Hotel Union Øye, part of experiential travel company 62ºNord, is set to reopen its doors this June following an extensive transformation. Located by the Norangsfjord in the Sunnmøre region on the north-west coast of Norway, the hotel has been a popular haunt for mountaineers, artists, writers and royals since its origin.

The property also embodies its surrounding community, employing locals such as General Manager Mariann Øye, who grew up in the small fjord village and has visited the hotel since she was three years-old. Each night, guests will be taken back in time through storytelling hosted by a different member of the team, during which the storyteller will recount the history of the site using personal experiences and anecdotes.

Over the last two years, care has been taken to ensure the new spaces are in keeping with the playful charm of the historical development. Every detail, from the fabrics and furniture to the artwork and curated book collection, has been handpicked and overseen by Line Flakk, Creative Director at Flakk Group, in collaboration with Corniche Interior Design. Together, they have created a hotel that blends past and present in harmony.

All of the suites are individually designed and named after previous esteemed guests including notables such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Roald Amundsen. The three new suites include the King’s Suite, after King Olav; William Cecil Slingsby’s Suite, after the famous mountaineer; and the Queen’s Suite. Each feature a separate lounge, open fireplace and private balcony with views of the surrounding mountains. Guests residing in the Queen Suite will find a Press for Champagne button, whilst those staying in the Kings Suite are offered the same for gin and tonic. More rooms can be found in the new Cluster Farm, comprising five standalone guesthouses. Designed to reflect that of a traditional Norwegian farm settlement, the guesthouses are more rustic in their look and feel and range from one to four-suite units, the latter catering for larger groups.

For the hotel’s food and beverage programme, the emphasis is on serving seasonal dishes using fresh local produce from surrounding farms and the onsite vegetable garden. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner are offered in the main restaurant, which has seen the addition of The Conservatory – a light and airy space that brings the outdoors in. In the warmer summer months, guests also have the option to dine alfresco.

When not out and about, guests can relax in The Palm Room, an all-day lounge and bar boasting views of the surrounding gardens. Here, interior details include palm-fringed lampshades, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, comfortable seating, and a menu of teas and coffees by day and classic cocktails by night.

There’s also a new Wine Cellar spanning two separate rooms, one dedicated to reds and the other dedicated to whites from around the world. Visitors can enjoy bespoke wine tasting experiences with the resident sommelier as well as the chance to host private dining for groups along a long communal wooden table.

Rounding out the public spaces is The Library, home to a thoughtfully curated collection of antique Alpine Journals and contemporary coffee table books, in addition to The Game Room, which serves as a space to relax and unwind or to savour a glass of whiskey from the small bar after a day in the mountains.

The remote location of the hotel means a variety of hiking trails and cycling routes are accessible directly from the front door, with guests able to explore the region alone or with a local guide. Additional activities include boat trips on the fjords, croquet on the lawn in the summer and ice skating on the lake in the winter. The gardens meanwhile feature paths that lead to the formal garden at the front of the property, the vegetable garden – serving the kitchen – and the French and Victorian gardens. The resident gardener has planted a range of plants and trees to ensure the landscaping remains in bloom throughout the seasons.

CREDITS
Photography: © Vaga Foto