Hotel Rival

The room was very well appointed with a view of the courtyard at the back. Breakfast was excellent with a lot of choice, great coffee and really tasty smoked salmon. The bar and cafe on the ground floor are very busy as it is a popular place. Very friendly staff both in the hotel and the cafe. Highly recommended.

Beds were quite firm and there is no air conditioning. Normally this would not be a problem in Stockholm but we were there during a heatwave. The square outside is currently under renovation but is not a real problem, it just would spoil the view a little if you were on that side of the hotel.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at this design hotel in the heart of Södermalm, and I was thoroughly impressed. Despite its bustling central location, the serenity was unmatched. My room faced the courtyard, and I was able to enjoy the fresh air with my window open all night. The interior design is both cozy and chic, a beautiful blend of modern aesthetics with comfort. But what truly set my experience apart was the exemplary service. The reception staff was not only friendly but also incredibly accommodating. They allowed us an early check-in at 10 a.m. without any extra charge. Now, let's talk about the breakfast - easily one of the finest I've ever enjoyed in a hotel setting. It's evident that they pay great attention to detail and quality. In the evenings, the hotel bar became our go-to spot, serving delicious cocktails crafted with care. Just like the reception, the bar staff were super friendly, making our visits there even more enjoyable. A fun twist to the whole experience is the hotel's ownership. It's owned by one of the ABBA singers, and the rock and roll vibe permeates throughout. It adds a unique touch and story to your stay. In summary, if you're looking for a central yet calm stay in Södermalm with top-notch amenities and service, this is the place. The added musical legacy is the cherry on top! Highly recommended.

Love it all

We absolutely loved our stay at this excellent independent Stockholm hotel in a great part of town, and cannot fault it for the quality of services offered and the friendliness of the staff. The well-designed room was very comfortable, and the breakfast copious and varied. Staff members were always very helpful, from providing pre-trip restaurant and bar recommendations to advice on the city's transport system. Nice extra touches like a self-service hot drinks station on one of the floors. We cannot rate Hotel Rival highly enough.

The location of the hotel just next to Mariatorget, very close to the underground (5 minutes from the main train station) and loads of restaurants and coffee shops. Nice and clean room with comfy bed and all necessary amenities. Breakfast was excellent with all hot and cold options you could wish for (including great coffee).

I asked for a quiet room on a high floor at the time of the booking but received the opposite (2nd floor, on top of a concert venue - thankfully, the concert ended at 9 PM). The room rate was exorbitant and not proportionate to the standard.

Really loved our short stay at Rival. - Great location in Sodermalm - The staff on the front desk were standout - so friendly, and felt like nothing was too much trouble. - Big, spacious and airy room with a nice little balcony - Really good breakfast, and runs until 12 on the weekend - Downstairs bar is buzzy on the weekend

Not much, overall. - Service at breakfast could be a bit sharper. We arrived later, and found it quite hard to get anyone's attention to make an order

Check in and Check out easy. I had a difficult time finding the hotel but that's because I took the bus from the airport instead of the train (big mistake). I tried to purchase a ticket for the Arlanda in the airport kiosk, however, it required a pin number along with my credit card. I found out you can buy an Arlanda ticket in the convenience store right across from the steps to the Arlanda express but I decided it was too pricey and went for the bus. Also, if I had gone down to the Arlanda platform I would have come to a ticket booth and been able to purchase the ticket there as well. Anyway, bus was a mistake because it took way too long and then I paid for a taxi from the bus station to the hotel which cost me the same as the Arlanda express. Richard, Manager for Rival, was always extremely friendly and helpful with recommendations and directions. My double bed was very comfortable with a topper and lots of pillows. I could open the windows and french doors for fresh air every night. I never experienced any noise, other than loud seagulls, while sleeping at night. The daily breakfast was lovely and plentiful with great service. I placed an order (no extra charge) for items included on the menu and it arrived in a matter of a few minutes. I was gone all day but always came back to a clean room. The hotel location required a little bit of a walk to Gamla Stan and city, however, if you use the subway it is quick and easy. The hotel has a large bar which was mostly empty while I was there. They have some outside tables to take your drinks and sit outside and watch the locals play bocce ball. There is a small but very nice park directly in front of the hotel which I enjoyed sitting on the bench. There is a cafe next to the hotel as well as many places to eat within walking distance.

Minor things like the courtesy station on the 4th floor could be improved with serviced coffee machine and variety of cookies and ice buckets for the room. My room was very basic (double bed) and fine for one person, however, I wouldn't recommend for two people. There are no drawers for clothing. They have a closet to hang a few things up, luggage rack, and two nightstands with single drawers. Also, there isn't a thermostat in your room and no AC, which usually isn't a problem in Stockholm, but I arrived an unusually warm evening. I didn't know I could open the windows until the next morning. I also noticed there wasn't a clock in my room.

After having fled from a horrible, claustrofobic and dirty “hotel” in Gamla Stan, we were more than heartwarmingly welcomed at the front desk by Fredrik. He gave us a wonderful and very clean room (upgraded ) - and the rest of the staff turned out to be as helpful and smiling as him. Breakfast was delicious, the bar funky and cozy at the same time and Rivals staff and beautiful interior made a short trip Copenhagen-Stockholm go from a holiday in hell to a holiday in Heaven.

breakfast was plenty and varied, there was also a a-la-carte menu, but I did not order from it but it looked appealing. The location was excellent, about 10 min walk from the city centre, but with bus stop and metro station 1 minute walk from the hotel. Local area nice, peaceful, lots of independent shops and restaurants and cafes. From my room there was a view to a lovely internal court which was very well kept and delightfully peaceful :)

nothing

We reserved a Standard Twin room. It seemed a little bigger than we expected, had good closet space, and hooks on the wall. We were on the 4th floor, where they have a coffee station, ice machine, and cookies!! Breakfast was excellent, with many choices on the buffet, and also menu from which you could order omelettes, eggs, French toast, etc., and a variety of coffees.

The curtains weren't black-out curtains, and with sunrise before 4am, it would get light in the room. Some true black-out curtains would be a nice addition.

All the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. During check-in and when we picked up the stored luggages, they gave us plenty of suggestions for visiting the city, which makes us feel the true and warm welcome from them. We didn't know there are Nobel Light event during our stay. Thanks to the suggestion from the staff, we visited some spots at night to enjoy the event. There are also free coffee and cookies offered 24 hours. The breakfast is delicious, too. We enjoyed our stay!