Hotel Bristol, A Luxury Collection Hotel was the third hotel we stayed in Warsaw and was the one I was most looking forward to experiencing. I have a fondness for the Art Nouveau era and this hotel is an Art Nouveau masterpiece. The outside is neo-renaissance in style and once you enter through the lobby you step back into a period of opulance and grand elegance.
Location
The building was founded in 1901 by Ignacy Jan Paderewski a famous pianist and Polish politician and has become a landmark building in the city. It is next door to the Presidential Palace and moments away from the Royal Castle in the old town, making it perfect for a romantic city break.
Check In
To the right of the entrance is the check in lobby. Iced tea is offer for thirsty travellers. I had booked my room through hotels.com (which I love), but I registered for the SPG rewards programme at the desk which gave me free access to the WIFI during my stay.
Rooms are through the marble central hallway and to the right. Original brass open-sided lifts whisk you up to your floor and I was rather in awe of the lifts.
The Room
We had a classic room (24m2) overlooking the central courtyard, the concierge did say those rooms were slightly darker around the courtyard and he was correct!
The room was traditional in feel, which is to be expected, the rest of the hotel is period style so the rooms wouldn’t be any different. It had a slight run of the mill hotel feel to it. I was expecting a little more wow given the marble entrance hall, but nothing jumped out that made me feel excited about it. I love hotels where you enter the room and you feel like you never want to leave it (The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam is a great example from my travels, as is the W Hotel Bangkok).
Thankfully the marble theme ran through the bathroom, which came with a bath/shower and period fittings and fixture and Elemis bath products.
Communal Areas
The communal areas are really where the hotel comes to life and are absolutely stunning.
Swimming Pool and Spa
In the basement is the hotel’s pool and spa. Enter through the spa where the reception staff, provide you with towels and guide you to the changing rooms. The swimming pool is beautiful, lined in cobalt blue and illuminated with plenty of space to do a few lengths. There is a separate male/female sauna and steam room area, which has plenty of space to seat a number of people.
Unfortunately no spa jacuzzi (the Sofitel also didn’t have one either).
Bristol Wine Bar
At the front of the property is the Bristol Wine Bar with a view out to the street. This is a great place for lovers of fine wine which is also very reasonably priced given the quality.
Bristol Cafe
The hotel’s cafe offers traditional deserts that have been created since 1901. Ideal for a coffee, lunch or snack.
Marconi Restaurant
The Marconi restaurant offers a relaxed dining experience throughout the day managed by executive chef Carlos Teixeira, modern Polish dishes are created using local food from farmers.
Column Bar
Breakfast
Breakfast is served in the Marconi restaurant at the back. An elegant buffet is laid out in the seperate serving room next to the dining area. There is a large selection of options (not as many as Sofitel Warsaw) but plenty to choose from and their scrambled eggs were incredible!
Finances and Final Thoughts
A standard room for one night including breakfast is approx £150. I really loved the hotels communal areas, the spa was relaxing, my room was not the best and I think that was probably bad luck on my part, ask for a room looking out rather than into the courtyard.
Address: Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44, 00-325 Warszawa, Poland
Phone: +48 22 551 10 00
Web: www.hotelbristolwarsaw.pl/en
