Nordic Hotel

Sometimes a hotel’s name sums it all up. Nordic Hotel Abuja is just what it sounds like: a Scandinavian-inspired hotel in the Nigerian city of Abuja. The notion of it might seem, at first, like a mere novelty, but this stylistic transplant works better in practice than in theory. Stepping into Nordic Hotel is like escaping the city into a cool oasis with a swimming pool and a stylish continental breakfast, not to mention an eco-friendly ethos.

The hotel is located a short drive outside the city center, which accounts, in part, for the calm atmosphere. There are thirty rooms and suites, all smartly outfitted in crisp white, black, gold, and gray. Amenities are simple and practical: Egyptian cotton linens, flat-screen TVs, writing desks, private balconies. Suites feature extras like separate seating areas, king-sized beds, and rainfall showers. All guests have access to a spacious fitness center and an outdoor swimming pool.

All told, Nordic Hotel is nothing revolutionary: the owners didn’t reinvent the wheel. What they did do is design an inviting urban refuge that’s ideal for recharging your batteries, both literally and figuratively, before heading out of town for further travels in Nigeria, or before heading back to the airport for a flight out. Scandinavian style, as it turns out, looks pretty good in Africa.