“Very Unique and Comfortable Hotel”

This hotel has very comfortable spacious rooms with excellent fittings. It is unique in that it is in a heritage building that used to be a prison, and that is a theme that is picked up in the way the staff dress and so on. The restaurant serves excellent food and the breakfast buffet is very good. It is 10 minutes from the central train/bus station by tram (and a short walk) which stops outside the front door and runs through the major shopping precinct. It is a 5 minute walk from the ferry to Suomenlinna Fortress Island and not much further than that to Senate Square. Get directions from the train/bus station to the tram stop however, as we initially found it hard to get our bearings in the central city area from the map we had.

“Better luck next time”

The front desk clerks were very nice and kind. Other than that, the room temperature was low, and bathroom was not cleaned up well. Also, the location was inconvenient. Egg dishes served at breakfast were burned like charcoal.

“Comfort in Gaol”

This is a converted prison, but this means the corridors are very wide, and quite airy, and the renovated rooms (made of two cells each, sometimes more, are very spacious and comfortable. It is also very quiet because of the thick walls. The basement breakfast room does seem a bit grim, but otherwise the place is light and bright, with nice grounds inside the prison walls. It is on a tram line, but also walking distance to town. The immediate area is not exciting, but a very short walk to seaside restaurants and scenery.

“Helsinki's best and fanstastic hotel”

This is a best hotel and fantastic hotel because it is a prison before and keep the original looking very well, clean and bright, best restaurant and nice waiter to introduce their famous food and gave u a suitable menu, good quality food. All staffs and workers are very nice. I would like to live it again in the future.

“Unique and Friendly 'Prison' Hotel”

Staff members of the hotel were very friendly and helpful. The garden terrace in the back yard of the hotel was a very good place to relax with a glass of Finnish beer. I enjoyed excellent breakfast every morning, too. Bathroom floor was heated even in summer and I found it very comfortable. There is a supermaket near the hotel, so it was very convenient. The tram stop (Number 4) to and from Central Station is just in front of the hotel.

“The most unique hotel experience ever! Such a cool place!”

Wow! What a great hotel. It's an old, renovated prison, with such an intriguing atmosphere. Very clean and modern, the hotel staff were extraordinarily kind to us and spoke perfect English. We arrived in the city at 6AM after an overnight bus ride from St. Petersburg. Of course we couldn't check-in so early, but the clerk at the front desk was happy to confirm our reservation and hold our bags behind the desk for a few hours. She even made us coffee that we took on our early-morning exploration of the island, which btw, is quite possibly the most beautiful part of Helsinki! The tram system, which amazing in its own respect, runs immediately outside the front wall (a prison wall, mind you). Getting on and off the tram at the hotel is very easy, and you can quickly get rides anywhere in the city. The rooms aren't HUGE. You have to remember, it WAS a prison. When renovating the building, it seems that each room was built from two prison cells. So of course, the rooms won't be terribly spacious...but that's also part its charm. Temperature was quite pleasant. The rooms lacked individual air conditioning systems, but this went largely unnoticed. The continental breakfast was incredible. Any drink you could want, including mocha chino. A huge variety of fruits, grains, cold cuts, eggs, etc. In all...I recommend with NO hesitation (and will return on a future trip). Oh, and did I mention that the price is right (when compared to the prices of other hotels there).

“Convient and Quiet”

Good hotel, with tram stop right outside. Very convienet to get into centre of town in about 5 mins. Very quiet as the walls are so thick you do not hear anything. Good breakfast and the rooms are small but enough size to accommodate two people.

“Very good location and value”

The staff were charming and extremely helpful. The room was good, breakfast was nice. In the summer lunch and dinner are served outside, which would be an improvement, we found basement dining room a bit oppressive. However, one of the most comfortable and best located hotels we have stayed in. Also very quiet. The sea front to the left as you leave the hotel is charming.

“Visiting Helsinki”

Hotel location was great! It was a quick walk to the Market square and there is the #4 trolley RIGHT outside the door that goes right into the center of Helsinki and into the main area of shopping. It is walkable too but the trolley is super easy to use. Unique hotel and very cool character to it. The room and restaurant staff have black and white striped uniforms. There were lots of bars and locks on display but it was very comfortable. The dining room is a buffet with heavy wooden tables and tin plates and cups (or you can choose other ones). Buffet was great but no-one explained that you could order eggs and more from the chef in the back. I had breakfast slightly after the crowd and all the tables were full of dirty dishes so I had to move stuff to find a place to sit... not too impressive there. The staff at the front desk were amazing - friendly, helpful, informative. Exactly what you need in a foreigh country. The shower was nice in the bathroom but water started coming up the drain in the bathroom floor as you had a shower - so the floor was soaked when you got out. Never-the-less I would go back. All these issues were minor and the helpful reception staff made up for all other issues.