History

Finland’s First Skyscraper

Hotel Torni opened in Helsinki on March 19, 1931, amidst a bit of a stir: building a skyscraper in the city center did not evoke sheer admiration from all city dwellers. However, the floors rose quickly, and Torni was opened. The building, representing robust classicism, was designed by the architect brothers Jung & Jung, inspired by American skyscrapers of the 1920s.

Torni, highly visible in the landscape, was a magnificent hotel of the new era, a combination of Art Deco and Functionalism. Torni featured 100 hotel rooms and several restaurants and private dining rooms. The elevator was supplied by Kone, and the tableware by Arabia.

Hotel Torni was Finland's first fully electrified building

There was much more to marvel at in Hotel Torni than its height and stunning views over the young capital; it was, in fact, Finland’s first electrified building. Torni was among the first to receive a gated elevator—and the vintage elevator is still in use today. Some of the hotel rooms in Torni were built with bathrooms. This was quite extraordinary, as private bathrooms in hotel rooms became common in Finland only in the 1980s.

Decades of Gastronomy in Torni

From the beginning, food and drink played a significant role in Torni. The hotel's restaurant life was colored by Prohibition, World War II, the austerity of the 1950s, and the subsequent culinary boom. Over the decades, many previously untried delicacies, new business ideas, and the latest kitchen technology were invariably introduced in Torni's restaurants.

During the early years of Torni, Prohibition was in effect. However, there were plenty of alcohol-craving customers, and several speakeasies operated in the city. Torni’s restaurants were also creative: alcohol was sold to regular customers on the 11th floor. The elevator had a secret alarm button for inspectors.

### Prohibition Era at Torni

After the end of Prohibition, the late 1930s were prosperous times. Customers could enjoy meals made from better ingredients than in many subsequent decades. The menu included sweetbreads, foie gras, eel, caviar, lobster, grouse, and partridge. The celebratory dinners were grand and included numerous courses, usually at least five. Marshal Mannerheim came to Torni to enjoy roast suckling pig prepared Russian style, even though Kämp was his regular haunt.

During the war, in the 1940s, the Ministry of Supply dictated food production as well as restaurant portion sizes and prices. Butter, mayonnaise, cream, salmon, and meat dishes were prohibited. Torni had to give up its buffet, though the Black Market supplied minced meat patties and coffee for Torni's customers.

From 1950 to 1970, Torni was a trendsetter in gastronomy across the country. Finland's first Chinese restaurant opened in Torni in 1953, allowing Helsinki residents to enjoy bird’s nest soup and spring rolls.

Observation Bar and Art Exhibition – Ateljee Bar Opens

Ateljee Bar opened at the top of Hotel Torni in 1951, offering not only spectacular drinks and stunning views but also exhibition space for young artists. Electric heaters and triple-glazed windows were installed to allow the bar to receive guests even in winter.

Perhaps the most interesting detail in Ateljee Bar's history is the passageway to Torni’s roof, opened in the 1930s, which also included a mooring point for the German Graf Zeppelin airship visiting Helsinki at the time. The idea was that the airship could land on the roof and passengers could descend the ladders to Torni for cocktails. The airship never landed, but the passageway to the roof still exists.

Helsinki’s Finest Cocktails for Nearly 70 Years

American Bar was founded in 1960 in a domed hall. The bar immediately became a popular meeting place for city residents, where trendy cocktails were enjoyed.

In 1996, American Bar brought a strange drink from abroad to Finland, known as the Mojito. The drink contained fresh mint, cane sugar, lime, and rum. The Mojito gradually became a trendy drink and today, it can be found in almost every bar in some form.

The favorite spot for Ireland enthusiasts and Irish residents in Finland, O'Malley's opened in the 1980s, featuring Irish music and dark stout served in pints.

Wartime at Torni

In the final stages of the Continuation War in the spring of 1944, women of the Lotta Svärd organization worked on the highest platform of Hotel Torni, watching the sky. Night bombings were expected in Helsinki.

During the Winter War, the hotel was filled with foreign journalists, and after the war, from 1944-47, it hosted the Soviet delegation of the Allied Control Commission. The hotel was returned from the Soviet Control Commission to the newly established Businessmen’s Hotels Ltd. in 1948. Under the leadership of businessman Jorma Soiro, Torni began a new, splendid era. Soiro was an inventive hotel manager who introduced the concept of "always something new at Torni."

A Residence for Distinguished Guests

Hotel Torni’s bohemian international atmosphere has been enjoyed by numerous distinguished guests, from royalty to movie stars, writers to visual artists. One guest’s request remains particularly memorable for the breakfast staff: Roger Moore always wanted oatmeal with honey during his visits to Torni. Lee Harvey Oswald stopped by in Helsinki in 1959, intending to defect to the Soviet Union, and stayed for two nights at Hotel Torni. As history tells, the defection never happened.

Artists frequently sat in Torni’s private dining rooms and restaurants, leaving behind plenty of visual art and fragments of world literature. Art collection at Torni continues to this day. More art is acquired each year from the changing art exhibitions at Ateljee Bar. Unique works can be found throughout the building.

Later Developments

In 1972, Hotel Torni was leased to the Helsinki Cooperative Society and joined the Finnish Sokos Hotels chain. With the change of ownership, the hotel and all its restaurants were renovated.

The Jugendstil residential building Kyllikki, located next to Torni, was integrated into the hotel in 1981. This addition provided 50 rooms in the national romantic style. The suites in Kyllikki became magnificent with furniture designed by Eliel Saarinen.