Sommerro House Oslo Review 2025: A Brilliant Art Deco Hotel Worth Every Penny?

This Sommerro House Oslo review by London Reviews is the most thorough independent assessment available of one of Scandinavia’s most arresting hotel openings — a painstakingly restored 1930s Art Deco landmark in the heart of Oslo’s Frogner district that has, in three years, become the most talked-about address in Norwegian hospitality.

Last updated: May 2025 — Independently researched and written by the London Reviews editorial team. We do not accept payment from the businesses we review.

Looking for an honest Sommerro House Oslo review? This is the most thorough independent assessment of Sommerro House — a five-star Art Deco hotel at Sommerrogata 1, Frogner, Oslo 0255, Norway. Below we cover its extraordinary history, rooms, seven restaurants and bars, the subterranean Vestkantbadet spa, the year-round rooftop pool, pricing, constructive criticisms, and who this hotel genuinely suits.

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At a Glance: Sommerro House Oslo

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Introduction: Why We Reviewed Sommerro

The description “like walking into the film set for a period Agatha Christie movie” comes from The Resident magazine, and it isn’t far wrong. Sommerro has the warm amber glow, the geometric detailing, and the theatrical sense of occasion associated with inter-war luxury — the Orient Express rendered in bricks and mortar. Whether it justifies the considerable expense of a Norwegian five-star stay is the question this review sets out to answer honestly.

We reviewed Sommerro because it has attracted sustained British coverage, appears consistently on Condé Nast Traveller’s Hot List, and already links back to London Reviews — having cited our earlier coverage in its own press section. For readers considering a Scandinavian break from London, Oslo is a straightforward two-hour flight, and Sommerro is the most recommended property in the city. For comparison with London luxury hotels, see our Savoy London review and our Mayfield Lavender Farm day trip review.

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Location & Getting There from London

Sommerro sits on Solli Plass in the Frogner district — one of Oslo’s most affluent and architecturally handsome neighbourhoods, characterised by wide leafy streets, turn-of-the-century apartment buildings, and a calm residential quality that keeps the tourist bustle at arm’s length. The Royal Palace and Slottsparken are under 600 metres away. Frogner Park, with Gustav Vigeland’s celebrated sculpture installation, is similarly close.

Getting There from London

• By air: Flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and London City to Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) take approximately two hours. Norwegian, British Airways and SAS serve the route.
• Airport to hotel: The Flytoget airport express runs every ten minutes and reaches Nationaltheatret station in roughly 20 minutes. Sommerro is then a nine-to-ten-minute walk through Frogner.
• By tram: Trams and buses stop directly outside on Solli Plass, making onward city exploration effortless.
• By car: Valet parking available (surcharge). The OnePark Solli Plass partner car park is 200 metres away at NOK 420 per day.

Why the Location Matters

Frogner keeps Sommerro slightly removed from the central tourist corridor around Karl Johan Gate — a genuine advantage for guests wanting Oslo without its most crowded pockets. The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art is a 15-minute walk towards the harbour; Aker Brygge’s waterfront dining and the National Museum are accessible on foot. Guests attending events at the Oslo Opera House may find the 20-minute tram ride a minor inconvenience, though nothing that warrants choosing a different hotel.

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First Impressions & Atmosphere

The exterior gives little away. A restrained red-brick façade with a flat roof — handsome in its solidity, undemonstrative — bears the words “Lys, Kraft, Varme” (Light, Power, Warmth) etched above the entrance. Stone bas-reliefs by sculptor Asbjørg Borgfelt flank the doorway. Once inside, the mood shifts entirely: dark walls, amber light, hand-knotted rugs, and golden furniture combine into something one TripAdvisor reviewer described as a place that “glows — rich wood, geometric patterns, and amber lamps that throw out the kind of soft light that makes everyone look better than they actually are.” That is, more or less, the Agatha Christie effect.

The hotel functions as a genuine neighbourhood destination as much as a place to sleep. Live jazz plays daily in the Ekspedisjonshallen brasserie. Locals and hotel guests mingle freely. The stated intention from founder Petter Stordalen was to create a house where the city could come together — not a sealed luxury cocoon for visitors. Whether you find this energising or slightly distracting from a peaceful stay depends on temperament, and it is addressed directly in the criticisms section.

Frequently Praised on Arrival

• Reception staff warmth and competence — individual team members are named in reviews with unusual frequency
• The corridor and common-area lighting design, consistently described as exceptional
• The room-key system that automatically sends the lift to the correct floor
• The smell of the building itself — a specific, recurring mention across multiple review platforms

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History of the Building

Architects Andreas Bjercke and Georg Eliassen won the design competition in 1917, but construction was protracted — halting in 1920 before resuming seven years later — and the final building was inaugurated in 1931. It unusually incorporated the city’s public baths, Vestkantbadet, in its basement. The artist Per Krohg painted the frescoes that still adorn the main hall ceiling; Borgfelt’s stone reliefs still greet visitors at the front entrance. These aren’t reproductions — they are the originals, carefully preserved.

Oslo Lysverker powered the city’s electrification for decades before eventually fragmenting through the 1990s, leaving the building with an uncertain future. Hotelier Petter Stordalen and development company Aspelin Ramm committed to what became Norway’s largest single preservation project. LPO Architects worked alongside GrecoDeco — the New York and London-based studio also responsible for the Ned Hotel in the City of London — over five years of restoration. The result opened in September 2022, adding a distinctive rooftop disc containing a restaurant, bar and year-round pool: a modern gesture that drew mixed opinions from preservationists and consistent enthusiasm from guests.

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Rooms & Suites

All 231 rooms carry Art Deco detailing that feels considered rather than pasted on: oak parquet floors, hand-knotted rugs, bespoke furniture upholstered in 1930s Norwegian motifs, Byredo bath products, heated bathroom floors, a Marshall Bluetooth speaker, a Dyson hair dryer, and USB-C charging points integrated into the room design. Blackout curtains and excellent soundproofing are consistently praised. Electronic room-temperature controls are precise and responsive — a genuine consideration given Oslo’s climatic range.

Room Categories

• Loft Rooms: Entry-level — compact but characterful. Some have limited floor space. Guests travelling with full luggage should specifically request a room with adequate room to manoeuvre; this advice appears in multiple reviews.
• Standard and Superior Rooms: The bulk of the inventory. Spacious, well-equipped, city views available in higher categories. Beds are standardised across almost all room types, ensuring consistent sleep quality.
• Junior Suites: A significant upgrade in space and finish; popular for celebratory stays.
• Heritage Suites (4 suites, 753–1,076 sq ft): The prestige offering, occupying the building’s most historically significant spaces. Super king beds with mother-of-pearl headboards, velvet furnishings in jewel tones, deep-soaking bathtubs. One suite occupies the former General Director’s office; another takes inspiration from Per Krohg’s frescoes. Extraordinary rooms by any measure.

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Restaurants, Bars & Afternoon Tea

Seven distinct food and drink concepts under one roof is ambitious, and Sommerro manages them without sprawl or dilution. Each venue has its own visual identity, culinary logic, and atmosphere. The breakfast alone has generated comparisons to the finest hotel breakfasts in Europe.

The Seven Venues

• Ekspedisjonshallen: The grand all-day brasserie and social heart of the hotel. Live jazz every day, Per Krohg’s sweeping mural as backdrop. Excellent for breakfast through to late cocktails. Book ahead for evening dining — this fills with Oslo locals as readily as hotel guests.
• Tak Oslo: Rooftop restaurant with Nordic-Japanese cuisine and panoramic city views. Sushi, sashimi and cocktails with the lights of Oslo spread below; consistently rated one of the city’s finest dining experiences.
• Plah & Ahaan: Elevated Thai cuisine by Norway’s acclaimed Best Thai Chef, Terje Ommundsen. Three and six-course menus. Serious cooking, not a hotel-Thai afterthought.
• To Søstre: Afternoon tea with cake trolleys and classical concerts. Regularly cited as the best afternoon tea in Oslo.
• Barramon: Basque Country-style tapas and pintxos.
• Izakaya: 7th-floor street food and cocktail bar with Japanese theme.
• Kafé Lucy: Grab-and-go coffee for early starts.

The breakfast buffet — included in most room rates, as is standard in Norwegian hotels — has prompted genuine superlatives. Chef Tobias and his team are credited by name across multiple review platforms. The egg menu, freshly baked bread, and breadth of ingredients have led guests to describe it as the finest hotel breakfast they have encountered anywhere. Be prepared to lose a substantial part of your morning to it, without complaint.

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Vestkantbadet Spa, Pools & Wellness

The underground Vestkantbadet is one of the most distinctive hotel spa propositions in Northern Europe. Originally Oslo’s public baths from 1932, the space has been restored with extraordinary care — original hand-painted blue tiles intact, Per Krohg’s mosaics of women swimming with seals still on the walls. At 1,400 square metres, it is the largest spa in any Nordic city hotel.

Facilities

• Indoor heritage swimming pool (original 1930s Roman-style structure, original tiles)
• Finnish sauna and infrared sauna
• Cold plunge pool (Nordic thermotherapy)
• Treatment rooms: massages, skin and cosmetic treatments, Wim Hof-style cold water breathing sessions
• State-of-the-art Technogym gym — multiple guests describe it as one of the finest hotel gyms in Europe
• Fitness classes: Pilates, yoga
• Year-round rooftop pool and sauna with panoramic Oslo and Oslofjord views
• Electric sauna boat retreats on the fjord (partnership with KOK)

One significant caveat: hotel guests do not have unconditional pool access. The area operates on a timed booking system and carries an additional daily supplement — a policy that has irritated several guests expecting spa access to be folded into a five-star room rate. Spa treatment appointments also fill quickly; the hotel recommends booking at least a week before arrival.

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Cinema, Cultural Programme & Events

The 100-seat gilded cinema — deep-tufted Art Deco lounge chairs, modern projection — runs public screenings and is available for private hire. Every Wednesday: a two-course dinner in Ekspedisjonshallen followed by a classic film. The Lysverker cultural scene hosts stand-up comedy, live concerts by Norwegian artists, and a varied year-round programme. An art collection by emerging Norwegian artists, curated by museum director Sune Nordgren, is distributed throughout the building. A library-inspired reading room offers a quieter retreat when the brasserie energy feels like too much.

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Pricing & Value for Money

Norway is an expensive country and Sommerro is an expensive hotel within it. Standard rooms start at approximately £280–£370 per night with breakfast typically included. Heritage Suites command considerably higher rates. Dining at Tak Oslo or Plah & Ahaan adds up quickly; bar prices are high even by Oslo standards.

Where Guests Feel the Value

• Multiple guests note Oslo is less expensive than its reputation suggests; Sommerro feels competitive against comparable European luxury properties
• The included breakfast — at a quality level charged separately elsewhere — represents genuine value
• The depth of on-site offering reduces the need for expensive external excursions

Where Guests Feel the Cost

• The spa access surcharge sits oddly at a five-star rate
• Bar and drinks bills accumulate quickly
• Parking at NOK 420 per day adds cost for driving guests

Our Assessment: For the calibre of architecture, the depth of offering, and the quality of staff and food, Sommerro delivers strong value within its category. Budget honestly for the extras and book the spa well in advance, and it delivers on its promise.

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What Guests Actually Say: Review Analysis

TripAdvisor

4/5 from 530+ reviews; ranked #7 of 93 Oslo hotels; TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award. The review profile is heavily positive — five-star ratings dominate — but a meaningful minority of three- and two-star reviews identify specific operational shortcomings. General manager Dominic responds personally to reviews, suggesting a genuine culture of accountability.

Booking.com

Couples’ score of 9.4/10 — exceptional on a platform that moderates enthusiasm. Breakfast, attentive staff, and restaurant service dominate positive comments. Over 1,400 verified reviews on luxury-hotels.com similarly place Sommerro at the top of the Oslo hotel hierarchy.

International Press

Condé Nast Traveller Hot List; Travel + Leisure IT List; Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice #8 Northern Europe 2024; Men’s Journal, Elite Traveler, Fodor’s and The Independent have all covered the property enthusiastically. The critical consensus is consistent: a genuine destination hotel, not merely a comfortable place to sleep.

Grand Travel Awards

Best Hotel in Norway in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 — consecutive wins that suggest standards maintained rather than a property coasting on opening-year momentum.

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What Guests Love Most

1. The Architecture and Interior Design. The most consistently praised element across every platform. Guests describe the restoration as breathtaking, dreamlike, and transporting. GrecoDeco’s decision to be historically faithful where the preservationists demanded it, and theatrically imaginative elsewhere, has produced corridors and common spaces with genuine atmosphere.
2. The Breakfast. Arguably the single most mentioned feature in guest reviews. The Norwegian buffet in Ekspedisjonshallen — egg menu, freshly baked bread, exceptional ingredients, live jazz — has prompted comparisons to the finest hotel breakfasts in Europe. Chef Tobias receives personal credit repeatedly by name.
3. The Staff. Warmth, attentiveness and professional competence are consistent themes. Individual staff members are named in reviews with unusual frequency. The general manager’s personal responses to online reviews suggest a culture of hospitality that runs through the whole property.
4. The Rooftop Pool. Year-round operation, sweeping views over Oslo and the Oslofjord, a sauna immediately adjacent — one of Norway’s most photographed hotel features, and guest accounts confirm the reality matches the imagery.
5. The Wellness Facilities. For guests who book in advance and budget for the supplements, the Vestkantbadet is widely described as one of the finest hotel spa experiences in the Nordic countries. The Technogym equipment receives specific praise from fitness-conscious guests.
6. The Dining Variety. Seven venues means guests eat and drink across cuisines and moods without leaving the building. Quality is noted across the board, not only at the flagship restaurants.
7. The Atmosphere and Energy. Live jazz, local visitors and hotel guests in easy proximity, cultural events, and the building’s inherent theatricality produce an atmosphere guests find genuinely invigorating. Sommerro doesn’t feel like a hotel; it feels like a place.
8. The Sustainability Commitment. 100% renewable energy, no bottled water, a 2030 climate-neutral target, and a partnership with Sisters in Business — employing female immigrants to create and repair textiles — are noted with approval by environmentally conscious guests.

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Areas for Consideration

1. The Spa Access Policy. Hotel guests must pay a daily supplement and book timed slots to use the pool — something one guest described as unlike anything they had encountered at any hotel anywhere. At five-star rates this is incongruous. Clarify the current policy and costs before booking.
2. Spa Treatment Availability. Treatments are frequently fully booked. The consistent advice in reviews is unambiguous: book at least a week before arrival. Arriving without an advance reservation during busy periods will likely mean disappointment.
3. Loft Room Size. The smallest room categories are genuinely compact for two guests with luggage. Multiple reviews advise specifically requesting a loft room with adequate floor space. Guests with mobility requirements or significant luggage are more comfortable in a higher category.
4. Unexpected Post-Checkout Charges. Some guests report unexpected charges after departure (a significant smoking fine is one documented case). The hotel’s terms are clear, but a briefing on house rules at check-in would be a straightforward improvement.
5. No Turndown Service. Several reviewers note the absence of turndown service — unusual, they observe, for a property at this price point. A legitimate observation for guests who consider it integral to five-star hospitality.
6. The Lively Atmosphere May Not Suit Everyone. Sommerro is designed as a neighbourhood hub and operates accordingly. The Ekspedisjonshallen is vibrant, the lobby sees significant footfall, and cultural events keep the building animated. Guests seeking a hushed, private retreat may find this tiring rather than energising.

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Who Is Sommerro Best For?

• ✅ Design and architecture enthusiasts who want to sleep inside a genuinely significant building
• ✅ Couples seeking a romantic, atmospheric city break — Oslo is a two-hour flight from London
• ✅ Food lovers who want variety and quality under one roof without excessive advance planning
• ✅ Wellness travellers who book spa time well in advance
• ✅ Guests who enjoy a hotel that doubles as a social and cultural destination
• ✅ Business travellers seeking inspiring conference and meeting environments
• ⚠️ Those seeking a quiet, anonymous retreat — the lively brasserie is a feature, not a bug
• ⚠️ Guests on tight budgets — expensive hotel in an expensive city, extras accumulate
• ⚠️ Heavy-luggage travellers booked into loft rooms — smallest categories are genuinely compact
• ⚠️ Last-minute spa bookers — treatments require advance reservations of a week or more

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How Sommerro Compares: Oslo Luxury Hotels

Verdict: Sommerro wins on depth of offering — the combination of dining variety, spa scale, cultural programming, and architectural distinction is unmatched in Oslo. The Thief is the better choice for a quieter, more intimate luxury stay with a contemporary art focus. Amerikalinjen offers genuine heritage character at a lower price. For a total-hotel-experience stay, Sommerro is the benchmark.

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How to Book a Stay at Sommerro House Oslo

1. Visit sommerrohouse.com directly for all room categories and package options, or compare rates on Booking.com, Expedia or Hotels.com.
2. Select room category carefully. Loft rooms are compact; book a Superior Room or above if travelling with full luggage. Heritage Suites require significant additional budget but are architecturally extraordinary.
3. Book spa treatments immediately after confirming your room. A week’s advance notice is the minimum; more is advisable during busy periods.
4. Clarify the current pool and wellness access policy — whether included or subject to a supplement — before finalising your budget.
5. For dinner at Tak Oslo and Plah & Ahaan, book in advance. Both fill with Oslo locals as readily as hotel guests.
6. For special occasions, contact the hotel directly by email. Multiple guest accounts confirm the team responds promptly and handles celebratory requests warmly.
7. From Gardermoen Airport, take the Flytoget to Nationaltheatret (approx. 20 minutes); Sommerro is a nine-to-ten-minute walk through Frogner.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sommerro House Oslo

Is Sommerro House Oslo worth the price for UK visitors?

For UK visitors seeking a distinctive Scandinavian city break, Sommerro House Oslo delivers an experience that is genuinely difficult to replicate elsewhere. The combination of Art Deco architecture, exceptional dining, and world-class wellness justifies the premium for most guests. Oslo is a two-hour flight from London; multiple guests note the city is less expensive than its reputation suggests once you arrive.

Does Sommerro House Oslo include breakfast?

Yes — most room rates include the breakfast buffet, in keeping with Norwegian hotel convention. The buffet in Ekspedisjonshallen is one of the hotel’s most praised features, with a full egg menu, freshly baked bread, and live jazz accompaniment every morning from the house band. It is not a token offering.

How do I get from Oslo Airport to Sommerro House?

The Flytoget airport express from Gardermoen runs every ten minutes and reaches Nationaltheatret station in approximately 20 minutes. From Nationaltheatret, Sommerro House is a nine-to-ten-minute walk through the Frogner neighbourhood. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also available from the airport.

Can non-guests use the Vestkantbadet spa at Sommerro House Oslo?

Yes — Vestkantbadet is accessible to non-guests, reflecting the hotel’s neighbourhood-destination philosophy. Memberships are available that include pool, Finnish sauna, cold plunge pool, and infrared sauna access. Day access and individual treatments can also be booked. Advance reservations are strongly recommended whether you are a hotel guest or visiting independently.

What is the rooftop pool at Sommerro House like?

The rooftop pool at Sommerro House Oslo is heated and open year-round, including through Oslo’s winter snowfall — consistently described by guests as a highlight of their stay. It offers panoramic views across the city towards the Oslofjord and Holmenkollen, with a sauna immediately adjacent. Note that pool access may require a separate booking and supplement; confirm this at time of booking.

Which restaurants at Sommerro House Oslo are best for a special dinner?

For a special dinner at Sommerro House Oslo, Tak Oslo (rooftop, Nordic-Japanese, panoramic views) and Plah & Ahaan (elevated Thai, six-course menus by Norway’s Best Thai Chef) are the headline options. Both require advance reservations. Ekspedisjonshallen with its live jazz is excellent for a longer, sociable evening. To Søstre is the destination for afternoon tea with classical music accompaniment.

How far is Sommerro House from the Oslo Opera House and main attractions?

The Oslo Opera House is approximately 2 km from Sommerro House — around ten minutes by tram, or a 25-minute waterfront walk. The Royal Palace is under 600 metres away. Frogner Park with the Vigeland sculptures is a short walk; the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art is 15 minutes towards the harbour.

Is Sommerro House Oslo suitable for families with children?

Yes — Sommerro House welcomes children of all ages, with family rooms available. Children aged 17 and above are charged as adults. The cinema, wellness areas, multiple dining venues, and cultural events programme give families plenty to enjoy. The residential Frogner neighbourhood is calm and manageable with children. The lively brasserie atmosphere is better suited to older children and teenagers than to very young ones.

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London Reviews Verdict: Sommerro House Oslo

Sommerro House is, without serious qualification, one of the finest hotel projects in Europe this decade. The achievement is not only architectural — though Norway’s largest preservation project, with its meticulous restoration of Bjercke and Eliassen’s 1931 Art Deco headquarters, is extraordinary on its own terms. It is the coherence of the whole enterprise: the building, the dining, the wellness offering, the cultural programme, the staff, and the philosophy of a hotel that belongs to its neighbourhood rather than floating above it in sealed luxury.

The criticisms in this review are real and worth heeding. The spa supplement policy is anomalous for a five-star property, the loft rooms are compact, and the vibrant atmosphere isn’t suited to every guest. None of these are dealbreakers; they are refinements a hotel of this calibre could address without disturbing its character. The consecutive Grand Travel Award wins and sustained Condé Nast Traveller recognition suggest standards maintained rather than drifting — the meaningful test for any new luxury opening.

For London and UK travellers considering a Scandinavian city break, the case for Oslo frequently comes down to what Sommerro offers: a destination quieter on the tourist circuit than it deserves to be, exceptional in quality, and anchored by a hotel that doesn’t merely accommodate you — it performs. Book a Heritage Suite if the budget allows. Reserve spa treatments the day you confirm your room. Arrive without a plan for your first evening and let Ekspedisjonshallen decide what happens next.

The Agatha Christie film-set comparison holds — not just for the aesthetics, but for the sense of controlled theatrical delight. Everything placed just so. The lighting always flattering. The scene permanently set for something interesting to happen. Sommerro has that. Very few hotels do.

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Summary Ratings: Sommerro House Oslo

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Disclaimer: This Sommerro House Oslo review is based on independent research drawing on TripAdvisor (530+ reviews, 4/5, #7 of 93 Oslo hotels), Booking.com (couples score 9.4/10), Expedia, Hotels.com, luxury-hotels.com (1,400+ verified reviews), Men’s Journal, Elite Traveler, Condé Nast Traveller, Travel + Leisure, Scandinavian MIND, Kevin Francis Design, World Architects, Historic Hotels Worldwide, and Sommerro’s own press and website materials. London Reviews does not accept payment from any business it reviews.

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