Seaside hotel filled with 1960s design and nostalgia just outside Helsinki

Rantapuisto / Helsinki / Finland

Post Second World War, in the Nordic region (maybe this also happened elsewhere) companies, unions and similar kind of organizations started to establish a type of resort that could be used for getaways, meetings, trainings or as a kind of Summer vacation spot. These kind of places were built, often in beautiful, scenic locations right next to the sea. Today several of these places have been totally refurbished and turned into modern-looking hotels, such as Ellery Beach House just outside Stockholm. But then there places like Rantapuisto, where time has stood still.

Rantapuisto was built back in the 1960s and is located right by the water, 20 min drive from downtown Helsinki. It was the training centre for Finnish bank PYP. The architects who created this masterpiece are couple Ragnar Ypyä and Martta Martikainen-Ypyä. Ragnar used to work at Alvar Aaltos architectural office in the 1920s and you can see the inspiration from that in this creation.

The building is all about three different materials; bricks, wood and glass. And all three have been used in abundance. The roughness of the bricks, the softness of the wood and the airiness of the glass makes for such a beautiful result. .

The hotel is huge with an immense amount of meeting- and reception rooms. There are 70 rooms and ours was very straightforward and simple in its design. The brick walls were painted white and there was a minimum of decorations. The only features that stood out were the striped curtains and some typical 60s style lamps. This simplicity makes sense considering you have the most beautiful feature right in front of you, the massive windows facing the pine forest and the Baltic Sea.

One of my favorite things when staying here was to explore the hotel, both on the inside and outside. Everywhere I turned there were beautiful features from the 1960s so there were a lot of photos to go through after our stay. But like always, the photos don’t fully make the place justice. Best is if you come here yourself.

Welcome to the Rantapuisto Hotel, just outside Helsinki in Finland.

As soon as you enter you are showered in nostalgic 1960s design and details.

Everywhere you turn there are beautiful design elements and classic Finnish design furniture like this tea trolley from Finnish design company Artek.

We are checked and heading to our room in the seaside wing.

The rooms are a paired back affair. Very straight forward with few frills. White-painted brick walls and just a minimum of furniture.

Classic 1960s lamps and striped curtains.

A great way to say welcome, a chilled bottle of prosecco waiting to be popped.

I was obsessed with walking around the hotel, taken aback by all the great design and classic interior features.

A bespoke lamp in the lounge next to the reception.

We have exactly this kind of lamp at home, from Swedish brand Atelje Lyktan in Åhus, Skåne.

There is so much craftmanship in the design. Like this massive sliding door.

Heading upstairs to one of the reception halls.

This chandelier is one of the most, no, I think THE most beautiful I have ever seen. Would love one at home.

And the same goes for this fireplace, with its curved tiled shapes.

This image screams 1960s to me. Everything from the carpet to the piano to the wooden panels and the camouflaged wall clock and door.

Rantapuisto is not only stunning on the inside, but equally so on the outside. A lot of trees have been spared which makes it feel like the hotel was gently placed here by some kind giant.

This small bungalow belongs to the hotel and is located right by the water. The outside is adorned with that easily recognizable Marimekko pattern.

My friends Malin and Susanne heading down to one of the two saunas…

Malin and Susanne heading back in after a mandatory dip in the Baltic between the sauna sessions.

Sun is setting over Rantapuisto. This is the restaurant wing from the outside…

The food is great, but the most delicious part of the meal was this freshly baked Finnish rye bread with real butter. OMG!

Morning has broken and the sun is slowly rising as we are out on a walk.

If you want to go into Helsinki (about 20 by car), I can highly recommend a visit to Alvar Aalto’s masterpiece, the Finlandia House.

There is a great little café where you can stop by for a coffee and something to eat…

…and maybe purchase something in the fab little shop.

Next to the Finlandia House is the newly built public library. An amazing wooden building open to the public.

And if you like us, are here on a sunny day, I propose a lunch at classic seaside restaurant, Birgitta’s.

The halloumi sticks with tzatziki were so delicious.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are into time travel. This hotel is like a time capsule from the 1960s where most of the design and the features are from this period. So if you like classic mid-century design and staying right by the water, surrounded by pine trees, you will not be unhappy here at Rantapuisto.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is that the place have been left (more or less) intact from when it was created. With this said, yes, it might be good with a gentle upgrade in some places, but all in all the design is so timeless even though it has that atypical 1960s stamp. I love that this has been preserved and not destroyed by some investor with bad taste. It is like staying in a museum from a different time period.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to have a sauna session. There are two saunas on site (this is Finland after all). The Ranta Sauna is down by the water so you can combine your sauna with a fresh dip in the Baltic Sea before running back into the heat. If you decide to go into central Helsinki (the hotel is a 20 min drive from downtown), I can highly recommend a visit to the stunning Finlandia house. It is the work of Finnish icon Alvar Aalto (who was the inspiration for the architects that created the Rantapuisto).

If you like this hotel you might also like:

Shishi Iwa House / Karuizawa, Japan

Hornbækhus / Hornbæk, Denmark

Les Cabanettes / Arles, France

Icaro / Alpe di Siusi, Italy

Menardi Hotel / Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy