The Rebirth of Hotel Kämp

Since opening its doors on Helsinki’s Pohjoisesplanadi in 1887, Kämp has been a meeting place at the heart of Finnish cultural, political and social life, where artists gathered, ideas were exchanged, celebrations unfolded and guests arrived from around the world.

The extensive renovation encompasses the hotel’s restaurant À La Kämp, the Kämp Bar, its suites and guest spaces, the new 1,200-square-metre Kämp Spa, and Kämp Delicatessen. Together, these spaces represent a renewed expression of Kämp: deeply rooted in its rich heritage, yet thoughtfully designed for how guests live, travel and experience Helsinki today.

“Hotel Kämp is so much more than a hotel. It is a historic institution, part of the soul of Helsinki! For me, this rebirth is about building on that legacy for the future. Our role is not simply to preserve a heritage, but to continue developing it. My vision is for Kämp to be just as relevant and inspiring to future generations as it has been to those before us. That is how you create an icon!”, says Petter Stordalen, Founder and Owner of Strawberry.

A New Chapter for an Icon of Helsinki 

The renewal has been carried out in phases since late 2023, with Hotel Kämp remaining open throughout. The main entrance has been returned to its original position facing the Esplanade, and approximately 3,100 square metres have been added through the integration of the adjacent Helander House. The hotel has been renewed throughout, from the reception and public spaces to the restaurant, bar, suites and Kämp Spa.

“Kämp has always evolved with Helsinki. It has never been a static institution – it has been a place where new ideas, people and experiences come together. The rebirth of Hotel Kämp is a continuation of that story. We have taken the opportunity to look at the hotel as a whole and create a more complete Kämp experience, while protecting the character and heritage that make this place unique,” says Tuomas Liewendahl, General Manager of Hotel Kämp.

The Art of Understated Opulence  

In the first phase of the renovation, design agency Fyra was entrusted with a refined update of the interior design of the hotel’s rooms and corridors, both within the original building and the adjacent Helander House. The extension adds 22 new guest rooms, 15 of which are suites. 

In a subsequent phase, the design vision was developed in collaboration with London-based architecture firm Archer Humphryes, whose portfolio includes Chiltern Firehouse, The Standard London, and Ronnie Scott’s. Hotel Kämp marks the practice’s first project in the Nordic region. The approach has been to let Kämp’s history guide its future rather than recreate the past.

The renewed suites offer a quieter, contemporary interpretation of Kämp luxury, a richness that reveals itself gradually through materials, craftsmanship and detail. 

At 258 square metres, the Mannerheim Suite is the largest and most luxurious suite in Finland. Named after C.G.E. Mannerheim, who resided at Hotel Kämp in 1919 before becoming Finland’s Marshal and later its President, the suite is one of the hotel’s most historically significant spaces. It is a suite shaped by history, but designed for today’s most discerning guests, from private families to international delegations and heads of state.

A New Expression of Finnish Wellbeing 

A defining addition is the reimagined Kämp Spa, a 1,200-square-metre destination for modern wellbeing. Rooted in Finnish heritage and shaped by contemporary, purpose-driven practices, the spa takes a holistic approach to recovery, vitality and long-term health.

Traditional Finnish saunas, steam rooms and infrared saunas sit alongside a pool and cold plunge pool, while signature treatments are complemented by personalised wellness experiences and a Technogym-equipped gym.

A Place to Come Together 

The rebirth also brings renewed energy to Kämp Bar and restaurant À La Kämp. Throughout its history, the hotel has been a place to see and be seen, from the artists and writers such as Jean Sibelius, Axel Gallén and Robert Kajanus who gathered at the ground-floor restaurant, to the celebrated Kämp Bar and Mirror Room. The renewed culinary and social spaces continue that tradition, creating settings for dining, cocktails, celebrations, business and conversation.

The ambition is simple: for Kämp to continue its legacy as Helsinki’s living room – a place that belongs as much to the city as it does to its guests, and where the world comes together.

Adding a new dimension to this legacy, Kämp Delicatessen opens directly onto Helsinki’s main pedestrian shopping street, welcoming locals, shoppers and office workers alike. Inspired by the hotel’s original café, which occupied the same address in the 1930s, it brings the spirit of Kämp into the everyday life of the city.

Hotel Kämp Image bank.
 

For media enquiries & interview requests, please contact:

Linus Stridfelt, Patriksson Group
linus.stridfelt@patrikssongroup.com

About Hotel Kämp

Hotel Kämp opened on Pohjoisesplanadi in Helsinki in 1887, designed by architect Theodor Höijer, and has been an integral part of Finnish cultural and political life ever since. Operated by Strawberry as part of Nordic Hotels & Resorts, the hotel has undergone a phased refurbishment and expansion since late 2023, adding approximately 3,100 square metres of space through the adjacent Helander House and introducing a new 1,200-square-metre spa.