Clarion Hotel Draken, Gothenburg, Sweden
Where Film, Design, and Culture Meet Above the City Skyline
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A bold cultural landmark that seamlessly integrates Gothenburg’s historic Draken cinema into a contemporary design hotel.
● Interiors by acclaimed local studio Stylt that celebrate film, theatre, music, art, and design through immersive storytelling.
● One of Scandinavia’s most distinctive rooftop experiences, crowned by a glowing dragon overlooking the city.
A New Landmark for Gothenburg
Rising 34 floors above Gothenburg’s harbour, Clarion Hotel Draken is impossible to ignore. Yet despite its scale, the hotel is far more than another high-rise. Built around the historic Draken cinema, which first opened in 1956, the project draws deeply from the city’s cultural identity. Located in Gothenburg’s historic cultural quarter, surrounded by theatres, performance venues, and the internationally renowned Gothenburg Film Festival, the hotel was conceived as a place where hospitality and culture naturally intersect. The result is one of Sweden’s most ambitious hotel projects in recent years: a destination designed not only for travellers, but also for the city itself.
Inspired by the Art of Storytelling
Few hotels embrace narrative quite as completely as Clarion Hotel Draken. The interiors, created by Gothenburg-based design studio Stylt, take inspiration from the worlds of cinema, theatre, music, fashion, and contemporary art. Throughout the hotel, spaces feel theatrical without becoming themed, balancing dramatic gestures with Scandinavian restraint. Industrial materials, concrete surfaces, brass detailing, warm timber, velvet upholstery, and carefully layered lighting create a sophisticated atmosphere that feels both contemporary and timeless. Public spaces are designed as stages for social interaction, where every lounge, restaurant, and bar contributes to the hotel’s cultural identity. The design celebrates Gothenburg itself, creating a strong sense of place rather than relying on generic luxury.
The Dragon Above the City
At the very top of the hotel, the story reaches its most dramatic chapter. The 33rd-floor restaurant is crowned by an illuminated dragon sculpture suspended above diners, a striking reference to the hotel’s name. Stretching across the ceiling like a mythical guardian overlooking the city, the installation has quickly become one of Gothenburg’s most recognisable new design features. Combined with panoramic views across the harbour, rooftops, and waterways below, it creates an experience that feels distinctly cinematic. Few dining rooms in Scandinavia offer such a memorable sense of occasion.
A Hotel Built Around Culture
The historic Draken cinema remains at the heart of the project. Rather than treating the cinema as a nostalgic relic, the hotel embraces it as a living cultural institution. Screenings, festivals, performances, and events continue to animate the building, ensuring that culture remains an active part of the guest experience. Beyond the cinema, the hotel includes libraries, meeting spaces, bars, restaurants, and gathering places that reinforce its role as a cultural hub for both visitors and locals. The atmosphere feels dynamic and creative, reflecting the character of the neighbourhood that surrounds it.
Scandinavian Calm with a Cinematic Twist
The hotel’s 474 rooms and suites provide a quieter counterpoint to the energy of the public spaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views across Gothenburg, while natural materials, soft textures, and understated colours create a sense of calm. Subtle references to film and storytelling appear throughout the interiors, connecting the rooms to the wider narrative of the property. Meanwhile, Obie Spa offers a more restorative experience, combining Nordic wellness traditions with contemporary design through pools, saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation spaces.
Where Gothenburg’s Creative Spirit Comes Alive
Clarion Hotel Draken succeeds because it is more than a place to sleep. It functions as a cultural platform, a design destination, and a gathering place that reflects the creative energy of modern Gothenburg. By combining architecture, hospitality, film, music, theatre, and art within a single destination, it has become one of Scandinavia’s most compelling new hotels. For travellers who appreciate hotels with personality, purpose, and a strong connection to their city, Clarion Hotel Draken delivers a stay worthy of its own standing ovation.
