Stockholm
THE GRAND HOTEL
The Grand Hôtel is Stockholm's stateliest establishment, with a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, tactile Raison d'Etre spa, and the Cadier Bar, famed for its cocktails. Conferences can be held for up to 800, and there are 24 meeting rooms. Allow half an hour in your itinerary to visit the well-stocked lobby gift shop. You'll find a stylish range of Swedish goods, including contemporary Orrefors glass, Baltic amber jewellery and handcrafted woollens. And, if you're still short of trinkets, the concierge will set you up with a Smart City Shopping guide (around £45 per hour). Guests get VIP access to 60 of the city's most opulent boutiques, and the concierge can even get its guests in after usual opening hours. grandhotel.se
Amsterdam
LLOYD HOTEL
The Lloyd Hotel is a meritocratic place to stay, as rooms range from one- to five-star. Its Cultural Embassy is similarly open to all, offering various free services, from art exhibitions to talks. The shop sells an edited collection of homeware, food and books. With prices from less than €5, there's something for everyone here too. The pumpkin chutney is delicious and if you fall in love with the checked blanket in your room you can buy it for €45. Classic kitchen kit includes Ineke Hans' garlic crusher and Gijs Bakker's fruit bowl. It's a bit big for a Christmas stocking, but you can even buy an iconic piece of contemporary furniture, the Lloyd Table designed by Christoph Seyferth and launched at Inside Design. lloydhotel.com
Athens
SEMIRAMIS
Greek industrialist Dakis Joannou commissioned Karim Rashid to design a hotel as a showcase for his collection of contemporary art. While you can't buy pieces by Jeff Koons or Damien Hirst, you can admire them during your stay, and there's plenty of Rashid's own work to take home. His style is playful and bursting with the signature punchy colours used throughout the hotel (balconies are in green glass, the pool is surrounded by pink parasols, meeting room carpets are pastel to help lighten the fact that you're underground). Popular items in the gift shop include Acme cufflinks, ties and pens, the 'kissing' salt & pepper sets used in the hotel's restaurant and a smart X-shaped vase. yeshotels.gr
Barcelona
W HOTEL
W Hotels' first European outpost is a striking, sail-shaped structure located about 25 minutes' walk from Las Ramblas in the city's port. Twenty-six storeys high, its glass façade maximises the Mediterranean views that are probably best enjoyed over a cocktail in the top floor Eclipse Bar. W takes its retail offering so seriously that it's launched a Global Glam collection of fashion and accessories. Exclusive pieces include Olivia Harris by Joy Gryson handbags, Melissa Odabash swimwear and jewellery by Lulu Frost. And, if all else fails, visit your in-room 'munchiebar'. It's packed with going-home presents, including limited edition Havaiana flip-flops and a mood-enhancing W Hotels CD. w-barcelona.com
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