Nordic Hotel

Nordic Hotel is a small boutique hotel at BluCabana in Mabushi, a short drive from the city centre, and it is listed in the Michelin Guide's selection of places to stay. With 30 rooms and suites, it offers a calmer, more personal stay than the large conference hotels, and its distance from the busiest districts helps keep the atmosphere quiet.

The look is Scandinavian, with a palette of white, black, gold and grey that sets it apart from the more traditional decor of many Nigerian hotels. Rooms come with cotton linens, flat-screen TVs, writing desks and private balconies. Suites add separate seating areas, king-size beds and rainfall showers, which make them worth considering for longer stays or for couples.

Guests can use a spacious fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool, and a continental breakfast is served. The hotel is also described as having an eco-conscious approach. For a wide choice of restaurants and bars in the evening, you will want to head into Wuse 2 or Maitama, a short drive away.

Nordic Hotel suits couples, solo travellers and business visitors who prefer design and calm to the bustle of a big hotel lobby. It also works well as a base for a night or two before onward travel in Nigeria or an early flight home. Prices are mid-to-upper range for Abuja.

The Michelin Guide's write-up makes the point that Scandinavian style looks good in an African setting, and the clean lines and uncluttered rooms are a welcome contrast to the heavier decor of many older hotels. The hotel presents itself as a place to recharge before onward travel within Nigeria or a flight home, so it is well suited to the start or end of a longer trip. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja's main airport, handles both domestic and international flights, and the hotel can be a convenient overnight stop between them.

Book through the hotel or the Michelin Guide listing, and ask about airport transfers when you reserve, as you will need a car to get around. Taxis and ride-hailing cars are the easiest way to reach the city's sights, including the Central Business District, Jabi Lake and Millennium Park.