Villa Dagmar - Stockholm

Every hotel featured is visited personally by members of our team, given the Smith seal of approval, and then anonymously reviewed. As soon as our reviewers have returned from this sumptuous city hideaway in Sweden and unpacked their smoked herring and Schnapps, a full account of their food-filled break will be with you. In the meantime, to whet your wanderlust, here's a quick peek inside Villa Dagmar in Stockholm…

One of Swedish history’s most fascinating characters, Axel Munthe, lived at the very address that Villa Dagmar now occupies in the smart Ostermalm neighbourhood. He was a man with many hats: royal physician, bestselling author, keen collector of ancient artifacts, amateur architect and general high flyer in European society. So, it’s apt that Villa Dagmar is multi-faceted, too, and full of surprises from the off – though its historic façade betrays nothing of the unexpectedly eye-popping glass atrium behind it. Once your eyes have adjusted to all that dazzling Northern light, you’ll notice that underneath this soaring roof bustles a piazza that could have been lifted from Liguria – there’s an ambitious Mediterranean restaurant, a highly-curated concept store, a flower shop, an organic deli and a direct entrance to the world-famous Ostermalm food hall (conveniently next door). Once you’ve eaten, drunk, shopped and gazed your fill, make your way up to your serene bedroom, where the decor blends Swedish simplicity with a touch of Italian grandeur. Despite being miles from the Bel Paese, Villa Dagmar has definitely mastered la dolce vita.