Haymarket by Scandic

A city hotel for a Stockholm break, set in the former PUB building and run as part of Scandic Hotels. You are here for the capital rather than a resort routine: shops, theatres, public transport and the city's central streets are all close at hand.

The useful bit for a diver is the straightforward rhythm. English is spoken by the hotel team, Wi-Fi is free throughout the building and the reception stays open around the clock. You can arrive late, leave your bags with the hotel and get on with Stockholm without turning the stay into a logistical exercise.

The building has 401 rooms over eight floors, so this is a substantial urban hotel rather than a small guesthouse where everyone knows your breakfast order. That may suit you after a day spent outdoors: come back to a reliable base, eat downstairs or head into the city, then retreat to your room.

The address is Hötorget 13–15, in central Stockholm. The hotel is around 0.6 miles from the city centre and sits among shops, theatres and public transport, with Hötorget, Sergels Torg and King's Garden within reach on foot.

This is a proper city location, not a waterfront escape. There is no beach access to plan around, and the setting is built-up rather than natural. In return, you can step outside straight into Stockholm's everyday life: squares, shopping streets, cultural venues and transport connections rather than a long ride from the action.

The airport is about 27 miles away. An airport transfer is available as a paid service, and the concierge can assist with excursions and tickets when you want to turn a free afternoon into a plan.

For a couple, the windowed double rooms are the sensible starting point: choose between a standard double, a larger double, a twin arrangement or a room with a view, depending on how much space and separation you want. The twin option is useful when two divers prefer their own sleeping surface; no need for the traditional post-dive negotiation over who gets the edge of the bed.

The Classic rooms add the practical kit that makes a city stay easier, including Wi-Fi, a desk, wardrobe, safe, tea and coffee facilities, television, hairdryer, heating and blackout blinds. Private bathrooms and showers are available, while some room categories also include toiletries. Room service is available every day when the sensible evening plan is food without another walk.

The rooms without windows are a different proposition. They may suit you if darkness matters more than a view, but they are a poor match for anyone who wants natural light to help judge the morning after an early start. Read the room name carefully before booking; the word "Sleep" is doing useful work there.

Paul's is the main restaurant, serving American food with a southern European touch. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are covered, with fresh local produce, homemade pastries and vegetarian dishes part of the hotel's food approach. Breakfast is a buffet, starting from 06:30, which gives you a workable first meal before heading out into the city.

Lunch runs on weekdays from 11:30 to 14:00. Dinner is served from 17:00 to 22:00 from Monday to Saturday, so the evening meal has a defined window rather than an all-night grazing arrangement. Breakfast hours are longer at weekends, from 07:00 to 11:00.

There is one bar: Americain, a cocktail bar with a historical atmosphere. It is the place for a drink with a little more intent than a quick beer from the minibar. If you would rather stay in, daily room service gives you another route to dinner, although continuous snacking and late-night dining are not part of the offer.

The fitness centre and gym are the main facilities for keeping the legs moving on a non-diving day. It is a practical option if you want a session before breakfast or need to undo the effects of a long lunch, without having to leave the building.

For a slower afternoon, the concierge and excursion service can help arrange city activities and tickets. Stockholm is on the doorstep, so the hotel works well as a base for wandering through the central districts, visiting theatres and browsing the shops rather than filling the day with resort entertainment.

Accessibility is built into the layout, with lifts, step-free access and accessible rooms. The building is non-smoking, and luggage storage lets you keep exploring before check-in or after check-out instead of dragging a case around Stockholm.

Check-in starts at 16:00 and check-out is by 12:00. Reception is open 24 hours a day, with express check-in and check-out available. Luggage storage, concierge assistance and a wake-up service cover the useful edges of a city break, while laundry, dry-cleaning and ironing services are available when travel kit needs rescuing.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Parking is available as a paid service, and the airport transfer is also available as a paid service; both are worth arranging with the hotel before relying on them. Accepted payment cards include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, China UnionPay and Diners Club.

Only registered guests may access the rooms. Pets are accepted in selected rooms under the hotel's conditions, so a pet-friendly room needs to be arranged rather than assumed. The building also has conference and event facilities, which can bring a little business-hotel movement into the public areas.

The hotel's practical environmental measures focus on food. They include reducing food waste and using local and vegetarian products.

There is no grand ecological sermon attached to it, which is probably for the best. It is a concrete approach you will notice most clearly at the table, especially at breakfast and in the restaurant.