Grand Hôtel — Hotel in Stockholm

Complete waste of money. Completely over-rated.

Everything went wrong. First they gave me the wrong room— was a tiny attic room with zero view. Not the “deluxe” as shown in the picture. I complained and got a better room.

Got back to the new room and went to make some tea…. I happened to look inside the water heater and it had someone’s old coffee a prior tenant had heated and was growing mold. It had not been cleaned for obviously a week or there would not have been mold.

Tonight, 30 minutes before the cut off time for switching to the “night” menu, I went to call room service and the phone did not work. Spent 5 minutes trying to see if there was something I was doing wrong. Went down to the front desk. Told the desk clerk about the problem, and that I needed to order before the stated cutoff time. He insisted on coming to my room to look at the phone first…. I said again “But the cutoff time”. He assured me he could get me what I wanted.

He spent 10 minutes coming to my room, finding out that I do in fact know how to use a phone, verified the phone DID NOT WORK, and left with my order. 10 minutes later he comes back upstairs to inform me the kitchen could not make my chicken club sandwich because of was past the cutoff time (it was 12:15 and their own menu said 12:30 am was the cutoff— and told me I could have a hamburger or a fungus pizza (perhaps using the fungus from the pot the day before?)).

I told him to “get out” and that he should have called when I told him to at the front desk and why have rules on their website if they don’t even follow them?

Finally, the desk in the room for doing work is beyond ridiculously small.

I would never recommend this place ever. Totally bad service. Everyone all dressed up fancy but behind the facade poorest management I’ve seen and I’ve stayed in the best hotels the world over.

Update: I immediately went back to the room, then wrote and posted the above review and went downstairs to get some first names to put in the review to prove this was not a fake post. I got there and the guy said “Oh I fixed your order and talked to the kitchen.” I asked why he didn’t send someone to let me know because it was already 15 minutes for me to realize I was upset enough to write a bad review. He said he tried to call me…. Didn’t he remember the phone doesn’t work? sheesh.

He said room service was on the way. I went to use the elevator and now the key didn’t work. Sorry, at that point I had to laugh. I got the key re-issued and by the time I got back to the room, the room service was already knocking on the door wondering if I was asleep or something (it was 12:30 am). They delivered the food and it was gratis. Least they could do. Food service ladies (very nice) said they had closed the kitchen early because they were cleaning the stove. Ok…. But that’s not my problem when it comes to the cutoff time.

I am writing all this so when I check out in a couple of days I can show management. They need to step up management and cleaning around this place. Certainly not 5 star.

Update 2: I went to make some tea before leaving for business meeting this morning, and they had not replaced the tea bags. A minor issue in the scheme of things but taken together with all the rest further underscores the lack of...

We absolutely loved our stay at the Grand Hôtel. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. We got to the hotel super early, around 10 AM, and were so grateful that they already had a room ready for us. Later, we watched the staff handle a massive check-in rush from a cruise ship with impressive speed and grace. The hotel itself is stunningly beautiful, with a palpable sense of history and elegance.

A key piece of advice on the rooms: book the view you truly want. We booked a standard room, hoping for an upgrade, but the "courtyard view" was actually a view of the interior atrium. I offered to pay for an upgrade to a canal view, but the hotel was completely full with a convention and other ship guests, so it wasn't possible. This was entirely on us—a good reminder to always book the room you'll be happy with and consider any upgrade a bonus, not an expectation. The one thing to note in our room was the very high step-in for the shower/tub combo, which can be a bit awkward but is understandable in a historic building of this age.

The hotel’s amenities are where it truly shines. The dining options are phenomenal. In a foodie city like Stockholm, it says a lot that we ate at the hotel several times and were never disappointed. Our meal at Matbaren was delicious and unique, and enjoying a seafood platter at Grand Soleil right beside the canal was a fantastic experience. Breakfast on the terrace, watching the city wake up, was a perfect start to the day.

The spa was absolutely world-class. It has everything: separate and co-ed sections, a gorgeous pool with fire features, and one of the most effective steam rooms I've ever been in. The relaxation room with personal headsets playing serene sounds was the perfect retreat. The Cadier Bar was another highlight, with fantastic signature cocktails. I particularly recommend trying The Woodshop, and my absolute favorite, The Brewmaster.

One of our favorite memories was simply following the sound of a piano down a hallway and discovering a young guest beautifully playing Clair de Lune in a quiet corner of the hotel. It was a magical moment that captured the hotel's unique character.

A final, practical tip regarding the airport transfer. We opted for the Bentley, which was a very cool experience. However, be aware if you have larger luggage. Because it's a hybrid model, the trunk space is limited and could not fit our two full-sized suitcases. The hotel staff was amazing and arranged for a second car (their S-Class) at a significant discount to take our luggage. They handled the situation perfectly, but in hindsight, we realized the extra cost for the 30-minute ride might have been better spent on a room with a canal view.

All in all, with its perfect location, fantastic concierge team, and incredible amenities, the Grand Hôtel is a wonderful place to stay. We loved it and would...

I was assaulted and robbed. I never imagined that what was meant to be a luxury stay in one of Stockholm’s most prestigious hotels — The Grand Hotel, recommended by Amex Travel and Leading Hotels of the World — would turn into a traumatic and deeply unsettling experience.

I was violently assaulted just outside the hotel’s entrance. My valuable watch was forcefully ripped from my wrist in broad daylight as I was preparing to leave for the airport. This was not random. This was targeted. And the events leading up to the attack raise serious concerns.

Let me lay out the facts so you can draw your own conclusions: • At check-in, the in-room safe was not working. The hotel sent a security staff member to fix it. He spent about 20 minutes in the room, during which he saw our valuables, including our high-end watches. • On the day of checkout, I requested airport transport and came down to the lobby at noon. I was wearing my watch, but under my jacket and a coat— so it was not visible. The only people who would know what I had on were those who had previously seen it. Coincidence? • The bellman who we saw working with the hotel security personnel took our luggage. As he stepped ahead of me to load it into the transport vehicle, I was attacked from behind. I began shouting “Thief! Thief!” but strangely, the bellman didn’t react. • When I tried to call the police, the hotel’s own security personnel discouraged me. I called anyway and filed a case filling all forms but as expected, there was little interest or effort from the authorities — just another tourist who will likely never return to file formal complaints or push for investigation. • The hotel manager eventually came down, I explained this was an inside job but rather than offering any real support, all she did was to arrange for transport to the airport — and I was charged.

I left feeling abused and shocked. Not just by the assault, but by the lack of accountability, the apathy, and the eerie timing of everything that happened. This wasn’t just poor service — this was an utter failure of basic guest safety and a potentially complicit chain of events that no luxury traveler should ever have...