The six-star, nine-storey, 119-room Thief Hotel in Oslo states its mission is to “steal you away from everyday life”. And as I make my approach to the hotel, I recieve the sneaking suspicion they might just succeed-
Overlooking the canals from the area of Oslo called Tjuvholmen, and the Oslofjord, the location of The Thief really would be impossible to beat.
As Oslo's recently opened hotel, it's brought necessary luxury and glamour to the country's hotel offerings. The mastermind behind The Thief is its art-collecting billionaire owner, Peter A. Stordalen. And as an awesome, crouching Anthony Gormley statue greets you away from hotel entrance, you quickly recognise that beautiful modern art will be a theme and also the main feature through the hotel.
The Thief: The Art
One thing most hotels cannot boast is having their own art curator. The Thief, however, has among the world's best – Sune Nordgren.
Unsurprisingly then, your accommodation is absolutely filled towards the brim with outrageously good pieces. A Peter Blake in the corridor, a lb1.7 million Andy Warhol (Ladies and Gentlemen) just hangs casually in the hotel restaurant, and then there is the enormous Richard Prince lithograph in reception – from his cowboy series, and aptly named 'The Horse Thief'.
The most fun jobs are perhaps within the hotel lifts, though. Each lift includes a different blinking cartoon by Julian Opie. And there's thoughtful and conversation provoking selection as well with Charlotte Thiis-Evensen's slow-motion video installation showing three Somali Muslim girls playing with their veils, not to mention the simply fantastic Fiona Banner pink-lettered, sub-pornographic text of Lawrence of Arabia -The Desert. I'd like to know how many hotel guests take time to read her small print.
The art is not only an element in the common areas, however. Seventy five from the hotel's rooms contain works by notable artists – and the total price of all of the art within the hotel is lb3 million which makes it the most highly insured hotel in the world.
Found in every room can also be an in-room art menu where one can order pieces for display and/or purchase. The hotel can provide you with an art map to help you round the hotel's collection.
The Thief: The place
The exquisite display of art extends beyond the walls from the hotel, however. Being Oslo's newest borough, Tjuvholmen features stunning new architecture, private art galleries, and it has quickly become a hub for contemporary art.
There are innumerable works on display which were created included in the outdoor scenery such as the delightful sculpture of a man walking on stilts in the middle of a canal, and a roundabout produced in the shape of a large foot. When the aim of Tjuvholmen is 'art for everyone', it has succeeded in this.
Several modern galleries have opened in the region. The Astrup Fearnley Museum is the best, and it is literally 100 meters in the Thief. Luckily your living space keys provide you with unlimited accessibility museum so that you can check out functions by the kind of Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst at leisure.
Surrounding the Astrup Fearnley Museum is Tjuvholmen sculpture park which showcases big sculptures on outdoor display together with a giant reindeer made from motor bike parts. The entire area is really a joy to understand more about, because there literally is a surprise around every single corner.
Tjuvholem is also the place to find impressively chic restaurants and bars. For restaurants, Hanami Japanese Restaurant or Lofoten Seafood Restaurant are defintely the very best choices.
Hanami is really a modern Japanese fushion restaurant serving up incredible sushi, sashimi and grilled food from their robata grill. The menu includes gems for example black cod with miso, and scallops with shiso. Japanese cuisine is sensible for Norway, using its passion for, and access to, high quality fresh fish and seafood.
Lofoten Seafood Restaurant is really a more traditional choice and here you will simply be provided the very best fish and seafood on offer. Recption menus here's changed 7-8 times a year to mirror the very best of each season. Between January and March you can expect steamed cod with liver and roe, direct from Lofoten. Within the months from October to December you're going to get fed the Norwegian specialty “lutefisk” – cod treated with lye.
The Thief: The look
The Thief's décor both in the most popular areas and the bedrooms is exquisite. Each and every room is elegantly furnished with chic Antonio Citterio armchairs set against dark wood walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathrooms in the rooms are enormous with rainfall showers and motion-sensor lighting. Included in this is really a Nespresso machine, Geneva sound system and luxurious Scandinavian textiles. The icing around the cake needs to be the private terrace which overlooks the Oslofjord. On the clear day, the vista is endless. The minibar is fun with Norwegian socks, Moods of Norway underwear and nail polish on the market.
The Thief: The meals
A buffet breakfast is roofed within the room rate, and it's a genuine Scandinavian treat. All of the produce presented is regional, local or organically sourced. The highlights are the Norwegian smoked salmon, pickled herring, fresh beetroot juice, homemade sugar-free granola, freshly roasted homemade rye bread, and also the organic butter. Breakfast here's so great that locals originate from all over Oslo on the weekend's to sample it.
The hotel restaurant, Fru K, is also open for lunch and dinner and serves modern Norwegian cuisine including dishes such as Langoustine from Midsund served with turnip and cabbage-smoked cream. Recption menus changes constantly because the kitchen only serves what is fresh and in season in Norway. Opt for among the tasting menus with matching wines and you'll 't be disappointed.
If you get peckish, The Thief provides 24 hour room service – the only hotel in Oslo to give the service. The bathroom on offer include Norwegian flat Bomlo (check) oysters and organic salad with fresh shellfish. It certainly tempts me want to watch for a midnight snack.
If you're after just a drink, the Thief also offers a rooftop champagne bar and terrace that offer the best waterfront views in the city.
The Thief: The Facilities
The hotel also boasts what surely must be the very best spa in Oslo having a full Turkish Hamam, Moroccan Rhassoul and German Aufgusse recreated within its walls. There is also a truly beautiful pool, well equipped gym and extensive spa menu.
Also on request is definitely an in-room spa treatment, a personal trainer, make-up artist, hairdresser, dog walker or perhaps a personal shopper.
Words: Kate Vandy
