Scandic Rubinen Hotel Review

Smack in the middle of Kungsportsavenyn, one of Gothenburg's main streets, is the Scandic Rubinen Hotel, a 4-star venue with 292 luxurious guestrooms offering comfortable staying for both business and leisure travelers.

The hotel’s facilities include a restaurant, a Latin-inspired rooftop bar, well-equipped meeting rooms and a fitness center. In other words, a great hotel if you're visiting Gotheburg with kids or family, as well as business.

Located in one of city's busiest and bustling avenues, right in the heart of Gothenburg, it is peaceful with a great family atmosphere - ideal if you want to do some sightseeing around town and need to catch good rest at the end of the day.

Locals often like to unwind at the hotel's bar after a day of conferences or shopping as we saw during our stay.

Highlights

Rooms

There are nine different room categories at Scandic Rubinen that range from 8m2 up to 44m2, which can adequate to all kind of needs and budgets. The modern guestrooms feature a work desk and a private bathroom fitted with a shower, a hairdryer, terry dressing gowns and Face Stockholm toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, and body lotion).

Design and interior decoration vary from one room to another, but in all of them you’ll find wooden floors, climate control, a laptop-size safe, flat-screen TV, ironing board, IDD phone and a closet with more pillows and towels at your disposition.

Naturally, wireless internet is available in the entire hotel for free. In my opinion, Wi-Fi is as essential as the pillow on your bed, and I really appreciated it is cost-free and hassle-free – no tickets or codes needed.

Superior rooms are located in 7th floor also offer a way to enjoy the fantastic views over Gothenburg's main boulevard Kungsportsavenyn: each room has a door leading to the shared full facade-length terrace.

Economy and standard rooms can be a little narrow, especially for long stays, but they guarantee a good rest anyway. The refreshments (with fruit platter included) and the selection of international glossies are a really nice touch, too.

Families are welcome at Rubinen as they count with rooms that can accommodate up to 4 people and all children under 13 years of age stay free and receive a welcome gift when they check in. You can also book a teenage room next to yours for a very affordable price (subject to availability and booked directly via the hotel).

Travellers with a four-legged friend are not excluded. They can choose between rooms of several sizes and prices, although dogs are not allowed in the restaurants. Kits with dog beds, bowl, rug and sometimes dog treats are available. Make sure to book early as the number of pet-friendly rooms is limited.

And if you want to know more about Rubinen’s accessible rooms, visit their website to see the solutions they offer for your particular disability. Detailed accessibility information can be found there.

Other Facilities

The recently renovated Scandic Rubinen provides all the basic amenities you’d expect from a 4-star venue, including well-equipped meeting rooms which can accommodate up to 300 people and a nice on-site restaurant where guests can enjoy wonderful meals with a southern European touch.

The Latin-inspired rooftop bar is one of the big selling points. Overlooking the surroundings, it's the perfect place for pre-dinner drinks or to round off the day. During the summer months, this is Avenyn’s most beautiful terrace, and when autumn sets in, the bar moves indoors and transforms into a cozy living room.

I have to insist again on the breakfast which really is spectacular. I still consider it one of the best buffet breakfasts I've ever had, and among the other finalists also happens to be that of a Scandic hotel.

For the active traveller, a visit to the hotel's gym is often appreciated as it allows you to loosen up your muscles. While small it does have a treadmill, cross-trainers and free weights, plus a bodybuilding station. If you prefer to go outdoors, you can always borrow walking poles or a bike from reception.

Location

The location seriously couldn't be better. The hotel benefits from a prime setting close to absolutely everything. Haga, for instance, is less than 15 minutes away and there are several great restaurants and nightclubs just a few minutes away.

The bronze sculpture of Poseidon is next to the hotel, surrounded by the Gothenburg Museum of Art, City Theater and Concert Hall. Universeum science centre is within walking distance, as well as the Swedish Exhibition Centre and Liseberg Amusement Park.

But if dizzying heights and adventure aren’t for you, you can stroll from the hotel down to Nordstan with all its shopping.

And in case you feel like exploring Gothenburg further afield, the tram stop is located right in front of the hotel. Even the airport shuttle's bus stop (Kungsportsplatsen), too, is only about 5-minute-walk away.

Blogger-friendly Hotel

The Scandic Rubinen Hotel has a special room for bloggers called "Bloggers Inn", which has been created with the intention of providing digital entrepreneurs a platform to share their Gothenburg's experience.

If you're a blogger and would like to stay at the Bloggers Inn, you can always fill out an application (available in English and Swedish) on their Facebook page. Here you must tell them who you are, what you do and why you should enjoy this accommodation.

For the record I did not make use of this.

My Final Thoughts

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