Britannia Hotel

The Britannia name dates back to 1870, when British aristocrats used to visit Trondheim, just south of the Arctic Circle, on salmon-fishing expeditions. Today Trondheim is much more than a fishing town — it’s Norway’s third-largest city, a university town in a spectacular setting with a booming restaurant scene. And its most glamorous hotel, the Britannia, now hosts style-minded luxury travelers from all around the world.

Its interiors are a surprise to anyone who thinks Scandinavia is synonymous with modernism. After a thorough renovation, these spaces are contemporary, but the spirit of the ’90s — the 1890s — is alive and well here. The rooms feature proper luxury-hotel comforts, complete with Hästens beds, Carrara marble bathrooms, and Nespresso machines, and the look is equally palatable to traditionalists and design aficionados.

There’s a spa, a well-equipped gym, and an indoor pool, all part of the Britannia Club, where memberships are extended to hotel guests. Among the hotel’s four restaurants is the century-old Speilsalen, which was recently awarded its first Michelin star, as well as a French brasserie, a grill called Jonathan, and a cocktail bar and separate wine bar, with a collection that runs to 2,000 labels.