Hotel St. George, set in a historic newspaper printing house just across from the Old Church Park in Helsinki, Finland, has made its debut. The seven-story building—also once home to the Finnish Literature Society—has been connected to an adjacent five-story structure, which together offer three contemporary food and drink outlets, a modern spa153 individually decorated rooms and suites, and several public spaces.
The hotel also has an impressive art collection on par with many of the city’s galleries. The pièce de résistance is a sculpture by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, which takes center stage in the entrance gallery. The floating polycephalic dragon, entitled Tianwu, is crafted from bamboo and clothed in white silk, and is the only piece of work by Ai Weiwei to be displayed in a public space. In addition, there are over 300 pieces of art displayed throughout the property.
Of the 152 rooms are five suites, which are connected to the history of Finland: the Finlandia Suite, for example, honors Finland’s 2017 centenary, while the sixth-floor Coupole Suite’s tower and accompanying rooftop reveal some of the most significant parts of the building’s architecture.
Restaurant Andrea, the brainchild of Mehmet Gürs, is a contemporary destination restaurant with options that include Nordic and Mediterranean, while George Bakery is a small subterranean grocery store and deli that offers fresh bread and coffee, as well as breakfast and lunch menus. Another notable public space is the Wintergarden, an expansive space linking the hotel’s two wings under a glass-roofed inner. Here, guests can enjoy a monthly changing schedule of events, as well as the Garden Bar and Antto Melasniemi’s Wintergarden Restaurant.
The St. George Care spa brings together fitness, massages and treatments in a way that pays homage to the country’s philosophies and resources. Finland’s drinking water, for example, is deemed the cleanest in the world and, as such, takes prominence in many of the treatments offered, while the Hintsa Performance concept, a holistic program focused on building a more balanced lifestyle, can be tailored to guests. Two saunas, a swimming pool, a cold plunge pool, and a relaxation area are also available.
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