Vibrant, colorful theme hotel on the High Coast in North Sweden
Hernö Gin Hotell / Härnösand / Ångermanland / Sweden
Theme hotels is a topic in itself. They can really go both ways. They can end up being gimmicky, silly (not the good kind) and downright corny when the theme is not strong enough or if the execution isn’t made with quality in mind. But then there are hotels on the other side of the spectra, where the theme is unique and the execution and the design has been pushed just far enough. This is for sure a tricky balancing act. One, in my eyes, successful theme hotels is this one, the Hernö Gin Hotel. Yes, you read it correctly, it is a gin hotel.
Hernö Gin started in 2011 by Jon Hillgren and was the first gin distillery in Sweden. He found a great place to build his business in the small village of Dala, close to the town of Härnösand in the north of Sweden. The ambition was clear, to create a premium gin using natural ingredients. The gin has received a lot of praise, not only on home turf but also internationally. This has made more people coming to this region to visit the production site, and why not make sure there is a great place to stay for those visitors.
In February 2025 Hernö Gin Hotell opened its doors, located on Kanaludden, with views of both the town of Härnösand and the Baltic Sea. The 122 hotel rooms are spread over 9 floors and the design is inspired by the look of gin distillery to bring the two sites together. One of those clear connections is the use of copper in the hotel which is a nod to the giant stills used in the gin production. On top of gin related design, there is a lot of wood and different green hues to bring in the connection to the surrounding nature.
Our room was on the top floor with wonderful views of the surroundings. But what stood out most to me was the rich use of different golden, yellow almost mustardy tones. I love bold color choices! I also want to mention the choice of dark tiles for the bathroom which made it feel like it was part of the design idea and not just some kind of after thought.
When staying here, it is almost a must (if you are a fan of gin, of course!) to visit the gin bar on the first floor where you can have something to drink and relax in one of the many sofas. It kind of makes sense to have a gin drink at a gin hotel, don’t you think?
Welcome to Hernö Gin Hotell!
The open and welcoming lobby area
Our room had a golden look and feel with different shades of yellow. Love the warmth!
There is a lot of space, especially on the first floor, where you can hang out…
…and play some board games.
The hotel is located on Kanaludden, right next to the Baltic Sea.
The 9 story hotel, right next to the Härnösand Simhall with the iconic roof
To have a drink with Hernö Gin is almost a must when staying here. My drink of choice, Negroni.
M having a morning dip before breakfast
Breakfast outside on the terrace, right next to the water
The old part of Härnösand is filled with these colorful wooden houses.
M out exploring
The region north of Härnösand, the High Coast is a stunning area where you can do a lot of hiking. This is me heading up to the top of Skuleberget.
Me taking in the views from Skuleberget
The coast line is dotted with old fishing villages where you can stop, like we did with some picnic and go for a dip in the Baltic Sea.
The best buns in the area, worth a detour is to be found at Bruket.
BTW, they also do a mean lemon meringue pie.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…love your gin since this is a gin hotel. How is that for being unique! If you like to drink your gin in a colorful hotel by the sea in a small town surrounded by stunning nature in the north part of Sweden, you will be happy little sailor at Hernö Gin Hotel.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the bold color choices in the design. Our room had this rich, almost mustardy yellow which I have never before seen in a hotel. Maybe not a color I would choose at home but here it felt interesting and so right. No, you know what, I would love to have this color at home.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to drink. Ok, one shouldn’t encourage people to drink but if you ought to ever have a gin-based drink, it kind of makes sense to do so when staying at a gin hotel. I had a Negroni that made the trick for me. And to balance the drinking, a drive north along the High Coast is a must. A stunning stretch of coast with dramatic scenery.
If you like this hotel you might also like:
The Vault / Helsingborg, Sweden
RUNO / Porvoo, Finland
Story Hotel / Malmö, Sweden
