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The interiors of the Backstage Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden echo the feeling of being behind the scenes at a great performance – rich in texture, layered in story and always with music in the background
The hotel hosts 52 rooms and five design-forward suites, and has gained a loyal following for its high-design aesthetic, artistic energy and deep connection to music and art.
This year, the hotel has expanded into a complete cultural quarter called the Backstage Zone, with the addition of a brasserie, a bar and a café – all under one roof and all part of the same ‘backstage spirit’ that defines the hotel. Backstage Zone is located in one of Stockholm’s most entertainment-dense neighbourhoods, housed in an iconic building directly opposite Cirkus Arena – the largest privately owned theatre in the Nordics – and next door to the legendary Hasselbacken Hotel, birthplace of the iconic Hasselback potato.

The Backstage Zone itself sits within the walls of ABBA The Museum, and just across the street from Mamma Mia! The Party. It is surrounded by world-class venues – including Gröna Lund, which hosts over 40 international concerts annually – as well as popular cultural attractions such as Skansen, Liljevalchs Art Gallery, the Vasa Museum and The Viking Museum.
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