Klaus K

For a city with such a rich modern design heritage, Helsinki has precious little in the way of flashy contemporary hotels. This regrettable state of affairs is now remedied, however, thanks to Klaus K, in the design district at the top of the Esplanade, itself home to many a modern Finnish furniture showroom. Once the utterly conventional Klaus Kurki, it’s now a high-concept, high-design boutique hotel, taking inspiration from influences old and new — from the most recent currents in Nordic modernism to the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic and creation story.

A thorough parsing of the Kalevala’s subtle influence is, sadly, beyond our scope here. Suffice to say that the Klaus K’s particular brand of icy-white minimalism is far indeed from today’s anonymous international style. Maybe it’s the subtly Sixties air of the place, harkening back to the golden age of Scandinavian design optimism, or maybe it’s the snowy and icy textures of the public spaces — either way you won’t soon forget that this is Finland.

Rooms are a touch softer, a touch warmer than the public spaces, cozy yet stylish, outfitted with musts like LCD televisions and top-shelf designer bath products. (And if you feel like splashing out, the new Sky Lofts have street-level private entrances, roof terrace access, and a split-level design with an elevated bedroom area.) Two restaurants, and the spa, naturally, leans more toward the classic Finnish sauna than some kind of Bali-style pleasure palace. Design tourists rest easy — finally there’s a Helsinki hotel that’s worthy of its furniture.