NEW HOTEL SPOTLIGHTS FINNISH CHARM

Forget rustic huts and wood-heated cabins. On your next trip to Finland, indulge in refined Nordic hospitality at The Hotel Maria, a new luxury hotel in the heart of Helsinki that aims to be a homebase for all your Nordic adventures. The hotel is a collection of four architecturally and historically prominent buildings dating back to 1885. This urban sanctuary’s 117 spacious rooms and 38 suites meld contemporary elegance with echoes of its storied past in the city’s historic Kruununhaka district. Guest rooms provide double the space of typical Finnish hotels, with an average size exceeding 460 square feet, and features that include large “American-style” beds, state-ofthe-art technology, and spa-like marble bathrooms, most with extra-large soaking tubs and electric fireplaces. Nineteen suites are also equipped with their own private traditional Finnish saunas or steam rooms.

The on-site Maria Spa boasts a coed Finnish sauna, steam room, cold and warm water plunge pools, Jacuzzi, and greenery-filled fully enclosed atrium sanctuary. Wellness options will expand in June with the opening of The Wellness Club, a fitness space with best-in-class equipment and unique training programs. Lilja, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is helmed by head chef Ville Rainio whose culinary experiences include work at acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe. Seasonal menus, inspired by French fine dining, showcase the finest products in Finland and regions nearby, from local wild-caught fish to reindeer sourced in Lapland. More casual dining is found at the brasserie-style Garden Terrace where guests can savor afternoon tea or dishes from an all-day menu inspired by classic international and Nordic cuisine. At Bar Maria, enjoy the live music of a grand piano while sipping champagne — with some caviar, of course — and decadent drinks prepared by a specialist mixologist. (Nordic Noir cocktail with Kyro Rye Malt and spiced red wine, anyone?) Rates from $496. www.hotelmaria.fi