HOTEL J, STOCKHOLM (BELOW RIGHT)

There are cities on the water. And there are cities of the water. Stockholm’s in the second category: you’re either gazing at this Baltic archipelago or crossing it on a boat to one of the 30,000 islands dotted around and beyond the city centre.

Stockholm needed a proper waterside hotel and now it has one in Hotel J. It’s named after the classic J- class yacht of America’s Cup fame. The concept carries through into the design of the 158 rooms, which aspire to capture the good living of America’s affluent yachting community.

So you’ll feel quite at home in your best pastel- coloured polo and boat shoes. But the Scandi soul still dominates. Architecturally: a sturdy mercantile red- brick structure co- exists with a pastel- coloured residential block. Sartorially: preppy polo shirts aside, you’re fine in flip- flops, shorts and tattoos. Gastronomically: Restaurant J sits along the strand with (literally) dazzling summer views late into the evening and heartbreakingly fresh seafood platters. hotelj.com/en