If you are seeking an elegant hotel in Tampere, near to the city center, I truly recommend Sokos Hotel Villa.
It is located only 5 minute walk from Hämeenkatu, the main street in Tampere. At Hämeenkatu you will find Stockmann and other interesting shops and several restaurants. You can reach this hotel easily by walking from the train station, only 2-3 minutes. If you travel by car there are two big parking areas by the hotel.
Sokos Hotel Villa is built in an old red bricked building nearby the train station. The rooms are very cosy and elegant. They are very modern with a twist of new design. The beds are top class. Service at the reception is friendly and professional.
The only, small though, negative thing about this hotel is that it doesn´t have a restaurant neither a breakfast room. Your breakfast is served at Hotel Torni in the next building. You have to walk through the garage to get there. Sometimes in winter it can be pretty cold and windy in the mornings. In Hotel Torni you will of course also find a restaurant so you the walk to the city center is not needed.
I haven´t tried the restaurant in the evenings. It´s no big deal for me to take a 5 minute walk to the city center. The breakfast is one of the best in the whole Sokos Hotels chain, in my taste. The food is very fresh and there are several things to choose from. The presentation is also very nice.
I have stayed over 10 night at this hotel in the past years and though there is a new built hotel next door I´m coming back to this small but classy hotel.