Hotel Schlossle, Tallinn, Estonia
Hotel Overview
Review of Hotel Schlossle, by Chloe Loyd
This is a fairytale hotel, the first five-star in Estonia, steeped in history and luxury, and still the only one of its kind in the expanding Tallinn hotel world. A roaring fire welcomes you in to the softly lit lobby where you feel instantly at home, cushioned by plush sofas and leafing through their eclectic book collection, or even an English paper, while discreet uniformed staff hover to attend your every need.
Hotel Schlossle is housed in three medieval buildings, the oldest of which dates back to the 13th-century and now makes up the more private annexe rooms and spacious sauna area. Indeed, in the tranquillity of the courtyard, surrounded by 400-year-old merchant houses, you could well be in a former era, with the exception of course of the dainty fairy lights twinkling in the trees.
Back inside the hotel, every feature has been painstakingly renovated, from the wrought-iron chandeliers and bold stone fireplaces to the handrails and door knobs. With 24 rooms, the personal touch is very much in evidence; Molton Brown and candles in the bathrooms, fresh flowers, bedside books. Each room is different but all conspire to a traditional elegance. The Schlössle opened in 1998; some might say that a facelift could be order. It does feel lived-in; carpets are occasionally worn and perhaps the bathrobes aren’t as plush as they once were. However, this faded elegance only adds to the hotel’s old-world charm.
The Stenhouse restaurant, nestled in the underbelly of the ancient building, is a worthy appendage to the Schlössle. Winner of the national Silver Spoon award, the Estonian chef brings his French training to enhance his delicious Estonian cuisine. Tucked in a table under the medieval arches, lit by candles and lanterns, it would be difficult not to feel impressed.
Private dining is possible next to their wine cellar. Breakfast is a particularly leisurely and continental affair. The comforts of the sitting room or library of the hotel are the perfect places to withdraw to for a night cap or coffee. Look out for the artistic touch of the friendly resident ghost. The unique character and charm of this Old Town gem are hard to beat, but do come at a price.
Facilities
Awards
"Estonia's Leading Hotel", World Travel Awards 06; ''101 Best Hotels,'' Tatler 04; ''Hot List,'' Conde Nast Traveller 04Come for...
- Playing the medieval princess
- Sauna in 13th-century cellars
Not Suitable for...
- Those who need an elevator
- Wicked stepmothers
Eating in
The Stenhus: the gastromonic centre of TallinnThe Press Say
"For warmth and character it can't be faulted." The Telegraph 05"For five-star service in a medieval merchant’s house, it’s a straight choice: old-world opulence at the Schlössle." The Times 05
Reviews
Review of Hotel Schlossle, by Angela Moore
When we visited the Hotel Schlossle, the Estonian winter had already begun. Traces of snow already decorated the russet Old Town roofs. The little cobbled streets were near-deserted; trim, pastel-coloured merchant's houses closed up against the cold. This is fairytale territory, and the winter makes it more Brothers Grimm than Walt Disney
All the better, then, to open the door to the warmth of the Schlossle. Smiling, courteous staff, handsomely dressed in morning coats and pink waistcoats, gently relieve you of your baggage, coat and cares. There are low ceilings, heavily beamed in ancient wood. There are rugs on flagstone floors and bosomy sofas ranged around a fireplace. Walls show exposed stone, alternating with creamy and uneven plaster, delicately painted with flowers. Candles and lamps cast merry pools of light; each table has a little bell so that you can call for tea or a warming whisky without moving more than an arm.
The hotel plays on its medieval heritage - walls are hung with paintings of serious-eyed medieval maidens, tapestries and coats of arms - but it does not feel themed. It's in the bare stone walls and vaulted ceilings of the cellar-like Stenhus restaurant that the house's history is most apparent. The menu, though, is definitely of today, and the restaurant has an excellent reputation.
The Schlossle ticks all the boxes for a hotel in medieval Tallinn but the whole experience is definitely more than the sum of its parts. It has a delicious cosiness and above all it has its stellar levels of service - not always a given in this town. We twice called down for last-minute breakfasts in bed that were delivered to order without a murmur; throughout our stay, every request was met with charm and courtesy. First-rate care.
Hotel Schlossle has 23 rooms and a suite; naturally, all differ slightly in layout. The style, though, remains the same: cosy and intimate, with low ceilings, heavy curtains, and thick carpets - like being cocooned. They are unfussy, with white-painted furniture and the prettiest white linen, embroidered with flowers. In a small annexe across a courtyard, a twisty and tiny medieval stair leads up to more rooms. Bathrooms are standard fare, stocked with Molton Brown.
The suite, at the top of house, is a winner. It's attic-like, garret-esque, built around huge columns of wood, used for some mysterious purpose in days of yore. Colours here are more contemporary and the style is more sophisticated. There's a dining/sitting room with a great table set around with high-backed bishop's chairs; the bedroom has a half-canopied bed covered in chocolate-coloured silks and woollen throws. It also has an extremely glamorous bathroom with its own sauna, a walk-in shower and a vast Jacuzzi. You won't want to leave.