Elite Plaza Hotel

Description:

• Equaled in Gothenburg only by the Radisson SAS Scandinavia, this 1889 insurance company was stunningly converted into a superior first-class hotel. During the conversion, all of the major architectural features of this palatial structure were preserved, including the stucco ceilings, mosaic floors, and high ceilings, all of which contribute to a rather formal, but not particularly cozy, collection of bedrooms. The public lounges are adorned with an impressive collection of modern art, and all the midsize-to-spacious bedrooms and the plumbing have been updated. Lying in the center of town, the hotel is within a short walk of the Central Station and the Opera House. The less formal (and less expensive) of its two restaurants (the Bishop's Arms) is separately recommended in "Where to Dine," later in this chapter, and its breakfast buffet is particularly lavish. Two of our favorite spots in this hotel include the elegant bar area, which is sheathed in wood paneling, staffed with formally dressed waiters, and lined with dramatic, large-scale modern paintings; and its first-rate sauna facilities.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010