InterContinental Athenee Palace Bucharest by IHG

The InterContinental Athenee Palace Bucharest, a Michelin One-Key property by IHG, stands as a testament to luxury and historical elegance in the heart of Romania's vibrant capital. Following a significant renovation, the hotel consistently garners high praise for its impeccable service, prime location, and sophisticated ambiance, offering guests a memorable and refined experience.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for InterContinental Athenee Palace Bucharest is overwhelmingly positive, with an impressive overall rating of 8.9 and a strong sentiment indicating a luxurious and highly satisfying stay. Guests frequently describe it as an "excellent hotel" and "the best hotel in Bucharest by far". Many express a strong desire to return, highlighting a feeling of "home" from check-in to check-out.

Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud the hotel's central location as a major highlight, scoring an outstanding 9.3. Its proximity to major attractions, the Old Town, and various transport links makes it an ideal base for exploring Bucharest. The service and staff are frequently praised for their attentiveness, professionalism, and friendliness, with many guests noting the personalized welcome and efficient assistance. The hotel's design is celebrated for its blend of historic glamour and modern luxury, evident in the beautifully decorated lobby, refurbished rooms, and iconic spaces like the English Bar. Among the amenities, the luxurious spa, indoor pool, and well-equipped fitness center are often mentioned as appealing features, along with the historic English Bar for a cozy atmosphere.

Room Quality

The rooms and suites at InterContinental Athenee Palace Bucharest are consistently described as recently renovated, comfortable, spacious, and immaculately clean. Guests appreciate the "beautiful, high-quality luxury" and "modern, luxurious" design. Deluxe rooms are noted as being spacious by European standards. Specific mentions include comfortable beds, great pillows, hand-finished oak floors, luxurious bathrooms, and amenities such as coffee machines, kettles, large television screens, and Byredo Bal d'Afrique toiletries. Many rooms offer stunning views of the city or the hotel courtyard, with some providing incredible views of the Romanian Athenaeum, the old Royal Palace, and Revolution Square.

Dining Experience

The hotel offers a delightful dining experience across its various venues. JORJ Restaurant is highlighted for its culinary storytelling, celebrating contrast with dishes prepared on a Josper grill and expertly curated raw seafood. Café Athénée, recently renovated, offers artisanal pastries, signature desserts, and light meal options. The English Bar provides a historic and cozy ambiance, known for attracting renowned spies and writers in its past.

Breakfast receives particular acclaim, with guests frequently describing it as "wonderful" and "delicious," offering a good spread that includes traditional Romanian dishes and caters to various palates. Both indoor and outdoor breakfast options are available. In-room dining is also available for breakfast and all-day dining.

Service & Staff

The service at InterContinental Athenee Palace Bucharest is consistently praised as "attentive," "friendly," and "absolutely professional". Guests report staff going "above and beyond" to ensure a memorable stay, with examples of warm welcomes, efficient assistance, and excellent English communication skills, especially within the Club Lounge. While some early reviews mentioned staff still settling in or having limited English skills in the Club Lounge, more recent feedback indicates a highly polished and hospitable team.

Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts an "exceptional" and "very central location" in the heart of Bucharest, situated next to the Romanian Athenaeum on Revolution Square. This prime position allows for easy walking access to most major city sights, including the Old Town, Lipscani district, and various boutiques and galleries. Public transport is also highly accessible, with Izvor Metro Station a short walk away providing direct links to various attractions. Traveling to and from Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) is seamless, taking approximately 30-40 minutes by car, with readily available taxis, rideshare services like Uber and Bolt, and the express bus line 783 having a stop conveniently located near the hotel.

Value & Pricing

The InterContinental Athenee Palace Bucharest is considered a luxury experience that comes at a premium, with room prices averaging between $201 and $250. While this is higher than the city's average hotel room price of $101-$150, guests generally consider the "added investment... well worth it" due to the hotel's exceptional offerings, elegant accommodations, upscale amenities, impeccable service, and rich history. Guests who have experienced complimentary Club Lounge access often highlight it as a significant value enhancer.

Common Complaints

While overall feedback is highly positive, a few minor recurring issues have been noted:

• Housekeeping inconsistencies: One guest reported that their room wasn't fully serviced daily, with dirty dishes left outside the room for an extended period and amenities not replenished, requiring requests.
• Spa area overcrowding: On occasion, the spa area has been described as overcrowded and loud.
• Elevator speed: The two elevators can sometimes struggle to handle 100% hotel capacity, leading to guests opting for stairs, particularly when going down.
• Club Lounge food temperature: Due to the Club Lounge not having its own kitchen, à la carte eggs at breakfast could take longer to be served, and some dishes might not arrive hot.
• View limitations: While some rooms offer excellent landmark views, other views from the Athenaeum/Palace view rooms might predominantly overlook a parking lot in addition to the landmarks.

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