* ad in collaboration with NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa
NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa has now stood at the corner of Kaivokatu and Mannerheimintie roads for a year and a half, bringing charming five-star elegance to the very heart of Helsinki. I had previously tried the delights of the hotel’s Hansa Café Bar & Brasserie as well as the treatments at Usva Spa, and liked them both. So when the twentieth anniversary of my travel blog arrived, I decided to mark the occasion by returning to where it all began – Helsinki. After all, it was from Helsinki that my blog set off twenty years ago, as I prepared for my journey into the great unknown, a journey to India.
From my hotel room window, I could see the same Mannerheimintie road I had photographed in the early years of my blog in an article titled “Sunset On Helsinki.” It felt wonderfully surreal to realise that I was standing in almost the same scenery eighteen years later; enjoying the warm shower at midnight and same time watching the Saturday-night traffic on Mannerheimintie road through the window. Life certainly knows how to surprise.
Upon entering my Premium Room, I immediately fell for its atmosphere: the carefully considered lighting, the elegant furniture, the soft beautiful carpet, the lovely bathroom, and the inviting king-size bed with three wonderfully soft pillows in addition to the decorative cushions. Waiting on the table was a welcome treat – dark handmade chocolate with blueberries, Hand Made in Helsinki, along with refreshing Vellamo water. I took a small tour around the room, tested the furniture, and eventually settled at the desk with a cup of Ronnefeldt English Breakfast tea.
It was raining outside, but it didn’t dampen the mood. Quite the opposite – the lights of the Forum shopping centre across the street reflected beautifully on the wet pavement. The small, elegant desk where I sat caused no stress at all, unlike my desk at home that always reminds me of undone tasks piling up. I even caught myself dreaming of replacing my home desk with something smaller, just so I could get a similar chaise-style chair to the one in the hotel room – simple, stylish, and wonderfully comfortable.
Before dinner, I decided to check out the hotel gym. I was surprised by how fresh the air felt in the underground space – noticeably fresher than in my regular above-ground gym. The treadmill was so pleasant to walk on, that I spent half an hour there simply walking and enjoying my favourite gym playlist from my earpods. I finished with a few strength exercises – as you need to keep your muscles in shape if you plan on travelling for another twenty years. Even the dumbbells felt high-quality, nicer than those at my usual gym. Another big plus for the hotel.
After a quick shower, I headed to dinner at 7.30 pm. Guests are advised to book a table at the restaurant and Kupoli Bar upon arrival, and that proved wise – I watched several non-hotel visitors turned away at the Kupoli Bar door because all tables were already fully booked for the evening.
I was given a lovely window table at Hansa Café Bar & Brasserie overlooking Kaivopiha. For starters, I chose sugar-salted whitefish from Åland with pickled cucumber and herring mayonnaise, and in both flavour and appearance it was the most beautiful and delicious fish starter I have tasted during my twenty years of travel blogging. I savoured it slowly and slightly regretted not ordering a glass of white wine with it, as the dish almost begged for it.
For the main course, I wanted to try the burger and was delighted that a vegetarian version was made possible. The restaurant’s famous fries with truffle mayonnaise lifted the vegetarian burger to an entirely new level. For dessert, I enjoyed a traditional crème brûlée with berries. The non-alcoholic lime soda I chose surprised me with its spiciness – with perhaps a hint of black pepper. The entire dinner was atmospheric, calm, and successful, full of small skillful details. It was a pleasure to observe the work of the waiters and chefs and their excellent service.
The next morning’s buffet breakfast was just as impressive. The room was full, yet the service remained flawless. The waiter refilled my coffee cup before I even realised I wanted more, and the omelette I ordered was cooked right in front of me and brought to my table beautifully plated. Around me I heard multiple languages, creating an international and pleasant atmosphere – almost as if I were abroad, despite Espresso House and Kaivokäytävä being visible just outside the window.
The atmosphere at Kupoli Bar was less international, as Helsinki locals have clearly made it their own. I was grateful that I had saved my first late-night visit there for this special occasion, because I will never forget how beautiful Mannerheimintie road looked with all its lights from the rooftop terrace. The view was much better than the summertime afternoon view I had previously seen from the same terrace. The fact that the stars were not visible this time gives me a reason to return on a clearer night, perhaps during the crisp winter months to come. As all drinks at Kupoli Bar are also available alcohol-free.
On Sunday after breakfast, I headed to Usva Spa, the saunas, cold-water pool, and luxurious atmosphere of which were included in the room price. I had booked the Relax Like a Finn facial treatment, performed with Unna Nordic products. In addition to a facial massage, the treatment included work on the shoulders and head. What made this Relax Like a Finn treatment particularly memorable was how gently it evoked all the weather conditions of Finland – even the freezing rain that will soon lash our faces during the dark late-autumn evenings. But the treatment approached everything with such softness and calm that I found myself oddly longing for that harsh nature experience. The lingonberry juice served before the treatment, and the tea, water, and chocolate offered afterward on the relaxation bed, completed the spa visit perfectly.
Relax Like a Finn treatment left my body and mind thoroughly refreshed. I felt peaceful, and my skin glowed at its best a couple of days after the treatment.
So my dream weekend at NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa was, in every way, perfect – just as one would expect from a five-star hotel. It offered high-quality accommodation, an excellent restaurant, a well-equipped gym, and a refined spa, along with countless pleasant and thoughtful details, such as a remote-controlled toilet seat. The dream weekend felt like a small journey into another world – without needing to step onto a train, plane, or ship. And it is exactly the kind of journey I’d happily take again.
Read more about travel in Helsinki
INDIVUE - travel & art 
Leave a comment