Hotel Kämp
Pohjoisesplanadi, 29, Helsinki, 00100, Finland
Why We Like It
We always fall for grande dame hotels on the Continent, and the Old World Europe vibe sucks us in here. But we’re just as enamored by contemporary touches in Hotel Kamp’s artwork and the super stylish spa. And the central location really can’t beat. Make time, too, for afternoon tea at the Brasserie, with a window seat overlooking the Esplanade.
Fodor's Expert Review
Astride Esplanade Park in a prime central Helsinki location, this historic hotel is the Finnish Kamp Hotel Group’s most decadent outpost and the city’s grande dame hotel. Chandeliers mix with Finnish contemporary artwork for an ambiance steeped in history (the hotel dates to 1887) but still up with the times, as you’d expect in Scandinavia. Luxury boutiques, diverse dining, Helsinki’s pretty harbor and the city’s many cultural attractions are all just out the door.
Tip The onsite spa has an excellent sauna, as you’d expect in Finland, but for a more private experience, you can book the executive suite room type, complete with a private sauna.
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Room
The aesthetic is more chic-comfortable than sleek, with plush beds and sitting areas. And the subdued color scheme of the rooms (silvers, greys, chocolates, and creams) makes for a soothing setting.
Bathroom
The large, marble bathrooms are where the rooms feel most indulgent, with separate walk-in showers and baths and great lighting for getting ready.
Lobby
The hotel's exterior entrance is understated and you could nearly miss it walking by. But be prepared for a grand arrival in Hotel Kamp’s stately marble-floored lobby, complete with sculptures and marble columns and a soaring ceiling that lets in light from above.
Pool
Things are sophisticated in an unpretentious way at the onsite Brasserie Kamp, where the focus is on seasonal dining and artisanal French fare with dishes like duck leg, wild chanterelles and poached pike.
Spa
Relax after a day of touristing around in the hotel's sublime wellness area, complete with massage services as well as a Turkish-style hammam, steam room, and classic Finnish sauna.
Dining
Things are sophisticated in an unpretentious way at the onsite Brasserie Kamp, where the focus is on seasonal dining and artisanal French fare with dishes like duck leg, wild chanterelles, and poached pike.
Tip Snag a table by the window for great people watching down on the Esplanade, below.
Drinking
Chandeliers, marble-topped tables, and bartenders who know their stuff complete the classic cocktail bar ambiance at the Kamp Bar, the hotel’s sophisticated watering hole, where a glass of Champagne should start your vacation off right. There’s a limited menu here, too (burgers, caviar, light sandwiches) if you’re feeling peckish.
You Should Know Alcohol prices in Scandinavia are notoriously expensive, and you’ll shell out even more here, thanks to the snazzy locale.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
You can walk to most everything around town within about 15 minutes from the hotel. And you’re even closer to tram stations where you can ride the city’s fabulous public transport all over town, too.
Restaurants
Inside the city’s recently restored Old Market Hall, Story (several-minute walk) is an excellent pick for light breakfast and classic Scandinavian salads and sandwiches, laden with tiny pink shrimp. And the seafront terrace is particularly lovely during the warm months. And even closer to the hotel is the lively Gastrobar Emo (1-minute walk), with five-course dinner menus with fabulous wine and cheese pairings and king crab soup a lunchtime favorite.
Bars
Trillby & Chadwick (5-minute walk) does creative cocktails with a little theater--the bar is themed after a speakeasy/detective agency. And when a classic Irish pub and a native English speaking crowd is what you crave, there’s Molly Malone’s (5-minute walk).
