Hotel Riverside Avesta, BW Signature Collection

Still not fully up and running, though it seems promising.

Lunch is the standout, especially the generous salad buffet with its unusual choices and little surprises. The daily special mixes homemade and partly prepared ingredients, and at 135 you really can't complain. The place also serves breakfast and has an à la carte menu in the evening. It's close to an exit off Highway 70, with a modern interior. Avesta finally has a proper restaurant spot worthy of the name.

There was a great breakfast with lots to choose from, but it couldn't make up for the rest of the stay. The hotel advertises a location by the Dalälven, though the river is about 300 meters away. Noise carries between the rooms and the stairwell, the bathroom was very poorly cleaned, and the bed was rock hard. The air was so dry I thought I'd caught a cold overnight, but it was just the room. The Brazilian entrecôte also seemed at odds with the sign about local products. Six months later, the relaxation area was still closed, and you couldn't get inside to the gym. The so-called winter garden had two palm trees and plastic garlands on the ceiling. For the price, this place is presented as top class, and it isn't. One visit was enough.

The only real bright spot during two awful nights at Riverside Avesta was the receptionist, who kept apologizing and was very accommodating. The hotel had just opened, but the promised spa and gym weren't ready. They suggested a 140kr card for Nordic Wellness, 25 minutes away. I don't see why I should pay extra for something that should be part of the hotel, and the hotel could at least cover it and offer a sensible alternative. Isn't that about what a regular day pass costs anyway? The cheaper rooms looked into the indoor bar, so they had no daylight. After showering, the toilet smelled strongly of sewage. The dark room had just one lamp and felt like a claustrophobic cell, and there was a used tea bag in the bin. A thoroughly miserable business.