If you think Helsinki is all about Nordic minimalism, think again. A visit to the palatial Hotel Maria will help you appreciate a different design perspective of the Finns: the former military buildings have been painstakingly restored to deliver the luxury five-star experience that is not often easy to discover in Finland. The founder, Samppa Lajunen, a three-time gold-winning Olympian has picked a residential part of Helsinki in Kruununhaka to deliver an opulent masterpiece worthy of his championship credentials.
Hotel
The neo-renaissance style is self-evident the moment you step inside the hotel, with grand lighting features that help to accentuate that style. The focus is on using a soothing neutral palette along with upscale fabrics. A serene chapel, a grand piano, and an abundance of gold trimmings in the hotel design all add to the lavish design of the hotel. You will find the celebrated work of contemporary ceramicist and artist, Hanna Heino dotted throughout the hotel. It is no surprise that the hotel is part of the Preferred Hotels and Resorts’ Legend Collection.
You will notice nods to the building’s historic past, such as an original metal lift shaft surrounding a grand staircase. The traditional ornate wall features are also still present along with sturdy wooden beams which you might observe in some suites.
Whilst the hotel might be in a residential part of town, Helsinki is an extremely walkable city and you are only minutes away from the Presidential Palace and Senate Square. The main shopping street of Pohjoisesplanadi is also not far away, and the quaint neighbourhood of Kruununhaka is filled with vintage shops and upscale bistros.
Room
With 117 rooms including 38 luxury suites, The Hotel Maria has the most suites of any hotel in the city. The entry-level, guest room starts at 25-31 sqm and this goes up to the top-of-the-range, The Maria Imperial Suite at 160 sqm, which comes with a dining room, kitchen and even a steam room. If you book the top category room, expect a chauffeur to greet you on arrival at the airport and Champagne on arrival at the hotel. Your butler will attend to your suitcases, whilst you gaze at the majestic chandeliers in your penthouse.
All the rooms make abundant use of natural light. All the functions in the room are controlled on an iPad from dimmable lights to a sound system that can play soothing piano music from Rachmaninoff. The palette is predominately snow-white with accents of gold and there are American-style beds that guarantee a perfect night’s slumber with premium down feather duvets. There’s also a designer bathtub with a separate rainfall shower and you are provided with top-of-the-range Bvlgari toiletries along with bath salts for the ultimate relaxation.
Food and drink
You know they’ve recruited the best staff when the head chef is Ville Rainio, who was part of the Michelin-winning team at Noma in Copenhagen. At the hotel’s gourmet restaurant, Lilja, the cooking techniques might be French-inspired, but there is very much a Finnish focus on the ingredients. Expect to find reindeer and cold-smoked trout on their finger sandwiches during afternoon tea as well as unusual combinations such as on their tasting menu for dinner with dishes like Norwegian hand dived scallop, green strawberry, and oyster. They do occasionally stray outside of the confines of Finland to source the finest ingredients.
The breakfast offering is a decadent affair with Champagne and French Sturia caviar on the menu. You can see they are geared towards the American market with dishes like fried eggs sunny-side-up, but you’ll also find more eclectic breakfast offerings like duck pâté from Finland and alder-smoked Finnish trout. If you are looking for a light lunch, the garden terrace is the place to be with appetising salads that are low on calorie count.
Spa and wellness
The crowning jewel of the hotel has got to be The Maria Spa, it is an oasis of calm and tranquillity that transports you to another world the moment you step inside. Verdant greenery surrounds the atrium along with the gentle chirping of birds from the sounds of the forest music. A statement fountain in the middle along with the most sumptuous of sun loungers means hotel guests are often in no hurry to leave the spa.
There’s also an authentic Finnish sauna, a cold plunge pool, a unique steam room with reclining chairs, and several Jacuzzi pools that help to create the ultimate sensory experience. They have several signature treatments, such as the Arctic healing with Maria touch, which includes a Nordic herbal foot bath, followed by dry body brushing, before a body and facial massage. You’ll leave fully energised and with radiant skin that will be the envy of other hotel guests.
To do
If you want to discover local hidden gems, stroll around the vintage shops in Kruununhaka. Alternatively, if you want to be the ultimate tourist, make sure you visit Helsinki Cathedral, which is in the heart of Senate Square.
Factbox
The Hotel Maria offers rooms from €353 per night.
Address: Mariankatu 23, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
Phone: +358 9 88600100
Email: sales@hotelmaria.fi
Website: hotelmaria.fi
Photography courtesy of The Hotel Maria.
