Citybox Helsinki

The hotel was central, easy to reach, eco friendly, and had good WiFi. My mom and I both enjoyed our stay, and she’d stay here again if we return to Helsinki. Having free hot water was useful for making tea, and the kitchen and its equipment let us make breakfast instead of booking it. There’s also a grocery store nearby that’s open 24 hours. We would have preferred to be able to set the room temperature a bit warmer.

This works well as a layover spot. The room was clean and quiet, and the beds were comfortable. Check-in is fully automated: a machine scans your passport and gives you room cards, while staff are mostly absent. Some people may like that setup. The pillows are small, though, which is hard to ignore when sleep is the main purpose of a hotel. It’s a strange thing to cut back on, and it cost the place a star.

Nice enough hotel in a good location, and the stay was otherwise good. But I don’t agree with the rule against beer in the shared fridge. They say it’s because of children, but I think parents should be responsible for their own kids. I brought a special beer as a gift for my friend and it disappeared from the fridge, and I couldn’t get it back. It’s not a huge deal, but if a kid takes beer from a fridge, that’s on the parents, not me. There are no fridges in the rooms, and shops stop selling beer after 9pm, so the choice is no beer or warm beer.

The hotel is practically on top of Hagnäs metro station, with services and public transport close by. The surroundings are pleasant for walks, including the Tölöviken shores. If you’re seeing a show at KOM teatteri, Helsinki City Theatre, or Ryhmäteatteri, it’s less than a ten-minute walk. Inside, it’s clean and modern, with full access control for safety. Rooms are simple and clean, the beds reasonably comfortable, and free WiFi is reliable throughout. The lobby has plenty of work stations if you like working around other people. Staff are friendly, welcoming, and accommodating, with such sunny dispositions that I wonder if any of them are actually Finnish. My only complaint is the self-service laundry price: 20 euros for a wash/dry cycle is unreasonable. There are cheaper options nearby, and having laundry on site doesn’t justify the cost.