Best Boutique Hotels in Oslo - Part 2: Sommerro

Location

Similarly to the Amerikalinjen (from part one), Sommerro is incredibly well located. It’s about a five-minute walk from the Nationaltheatret Train Station and only a short walk from must-see sites such as the Royal Palace (Det Kongelige Slott) and the Nobel Peace Center. Getting to and from Oslo Gardermoen International Airport (OSL) is also a breeze as you can take a train directly to the Nationaltheatret Station, which is about a 40-minute journey.

Sommerro is a perfect place to base yourself for seeing everything Oslo has to offer — but with everything Sommerro has to offer on site, you may not want to leave!

Room Categories

Each room in Sommerro is uniquely and individually designed. I personally love the balance between modernity and Art Deco — it’s romantic and timeless.

The hotel boasts 231 rooms and suites, which include 56 residences. Their bread-and-butter room is their superior room. Their standard rooms are great for intimate couples or solo travelers, but I wouldn’t recommend them if you have several pieces of luggage as it can get a bit cramped at 19 square meters for some. The superior room also happens to be my personal favorite. Maybe it is the custom-built bed and frame or the window nook where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning. Either way, I just find the superior room strikes the perfect balance for most travelers.

However, if you want to splurge a bit, the junior suite is truly incredible. With a Murano glass chandelier, separate living/dining area and a signature dusty pink-colored marble bathroom, you most certainly will not be disappointed. Another fantastic perk of the junior suite is that you get included access into the rooftop pool and sauna (more on the pool later).

Included access to the rooftop pool is only for junior suites and above, otherwise there are à la carte or package options available for purchase.

In addition, for multi-gen family trips or for someone who wants a bit more privacy, Sommerro also has Villa Inkognito. An 11-suite retreat located adjacent to the hotel, this former private residence dates back to 1870 and has the option to be rented in its entirety. The villa has several luxuriously decorated living rooms, a fitness center, an open kitchen, an intimate bar and a lovely outdoor area. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind offering with all the benefits of the Sommerro main property.

Property Amenities

Speaking of one-of-a-kind: heated rooftop pool, anyone? In Norway, rooftop pools are not as common as in some other European destinations, so the fact that Sommerro has one is no small thing. Not to mention, it is open all year round — yes, even in the winters! As mentioned before, the only room categories that have included access into the rooftop pool are junior suites and above, but there are some great packages that can include access to the rooftop pool and sauna as well as the extensive wellness universe downstairs.

Sommerro has an incredible wellness facility called Vestkantbadet. It took five years of careful restoration to complete this historic bath house, but the wait was absolutely worth it! It is one of the nicest wellness facilities in Oslo and the tiled mosaic walls throughout the facility are spectacular and reminiscent of a Roman bath house. Additionally, there is a full-service spa where you can find a full range of treatments including massages and skin treatments, while it also houses a cold plunge pool, additional swimming pool, infrared sauna, Finnish sauna and wellness boutique. Access to Vestkantbadet is not automatically included as a hotel guest. That said, if you book with me, you’ll have a credit to spend on site since Sommerro is a Fora Preferred Partner, so you’ll have some money to spend on those treatments or a pool session after all.

What is included at every room category is access to Sommerro’s 400-square-meter fitness center, which rivals most commercial gyms and blows most hotel gyms clean out of the water. They even sell gym memberships to the general public. There, you have access to daily stocked refreshments as well as private one-on-one personal training sessions if you really want to take it up a notch.

When it comes to food and entertainment, Sommerro has five on-site eating establishments:

• Tak Oslo - The hotel’s crowning glory, Tak Oslo is a Nordic-Japanese rooftop restaurant by Frida Ronge. The sister restaurant to the Stockholm original, Tak Oslo celebrates the best of Norway using only fresh, seasonal, local and sustainable produce to create complex yet approachable Nordic dishes influenced by Japanese cooking methods and flavors. The perfect place for an intimate meal or special occasion, Tak Oslo offers group tables and private dining, as well as a rooftop indoor-outdoor bar and grill with magnificent Frogner views. Izakaya Bar and Terrance is also located on the seventh floor of the property. It’s the perfect place if you don’t want to sit for a full meal, but want to take advantage of the stunning rooftop views of the city.

• Ekspedisjonshallen - All-day dining spot serving brasserie-style favorites against an original wall fresco by artist Per Krohg. Familiar and laidback, this local neighborhood living room comes alive with a weekly event that showcases emerging artists — especially jazz — and DJs. This also happens to be where you’ll enjoy breakfast each morning.

• To Søstre - Mimosa-fueled afternoon tea by day, champagne and oysters by night and classical concerts in between, To Søstre is the stylish and elegant home of the best open-face sandwiches and cake trolley in town. Meaning “two sisters” — the original project name for the building by architects Bjercke & Eliassen — the room’s abundant greenery, natural light and rabbit-print upholstery, inspired by Norwegian artist Gerhard Munthe, is the perfect setting for intimate get-togethers. With the option to connect to Ekspedisjonshallen, it is also ideal to rent out for bigger gatherings.

• Barramon - This Oslo hotspot serving delicious tapas that focus on the flavors of the Basque Country, alongside a wide selection of wine, has opened an outpost at Sommerro.

• Plah – A local favorite for elevated Thai food run by Norway’s “Best Thai Chef” Terje Ommundsen.

Sommerro is one of my favorite properties in Oslo — once you stay there, you will see why. It's perfectly located with a rich connection to the history of the city, world-class amenities and fantastic eating options, not to mention the added perks I can get you during your stay.

It is the absolute perfect spot for wellness getaways, multi-generation trips, family trips and honeymoons alike. I can’t recommend it enough for my clients looking to stay in Oslo!

Stay tuned for part 3, the last and final part of my Best Boutique Hotels in Oslo Series, OR reach out to me and let’s start planning your Norwegian adventure.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Oslo. In need of further inspiration? Check out my trip report, Best Boutique Hotels in Oslo - Part 1: Amerikalinjen.