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A cobblestone courtyard, lined with greenery and patio furniture, forms the entrance to the serene, 40-room Columbus Hotell, which offers standard en suite rooms, as well as budget options.
Located a few blocks from the nexus of Sodermalm's best shopping, eating, and drinking, the Columbus still manages to feel tranquil, thanks to its neighbor, the understated Katarina Kyrka, whose churchyard and cemetery are a slice of contemplative bliss.
The Columbus's cheerful yellow building, which dates back to 1870, was converted into a hotel in 1976. Prior to this it was many things, including a brewery and a beggars prison. These days, the incarceration look is long gone, and the Columbus sports an airy, contemporary ambience with original wood floors and a smattering of Swedish antique (or antique-inspired) furniture.
Suites and standard rooms are spacious and attractive, decorated with 19th-century style furniture. Bigger rooms have couches and ridiculously large bathrooms, some with clawfoot tubs.
However, Cheapos will appreciate the Annexe rooms. These slim, simple rooms, located on the third floor, forgo the niceties of "Persian" carpets and en suite bathrooms for affordable prices. But plenty of natural light, a telephone, small reading lamps, and an in-room sink, make them very comfortable. The shared toilets are sparkling clean, and, best of all, Annexe rooms have the same weekend and weekday rates—a rarity in business-minded Stockholm.
Some rooms offer fantastic views of the church next door (request ahead!), while others look onto a quiet courtyard. Free tea and coffee are offered every afternoon in the lobby.
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