipment, which is open 24 hours a day, alongside a tranquil yoga room with no shortage of yoga mats. Having a sauna is a must for any hotel in Finland and there’s a separate sauna for men and women which are open from 4pm – 10pm daily. If you prefer outdoor activities, they offer bikes and walking poles for hire.
To do
If you love shopping, the main shopping street, Pohjoisesplanadi is only a short walk away. You’ll find iconic local brands like the famous glassware shop, Iittala. If you are a cultural enthusiast, you’ll find the Ateneum Art Museum opposite the hotel – the museum is the home of Finnish art and arguably the best-known museum in Finland.
Factbox
Scandic Grand Central Helsinki offers rooms from €108 per night.
Address: Vilhonkatu 13, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Phone: +358 300 308401
Email: grandcentralhelsinki@scandichotels.com
Website: scandichotels.com
