Bob W Oslo Sentralen: Slick design, no service

There is no front desk. There is no receptionist. You get a keypad code via WhatsApp, punch it in, and you're in. If that sentence makes you anxious, book somewhere else. If it sounds like freedom, keep reading.

Bob W occupies a building in Kvadraturen, about a five-minute walk from Oslo Central Station (Airport Express Train). The rooms look like a well-curated Scandinavian apartment: high ceilings, big windows, local art on the walls, sustainable furniture. Polaroid cameras on the shelf, yoga mats in the corner. It has personality, which is rare at this price point in Oslo.

The compact rooms are compact. Efficient is the polite word. Studios and apartments come with kitchenettes, which can save serious money. The compact rooms only have a kettle and mini-fridge.

Street-facing rooms catch tram noise and early morning traffic. Request a room facing the inner courtyard. Breakfast is a voucher for a nearby bakery, not a buffet in the building, so you'll need shoes and a jacket.

No air conditioning anywhere. Fans and open windows are the solution, except open windows mean street noise. July and August visitors should factor this in seriously. No gym, but the booking includes free access to Fitness24Seven gym nearby.