Marski by Scandic is my parents’ favourite hotel, for several seasons. It’s right opposite of Stockmann, so a great central location, the tram to our apartment leaves in front of the door and there is a taxi line during the nights, so my mum has great entertainment when she can’t sleep. But over the years, it really needed an overhaul, and it finally got it – and is now the first Scandic Signature Hotel in Helsinki. Marski now fully embraces all the oddities, phrases and curious facts about the Finns that resounded throughout the land.
We were kindly invited to spend the night during my families’ latest visit to experience the new vibes of Marski. Thank you to Marski by Scandic!
The restaurant visit was not sponsored.
The hotel and location: the colour palette reminds me of the forest with its green tones, the variety of berries with a lot of purple and deep reds – brass accent and lots of decor details around the entire hotel give it a very distinct look and feel. The ground floor has been revamped entirely, from the layout to the design – it’s really something different.
Right on Mannerheimintie, the location of Marski is really one of the best, tram stops 6, 6T and 10 right in front of the door, opposite of the Stockmann department store and hence also just right next to Esplanadi. From there it’s a short stroll through the park down to the market and Senate Square, so all the main sights are within walking distance.
The special service by Marski is the concierge service, with dedication to making anyone’s stay enjoyable and full of experiences. Regular events are also organised at Marski, so do keep an eye out for that.
The rooms: There are several different room categories around the 8 floors of the hotel, and from the giant Marski suite to cozy window-less rooms, there is everything you might need. It is also fully accessible, including accessible rooms. We got to stay in one of their Grande rooms of the top floor, which had an absolutely breath-taking view over the city in different directions – the best one straight from the bathtub. What more could you ask for. They have created their own Marski bath products and have moved away from single-use amenities, which is great. My favourite part is their own coffee, which is available for purchase as well.
I loved the view from the bed, the floofy blanket and the cosiness that you feel from the deep, warm colours.
Bars & Restaurants: from the signature cocktails at the new bar, to the coffee I just mentioned, Marski by Scandic has put a lot of effort into conceptualizing the #Finnfulness in this hotel, with the aim of adding a little Finnish twist to all the things, which many probably wouldn’t even realise! For example, the street café 7:01 has been named after the time that Marshal Mannerheim (who also gave the hotel its name) had his coffee every morning at 7:01. Not at 7:00, not at 7:02. At 7:01. What a clever thing to integrate in the whole approach!
Same goes for the restaurant Kuusi Palaa – which has a total of 9 different meanings in the Finnish language, so feel free to pick your favourite if someone asks you what it means. I’ll stick with “Your moon is on fire”. Their menu is full of Finnish, seasonal ingredients and dishes, interpreted in a modern way. You can have the “Kuusi palaa” menu (which also means six pieces), and enjoy a selection of tapas-like dishes. During our stay we tried both their summer and their autumn menu, as well as the small dishes and the main courses, as we stayed right between the seasons, and both of them were delightful.*
Special note to the breakfast, which is high in course for becoming my favourite hotel breakfast in the city: fresh karelian pies, reindeer meatballs and a dedicated porridge buffet make this a very Finnish experience which is great for visitors to get a first glimpse at Finnish food culture. Although I personally also really loved the tomato butter beans (if anyone wants to share the recipe with me, you know where to find me) and the fresh waffles.
My parents will for sure be back, and I am more than happy to recommend Marski to anyone visiting Helsinki, it’s a great base to discover the city, with a great breakfast and beautiful city views. I recommend to ask for a Mannerheimintie street view if you like to observe city life.
Prices start at 200€/night including the amazing breakfast.
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