My stay at this hotel was absolutely exceptional. The ambiance was warm and inviting, creating a truly relaxing atmosphere. The breakfast was delicious, offering a great variety, and the afternoon tea with cake was a delightful touch that made the experience even more special. I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning!

The dinner could be a little bit better!

The hotel is located right next to the metro stop, which means that the city centre can be reached in just a few minutes. However, everything can also be reached on foot in under 15 minutes. The hotel staff were very friendly and extremely accommodating. When we needed information for a doctor they were very helpful. The breakfast buffet is very varied and offers everything you could wish for. The evening meal was also almost always good. In the evening there are various salads and a main course with a side dish. However, as a vegetarian you are very limited as there is always something with meat. All in all, we felt very comfortable. This hotel enhanced our stay in Helsinki and we would come back.

hotel was lovely and clean and very welcoming. Room good size with great amenities and view over the front.food was lovely, excellent breakfast and choices, lovely touch with the coffee and cake late afternoon. Dinner limited choice but delicious. Staff very helpful. Tram stop right outside or a pleasant 20 or so min walk into town.

Slightly high / tall bath to get in and out of for a shower (mild mobility issues for me) but that is the only tiny minus. Not really a minus as I did manage lol. Again, did not affect us but if i were to bring husband / daughter they might struggle with dinner being limited option. We were quite happy with what was on offer.

Have been in other Clarion Collection hotels in Helsinki and Sweden. So well as always. Building was a prison in the old past with a touch of Alcatraz. Extremly thick walls. Very good cuisine in the evening.

No fresh air - not possible to open the windows, neither in main room nor in bath room. Missing that hardly before going to bed, in the morning, after a shower (creating humidity). Heating is by air condition in main room (with underfloor heating in the bath room). Sorry to say that for such a well hotel.

Enjoyed the stay. Very unique experience. Food can be improved and add some variety in the breakfast. But it was still decent generous breakfast. Currently they have in Finnish, English and French food options in the breakfast. Room, bed and facilities are great. Very quite space. We choose to try the bath tub as it was a cold weekend in Helsinki. It was good but getting in and out can be dangerous/hard for some people especially old people. But over all experience was great. I would recommend anyone to go stay here. Also it is in walkable distance to the sea side where you can walk and relax.

The prison is amazing to look round and it still feels like a prison but a luxurious hotel too. The rooms are larger than a prison cell, probably 3 together and the facilities were great. The afternoon Fika was a real treat and the breakfast was outstanding. So much choice and absolutely delicious.

Sadly the evening meal was disappointing. Service was until 8pm and we arrived to little food at 7.45pm and staff that wanted to clear up as soon as it hit 8pm. It made us feel unwelcome and we were concerned for breakfast but that was exceptional so it’s a shame that spoilt an otherwise outstanding experience.

Excellent hotel, unique and very comfortable defintely exceeded our expectations. The staff, room and food were excellent. Firstly we had a standard room which was a good size and very clean. The bed was very comfortable. All the staff were very professional and friendly. Food was lovely, breakfast was varied. Fika and evening meal was included too, which was buffet style. The restuarant/dining area had a lovely relax feel to it. Each night cost us around £115 with food included, excellent value we thought considering we was in Helsinki. Very easy to reach from the train station. We walked but you can get tram number 4 which stops outside. We used the sauna which was a lovely experience for us, as we were able to have sole use for one hour for 20 euros which we thought was very reasonable. Though it’s free at the weekend in the morning. There are games/cards dotted around which adds to extra entertainment. Considering it was a prison beforehand the transformation is fabulous. You can see the history is still there but is an amazing transformation. Definitely recommend 100% you won’t be disappointed.

Everything is excellent

Excellent hotel with garden (unusual in Helsinki) and parking available (c£20 per day). We liked it so much we stayed twice in the same trip. It's worth paying the small supplement to have a superior room which means that you are guaranteed a window you can look out of. The position of the hotel is great: on a little island out of the way but only 10mins walk from the main street (or catch the no 4 tram which runs every 10 minutes from outside the front gate). Breakfast was excellent and the included Fika (afternoon coffee/tea and cake) a lovely way to end a days sightseeing.

The included evening meal was a bit hit and miss: the soup and salad were always good (but the soup ran out quite early one night) and the "main" part of the meal was sometimes a bit disappointing. Hard to complain though as the room rate was so reasonable. Best to consider it a bonus rather than an inclusion and be prepared to pop to the nearby supermarket (5 mins)to top yourself up if needed. Not a complaint, just an observation: rooms are not serviced during the stay (except I think on request). Once we realised this we found it quite relaxing (as not on tenterhooks that someone might be knocking on door whilst snoozing)

A Unique and Unforgettable Stay – Absolutely Perfect! My daughter and I recently had the pleasure of staying at this incredible hotel, and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences I’ve had. From the moment I arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make me feel welcome. Every team member was friendly, helpful, and always ready to assist with a smile. The hotel itself is a stunning historic building, beautifully maintained and full of character. One of the most fascinating aspects is the preserved prison cell, which adds a unique and immersive touch to the experience. The décor throughout the hotel is elegant and thoughtfully designed, blending modern comfort with historical charm. The location is absolutely perfect! Situated close to the city centre, it’s easy to explore all the major attractions, with a tram stop right outside making transportation effortless. The public transport links to the airport are excellent, making arrivals and departures completely stress-free. Food—simply outstanding! Every meal was a delight, from breakfast to dinner, with a fantastic selection of dishes that were both delicious and beautifully presented. If you’re looking for a hotel that offers a mix of history, luxury, excellent service, and a prime location, this is the place to stay. I highly recommend it.

All was excellent.

The hotel is in a great location, walking distance from most sights, but there is a tram stop directly outside also. The hotel has been converted to a great standard. The room was lovely and warm, and the under floor heating in the bathroom was an added bonus. Huge bath as well, which was nice after a very cold day out sightseeing. The breakfast was just OK.

The staff were fine, not really overly friendly, and to be honest, some of them looked quite unhappy most of the time. The breakfast selection was limited and cold. The evening meal was very poor. There was a very limited selection. One starter, which was curried chicken soup one night, and one main meal each night, which was pork one evening and fish the next! This was all cold. This was the same both evenings, so not just a one-off.