Hotel Katajanokka, Helsinki, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

We knew the property had been a prison, but the transformation into a lovely and fascinating hotel was amazing. Just enough original character remains, but with the addition of beautiful bedrooms, bathrooms and public spaces. Breakfast was superb. Our only regret was an early ferry, causing us to miss our last breakfast. The "backyard" garden space and bar was a welcome place to relax each night. The bartenders were attentive and entertaining. As for the ferry--the proximity to the ferry was our original reason for choosing this hotel. It was an easy two block walk. The hotel was also located within an easy walk of the Esplanade, the harbor market and many other prominent tourist destinations, yet in a quiet more residential area.

Really nice stay in unusual hotel. Eventhough, it's former prison, I didn't feel like in one, as the room was quite big, bathroom was nice, new and clean and staff was friendly. For me, the best of all was location, because it's near the city center by foot and 5 minutes by foot to nearest ferry terminal.

There are only two things that I can mark as bad. First one, is that the windows can't be opened and air goes to room only through air conditioning. It can be good or bad, depending on how clean the air conditioning is, which nobody can tell. The second one was extremelly soft bed. I like soft beds, but this was extreme.

Great in every way. Our room was on the 4th floor. High ceilings, spacious room, spotlessly clean. The TV has a chromecast which was very nice. The building has a lot of character as is expected. It's 10min walking distance to the market square but there is also a tram stop right in front of the hotel which was very convenient. There are supermarkets closeby. Staff was friendly. Neighborhood is very quiet despite being close to the busier areas. All in all an amazing stay, I will advise friends to stay at this hotel to make their trip better.

There are very specific free hours for the sauna, otherwise it's extra. Not that it's unreasonable, just to set up expectations.

I travelled with 2 of my sisters, and we all loved the breakfast every morning. We had dinner one evening at the restaurant, which was very good. The rooms were a bit small, but we expected that. The location was withing walking distance to everything we needed, plus there was a tram stop right outside the courtyard on the road. It was perfect!

The room was dusty. We told the front desk about this and they did an amazing job the next day cleaning.

We stayed here 3 nights and found the hotel a perfect base for exploring Helsinki. It's a unique building, having been a prison in the past, & they've preserved some of the history but also made it very modern & comfortable. Room was very comfy & clean, front desk staff was so welcoming, and breakfast spread was great. We were easily able to walk into hte main tourist areas from there, or get a taxi/Uber if going further afield. Highly recommend!

There wasn't anything major to call out

The building (a former prison converted to a comfortable hotel) sets a specific, a bit ironical, mood when you stay there. Located near the city centre and Market square, it is a good starting point for exploration of Helsinki Me and my wife stayed here 12 years ago, we remembered the place and finally returned. The place was perfect then and is still perfect now.

Nothing! If anything goes wrong, the staff is very understanding and all the issues are quickly solved

We enjoyed the building and how it was transformed while keeping details of the old prison and showcasing old cells. The location is great when arriving by ferry and well connected to public transport. The city center is at a comfortable walking distance.

The breakfast had a good variety of options but not all food (and the coffee) were fresh which can be disappointing for those who look forward to their first cup of coffee in the morning.

We got treats, a little towel and doggy bags as a present for our furry friend :) It made us and our dog feel really welcome. We booked this hotel because it was close to the ferry to Estonia and that was really a 2 min drive! I loved how they kept the original building purpose of a prison visible in the interior.

Although the room and bed size added to the feeling of being in a prison cell, I would book a bigger room next time. It was a bit cramped with 2 people and a dog :)

- The building is very historical, and I’m sure you’ve realised by now, it was once used as a prison. there are a few of these hotels popping up around the world and they are quite cool. The layout of the building mirrors that of the original prison. The rooms are basically 2 former prisons cells knocked into one larger room. The rooms are luxurious and comfortable. - The prison theme continues around the building. In the restaurant, there are some original cells that have been left in the same state that they were originally in, so you can pop downstairs and have a look. - The staff are knowledgable and will happily talk about the history of the building if you ask. - The hotel is located close to central Helsinki. it can be walked, or there is also a tram stop right outside the main entrance, and you can be in Senate Square in a few seconds if you jump on one. Perfect for tourists.

- It was pricey, but so is everything in Helsinki.

Loved the peaceful location that's a short walk into the center (or take the tram which stops right in front of the hotel). The history is very interesting and the staff very friendly and helpful as well as informative. The breakfast was amazing! Love the decor of the hotel and the super comfortable beds. We hope to return one day!

Our room was a bit bright at night with lights coming from outside. Not a huge issue but bring a sleep mask if this is a potential problem for you.