The lobby doubles as a cafe, serving spectacular espresso and chocolates. Comfortable furniture, plenty of arty coffee-table books to thumb through and free wi-fi make it a great place to kill time waiting for colleagues and friends. The location on Kungsportsavenyn can not be beat, that is, of you want to be in the heart of Gothenburg's noisy nightlife area. This wide boulevard plays host to al-fresco diners during the day, and by night to long queues of revellers clamouring to get past the bouncers at any one of Gothenburg's overpriced, noisy watering-holes.
Back in the relative calm of the hotel, the upper floors are tastefully and serenely decorated in dark chocolate tones, with moody art-deco lighting fixtures and the sound of summer crickets subtly piped from the ceiling.
Entering my room, it appeared to have all the required accessories. A safe, ironing board, kettle (BYO tea bags), hair dryer, decorative cut-glass drinking vessels, ambient lighting, black painted floorboards, minimalist decor, arty wallpaper, black and white check bathroom tiles. Very clean, simple, yet warm and inviting.
The beds, bath, shower, hot water, television can not be faulted.
My twin room was as the rear of the hotel with an urban view into the windows of adjacent offices. Although placed at the back-alley side, the noise from neighbouring clubs was enough to disturb, so I would advise booking on weeknights only I you are a light sleeper.
Breakfast was more than adequate, served in the spacious dining room next door to the lobby. Plenty of fruit, cereals, juices, perfectly boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, breads, cheeses and pots of the ubiquitous Swedish filter coffee. The only thing missing was some Scandinavian flavour, in particular pickled herring and smoked salmon. I suppose this joint is too hip to do cliché. Can bearded hipsters enjoy loksill ironically, I wonder? I guess I'll never know.
Four stars.
- Mornington Hotel Gothenburg
