Electrical company HQ’s spectacular transformation into Gatsby-esque hotel

The hotel

Sommerro, Oslo

Once an energy company headquarters, now a luxurious hotel.

Check-in

The former headquarters of an electricity company may not sound like the most alluring setting for a luxury hotel, but thanks to a painstaking five-year renovation, this 1930s neoclassical landmark in the upmarket Oslo suburb of Frogner has been transformed into a fanfare of Great Gatsby glamour. As well as 231 beautifully appointed rooms, there are seven restaurants and bars, a private cinema, a library, a theatre, the city’s first rooftop pool and a sprawling basement spa and wellness area so vast they give you a map. Adjoining property Villa Inkognito offers even more privacy with 11 opulent suites serviced by a dedicated host.

The look

A glorious celebration of art deco elegance.

Behind the building’s austere red brick and stone facade lies a glorious celebration of art deco elegance – glittering terrazzo floors, wrought iron staircases and acres of burnished walnut with intricate chequerboard inlays. Norwegian artist Per Krohg features prominently, with a stride-stopping two-storey mural in all-day eatery Ekspedisjonshallen (good luck pronouncing that) depicting the introduction of electricity to Norway, plus an intricate mosaic of people swimming with seals in the 12.5 metre long basement pool.

The room

A deluxe premium room.

There are five categories of rooms in the main property, from cosy twin-bed loft spaces through to lavish suites, which include complimentary access to the rooftop pool and sauna (all guests have to pay to access Vestkantbadet, the cavernous basement wellness area). My junior suite is an eye-popping riot of colours and textures, with an imposing four-poster oak-framed king bed, a crimson velvet sofa, a Murano glass chandelier and unusual curved walls smothered in mottled gold wallpaper. The enormous ensuite is a symphony in light pink marble with striking black porcelain sinks, art deco-style chrome fixtures and a seductive bathtub big enough for two (three at a push). Discreet concessions to the contemporary world include USB ports and a Marshall speaker, but the overriding feel is one of old-school glamour.

Food + drink

You’ll need to stay a week to do justice to the hotel’s culinary offerings.

You’d need a week to do justice to the property’s wide array of culinary offerings. Oslo favourites Barramon and Plah & Ahaan have taken up residence on the ground floor, offering Spanish pintxos and elevated Thai cuisine respectively. Ekspedisjonshallen serves elegant variations on the classics, such as steak tartare and confit trout, often accompanied by live jazz, while To Sostre (meaning two sisters) is an airy, fern-filled internal courtyard that’s popular for afternoon tea (complete with a self-playing Steinway grand piano). The big-deal venue is Tak Oslo, the city’s first rooftop restaurant, which is helmed by noted Swedish chef Frida Ronge, serving her innovative take on Nordic Japanese fusion (such as hamachi nigiri sushi with trout roe and miso-marinated lamb rack). For something more casual, head downstairs to her Japanese street food eatery and cocktail bar, Izakaya.

Out + about

Oslo’s first rooftop pool.

The largely residential suburb of Frogner is home to a smattering of galleries and museums, but you’re only a 12-minute stroll from the buzzy Aker Brygge wharf, which is lined with bars, restaurants and floating saunas. Also within walking distance are two glorious parks, Frogner Park and Palace Park, the latter being home to The Royal Palace, which is open for tours during the summer. Getting to and from the airport is a breeze thanks to the Flytoget express train, accessed via the nearby Nationaltheatret station.

The writer was a guest of Sommerro and Scandinavian specialist 50 Degrees North (fiftydegreesnorth.com).

THE VERDICT
A stunning transformation of a much-loved public building into a unique, heritage-honouring luxury hotel.

THE ESSENTIALS
Rooms from NOK2690 ($390) a night including breakfast. There are 24 accessible rooms. Sommerrogata 1, 0255 Oslo. See sommerrohouse.com

OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE
★★★★½

HIGHLIGHT
An afternoon of pampered indulgence in Vestkantbadet, alternating between the swimming pool, the infrared sauna and the breath-stealing eight-degree plunge pool.

LOWLIGHT
The patience-testing languid pace of the automatic doors in the hallways.