Hotel insider: Grand Hotel, Oslo, Norway

Checking in to the Grand Hotel, Oslo.

A junior suite at the Grand Hotel, Oslo. Courtesy Grand Hotel, Oslo

The welcome

I reach the hotel easily by the airport coach, which stops on the road behind the hotel. As I make my way into the hotel through the entrance, there’s no doorman to take the bags, but reception is only a few steps away. It’s about 6pm when I arrive, and there are two people checking in in front of me. A staff member takes my bags up the few steps to the lift, but not all the way to the room. Check-in staff have a genuine cheeriness characteristic that seems to typify female receptionists in Scandinavia.

The neighbourhood

The hotel is on Karl Johans Gate, which is Oslo’s most attractive and central street, part of which is also the main shopping thoroughfare. The hotel is actually three buildings, the oldest dating from the 19th century. It’s a 10-minute walk from the main train station and about five minutes from the waterfront.

The scene

The hotel has quite a formal feel, though the guests, who are mostly on business during the week, don’t quite match the stiffness of some of the staff. Every year, the new Nobel Peace Prize laureate is hosted at the Nobel Suite, and makes an appearance from its balcony. The Grand has the reputation of being the best hotel in town, so it’s also the go-to choice for visiting film stars and celebrities.

The room

My room is a junior suite on the second floor. It’s beautiful, and makes you feel glamorous, with high ceilings, black and white photography and a balcony. There’s no air conditioning, which combined with thick bedding and warm weather, isn’t a recipe for optimum comfort in the summer. When I stay, there’s an event playing loud music outside until midnight, which is slightly disturbing.

The service

From within the hotel, phones are answered quickly. I detect a certain snootiness in the restaurant, the Grand Cafe, as I arrive in fairly casual attire just after an expedition. I’m told no table is available for one person, and that I’ll have to wait 15 minutes; next, I find that a table is ready within five minutes. Going into the restaurant, it seems that many tables are available, but that staff are finding it difficult to keep up.

The food

The Grand Cafe – currently closed for renovation – is a historic venue available for use by hotel and outside guests, and it’s very popular. I try the local mussels, cooked in a chilli-and-cream broth, with a side order of French fries with a delicious lemon aioli (215 Norwegian kroner [Dh90]). The mussels are plentiful and clean. The buffet breakfast will satisfy even those used to UAE-style spreads, and the atmosphere here is casual despite the grand setting.

Loved

The Grand Cafe has a great atmosphere, and the rooms and staircase in the old building are beautiful.

Hated

There’s currently no business centre in the hotel, so documents have to be printed by reception, which is laborious for guests and staff. The lift system is slow, and it’s usually quicker to use the staircase.

The verdict

For traditional luxury, this is the best hotel in town.

The bottom line

Because it's currently undergoing a renovation that will last until May, the Grand Hotel, Oslo (www.grand.no) is currently offering discounts of up to 45 per cent on its rooms. Double rooms cost from 1,190 kroner (Dh500) per night, including breakfast, Wi-Fi and taxes.

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