vividventures

Hotel Review

Location:

Hotel Matts is a luxurious 4 star hotel which has been open in Matinkylä, Espoo since early 2021.  The hotel has a metro and bus station just outside the door enabling guests easy access to travel around the scenic Espoo coastal area and into the centre of Helsinki in under 20 minutes.

Arrival and check-in: 

We arrived into Helsinki Vantaa airport and took a train into the city’s central railway station (I and P trains every 15 minutes) before transferring to the metro line M1 to Matinkylä.  The journey from the airport took 55 minutes with a single ticket €4.10 (£3.62).  The hotel is located next to the western exit of the metro station, from the platform go the opposite way to the Iso Omena shopping mall.  Turn right at street level and the hotel is just a few steps away.

It was snowy outdoors but we soon felt warm and cosy as we entered the hotel’s stylish lobby.

We were attended to quickly and after being given details about breakfast and sauna times we were soon taking one of the lifts up to our room.

The Room:

We were booked into one of the hotel’s superior rooms on the 4th floor.  Our spacious room was stylishly furnished in Nordic style with a wooden floor, large comfortable bed, armchair, coffee table, work desk and fast reliable Wi-Fi.

There was also a large, flat screen television at the foot of the bed, a hospitality tray stocked with teas, coffee and hot chocolate, mini-bar, iron, ironing board and safe.  I was impressed with the amount of storage space and wardrobes available, allowing me to properly unpack and not have to keep dipping into my suitcase.

The bathroom came equipped with a powerful rainfall shower, fragrant toiletries, fluffy bathrobes and slippers.

Dining:

Restaurant Freja offers a seasonally inspired menu utilising the best of local ingredients and Nordic flavours.  Featuring low lighting, the in-house restaurant offers an intimate dining experience with a varied choice of à la carte dishes and a popular Saturday brunch.

Breakfast is served in Restaurant Freja each morning offering a wide buffet selection ranging from porridge, scrambled eggs, sausages and bacon to salads, cooked meat, fresh fruit, yoghurt and smoothies.

I was pleased to find the Finnish speciality of warm Karelian pies with a rice porridge filling topped with buttered eggs on offer as they taste delicious.

The Facilities: 

Alongside the hotel’s restaurant, the hotel boasts an attractive bar, a cosy seating area with board games to keep the family entertained, 24 hour reception, meeting rooms and garage parking (additional fee payable).

For relaxation, the sauna suite on the 7th floor has two large saunas, shower and changing facilities, a relaxation room and outdoor terrace for a breath of cool air after using the sauna.

Bartenders conjure up the best cocktails of the season in Restaurant Freja and guests can also enjoy sipping a drink on the courtyard terrace during the summer months.

The hotel has conference / meeting room facilities accommodating up to 100 people which are also available for family parties and celebrations.

Out and About:

Espoo Coastal walkway 

This hiking and cycling route extends for 27 km along the scenic Gulf of Finland coastline.  Matinkylä beach lies just 1.8 km from the hotel and with its sheltered sandy beach it is a delightful spot to relax in the summer.  At any time of year pleasant walks along forest coastal paths can be enjoyed taking in the scenic views out to sea and stopping for a coffee or lunch at a seaside cafe.

Nokkalan Majakka is a gorgeous seaside cafe close to Matinkylä and operated by the same group of companies as Hotel Matts.  It’s open daily until 8.00 p.m. (10.00 p.m. at weekends) serving pastries, snacks and full meals.  There’s a daily soup buffet with irresistible creamy salmon soup on offer at weekends.

Haukilahti is another attractive place to visit and can be reached easily by a short bus ride from Matinkylä.  There’s a large marina, beach and cafes to explore and then you can follow the coastal walkway back to the hotel passing some beautiful villas and pretty beaches along the way.

Nuuksio National Park is located in Espoo and can be reached by bus or car.  With its lakes and forests, it’s gorgeous year round.  Start with a visit to the Haltia Finnish Nature Centre as this is the gateway to the National Park and the starting point for numerous walking trails.  The nature centre provides a window into wild Finland with its wooden exhibition centre blending beautifully into the natural surroundings.

Shopping – Located across the road from the hotel is the newly extended Iso Omena shopping centre containing more than 100 stores, restaurants and a cinema complex.  It’s open until late each evening and perfect for a wander round after a day of sightseeing.

Helsinki – with the hotel having a metro link to the city centre outside its door guests can be enjoying the sights of the beautiful Finnish capital within 20 minutes.  For suggestions of things to see and do in Helsinki follow my link at the foot of this post.

Overall:

Our stay at Hotel Matts was very enjoyable with its stylish rooms, welcoming staff, delicious food and relaxing sauna suite.  Staying in Matinkylä meant that we had the best of both worlds as we were able to visit places in both Espoo and Helsinki very easily without needing to hire a car.

Details: Hotel Matts, Tynnyritie 1, 02230, Espoo, Finland

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Helsinki – A guide to the perfect weekend break

Spending a day in Nuuksio National Park

During our stay we were guests of Hotel Matts and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.