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Oslo is a city I’m always happy to return to. With its beautiful waterfront, green spaces, excellent food scene and laid-back Scandinavian atmosphere, it’s a city that feels particularly good to explore in the summer, when the long, light-filled days seem to invite you to slow down and make the most of it.
There’s something about staying at Sommerro in the middle of an Oslo summer that just makes sense. Even the name means ‘summer’, and the hotel completely lives up to it. With its warm, effortlessly stylish atmosphere and distinctly Norwegian sense of place, Sommerro makes for the perfect stay, not just in the summer months, but all year round.
The Story Behind Sommerro
The hotel pays tribute to the fabled era of the 1930s, and stepping into Sommerro feels like stepping into its storied past as the former headquarters of the city’s electricity board.
Situated in the heart of Frogner, one of Oslo’s established and most desirable residential districts, Sommerro is on a tramline and within easy reach of the capital’s main attractions.
Part of the prestigious Scandinavian hotel group Strawberry Hotels, Sommerro is home to Oslo’s first rooftop pool, and what a pool it is! The transformation goes far beyond the rooftop, with the city’s former public baths given a spectacular new lease of life as a vibrant Urban Wellness Retreat, open to both hotel guests and the public.
The hotel’s roots are beautifully reflected in Per Krohg’s artwork, which takes pride of place in the bar and main restaurant, Ekspedisjonshallen. This was once where the people of Oslo came to pay their electricity bills, making the artwork a fitting reminder of the building’s past as the headquarters of the Oslo Light Works.
That history is woven throughout the hotel, which today is home to 231 rooms, seven restaurants and bars, a small cinema and a 100-seat gilded theatre.
The Design of Sommerro
Sommerro’s design ethos was conceived by New York-based designers GrecoDeco, who implemented bespoke furnishings throughout, both in the communal areas and in the 231 rooms and suites.
For me, this is one of the most stylish places to stay in Norway’s capital, and its scale becomes apparent as you wander through the building, which reopened in 2022.
Rooms and Suites at Sommerro
The rooms are a lovely continuation of Sommerro’s distinctive design, with a cosy, sophisticated feel and plenty of thoughtful details. Rich glowing yellow hues sit alongside mini chandeliers on the bedside tables, while the polished birch beds, complete with chequerboard flooring, make an immediate impression.
Art Deco touches appear throughout, from the stepped ceiling mouldings to the beautifully detailed headboards, while softly curved walls and Norwegian floral motifs add a more playful, local touch.
Even the minibar gets the design treatment, housed in a handsome marquetry cabinet. Practicality hasn’t been overlooked either, with floor to ceiling wardrobes running along the entrance corridor which gave us plenty of hanging space (which for Scandanivan hotels can be a rarity), as well as Bluetooth speakers and soft rugs underfoot. Our room also had a walk-in shower complete with sumptuous BYREDO toiletries, a coffee machine and an exceptionally comfortable bed.
Our room overlooked a nearby play area, so the outlook wasn’t the most scenic, and although it could be a little lively during the day, the occasional noise was never an issue and didn’t detract from our enjoyment of the room or our stay.
Wellness at Sommerro
Wellness is woven into Sommerro’s story, with its 400sqm basement gym offering yoga classes, personal training and plenty of space for locals and hotel guests to work out.
The setting is particularly fitting: this part of the building was once a public washroom, a popular gathering place for Oslo residents from the 1930s onwards. The original swimming pool is generously proportioned, with a beautiful and intricate mosaic of swimmers and seals providing its backdrop.
There is also a cold plunge pool, infrared sauna, wellness shop and 18 treatment rooms, where you can enjoy facials, massages and treatments such as chemical peels and dermaplaning.
The Rooftop Pool at Sommerro
However, the star of the show has to be the incredible rooftop pool and Finnish sauna. You do need to book in advance, but we had no trouble finding available time slots during our stay in Oslo.
It’s an intimate and exclusive space, with a maximum of just six people allowed at any one time. As a result, it never feels crowded, and many guests who book a slot don’t even use the pool or sauna. They simply come to relax, soak up the sun and make the most of the incredibly comfortable loungers.
I really can’t emphasise enough how much we loved this space. We booked a time slot on Sunday morning and had the most glorious hour swimming whilst admiring the vistas and relaxing in the sauna.
Where to Eat at Sommerro
With seven restaurants and bars to choose from, Sommerro offers an impressive range of dining options, with something to suit every taste. Breakfast is served in the grand Ekspedisjonshallen, where diners can choose from made-to-order dishes, including a traditional Norwegian breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.
The buffet, however, has to be seen to be believed. There’s a particularly good gluten-free section, with sweet treats such as cinnamon swirls and traditional Norwegian cakes, alongside cheeses, meats, fish, fruit and more. For me, the highlight, aside from the amazing gluten-free pastries, was the smoothies, which were some of the best I’ve ever tried.
The elegant Tea Saloon, To Sostre, serves beautifully presented towers of delicate finger sandwiches and cakes, while nearby, Plah & Ahaan puts a Nordic twist on Thai cuisine in a characterful setting. Upstairs, Tak Oslo serves Nordic-Japanese fusion cuisine, alongside the more relaxed Izakaya bar and restaurant.
In the lobby, Kafé Lucy is a popular spot for coffee, smoothies, sandwiches and cakes. Named after Lucy, a renowned Parisian model, artist and muse who was also the first wife of Norwegian artist Per Krohg, the café provides another nod to the hotel’s artistic heritage. It’s also a favourite with locals, with seating spilling out onto the pavement. On the first floor, Barramon serves wine and Basque-style tapas.
The Service at Sommerro
The staff were one of the real highlights of our stay. Everyone we encountered was warm, friendly and genuinely welcoming, from the restaurant teams to the reception staff.
Despite the hotel’s size and the steady stream of guests, there was always a smile and a willingness to help, which made Sommerro feel surprisingly personal.
Is Sommerro worth staying at?
100%! Sommerro is much more than a beautiful hotel. With its fascinating history, exceptional design, brilliant rooftop pool, cute cinema, impressive wellness offering and genuinely lovely staff, it feels like a destination in its own right.
Add in the excellent food and fantastic location, and it’s very easy to see why Sommerro has become one of Oslo’s most talked-about hotels.
Room rates start from £290 per night for a standard room including breakfast; book here.
Photo Credits – Francisco Nogueira / Sommerro
