Review of Corinthia Bucharest Romania

This hotel is full of stories.

Over the four days I stayed at the newly opened Corinthia Bucharest in Romania’s capital—fresh off a seven-year renovation and rebranding—I heard this line repeated by everyone, from the concierge to the servers who once visited the building as children.

The Belle Époque beauty opened its doors in 1873 and made history as the first hotel in the city outfitted with electric lights and an elevator. It held art exhibitions comparable to those of posh museums at the time, and hosted galas for royalty and nobility. The building was used by German troops as their headquarters during World War II. During the communist era in Romania, it was used as the Palace of Culture.

After nearly a year, the Art Nouveau-style ceilings with their intricately carved columns were cleaned. Boulevard 73, now with mirrored wall and a Sogni Di Cristallo Murano crystal chandelier, has been restored to the glory of 20th century. During the renovation, fun, historic artifacts were found in the ballroom, such as a banquet menu for celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday May 1884—and some menu items, like the queen of pudding—have been modernized for special events.

There are many original features in this hotel, such as the restored Boulevard 73 wooden doors with glass panels, or the four life size statues which were displayed outside and can be found in the glass cabinets around the lobby. Here you can also see modern Romanian art. You’ll also find a tapestry designed by textile designer Jude Cassidy in the reception area. This tapestry was created from 20 Romanian traditional scarves, some of which are over 100 years old.

I’ve visited many of the countries’ neighbors but not all. TransylvaniaMy knowledge of Romania before my visit was limited. Over dinner, the team said that everyone knows Dracula. But they are hoping that the hotel will help change the narrative and put Bucharest—and Romania—in a new light.

Staying at the Corinthia in Bucharest is a great experience.

The Rooms

The recently opened Brussels hotelThe Corinthia Group teamed up with GA Design to bring a modern touch to this historic building. The Grand Deluxe Suite, which is 807 square feet, was the most inviting of all 30 suites. It was difficult for me to leave it even when I wanted to go sightseeing in the morning. The aesthetics of the rooms were inspired by the poem “The Blue FlowerMihai Eminescu, Romanian Poet

The decor is elegant without feeling stuffy—shades of beige are accented with hand-painted gold foil canvases and plush royal blue velvet. It’s hard to resist the temptation to relax in the living room on the sofa, or order room service from the table near the window. If you need extra space, the next—and highest—suite category, the 1,238-square-foot Signature Suite, has a private library room that doubles as an office and a dining space that seats four. 

Food and Drink

Romania is often referred to, due to its unique location on the map, as the intersection of East and Western cultures. In the lobby’s Heritage Bar, rich jewel-toned fabrics reflect Bucharest’s unique past. Afternoon tea is accompanied by a pastry cart packed with desserts, such as a pear tarte tatin and a revamped version of a Paris-Brest with pâte à choux, hazelnut, and pecans. Heritage Bar serves a menu of light bites all day, similar to what is available in the hotel’s en suite dining room 24 hours a day.

The bar’s best feature is its cocktail program, which includes history-themed drinks like Pages from Paris. This Champagne-based drink was named after a bookstore that used to be located on the ground floor of the hotel and sold the latest French publications. Konstantinos Mourloukos said he aimed to create an cocktail program that was on par with those in cities like London and Barcelona, to “elevate all cocktail scenes [in Bucharest].”

“We’re bringing out unique flavors that tell a story—we’ve established a core from which something truly exceptional can grow,” he says.

The evenings are filled with light jazz, and servers dressed in bow ties and white suit vests with gold accents move around the room. Women in cocktail dresses and men wearing slick button ups drink cocktails. Sass’ Restaurant & Lounge. The tall soundproofed door covers up the DJ-driven affair. There is a three-week waitlist to make a reservation. The restaurant manager told me that he had stopped checking his emails on the weekend when the number of requests reached hundreds the Wednesday night I dined at the restaurant.

The piano bar and restaurant Sass’ Café has been an institution in Monaco for more than 30 years, and as someone who spends a good amount of time in the principality, I’ve had my fair share of late nights at Sass’. For Sass’ Restaurant & Lounge at the CorinthianMonaco-based Green & Mingarelli DesignThe eccentricity of its original location was captured by the baroque-inspired décor. Think rich tones like gold and burgundy, and velvet, leather, and leopard accents—it all evokes a 1920s boudoir Paris vibe.

Our table enjoyed generous portions of wagyu with crispy artichokes and calamari in a smoked-olive tartar sauce. A duo entertained the two ends of the room with their singing while cherry-red light on the ceiling matched the beats of the DJ. Although the restaurant is usually packed, there is a bar that is open to walk-ins in the late evening. Around 11 p.m. the space transforms into lounge.

The team was working on the final menu for Boulevard 73 During my stay in the city, I will be able to enjoy a fine dining experience using fresh local produce.

Amenities & Experiences

In addition to the elegant floral displays at Boulevard 73, Corinthia Bucharest also features Nicu Bocancea’s (founder and master florist of Romania’s luxurious floral boutique Iris). The floral arrangements blend beautifully with Elysee by Cristina Balan (a local perfumer who was trained in Grasse’s French perfume capital).

The hotel has curated partnerships with local artists, performers, and institutions, and it can arrange access to bespoke tours of the city’s diverse Belle Époque and communist-era brutalist architecture. If you want to learn more about Romanian wines, the hotel can arrange for a trip to Dealu Mare, which is located just a few hours from Bucharest. Corinthia Bucharest offers luxury tours on the island monastery at Lake Snagov. It is believed to be the last resting place for Vlad the impaler who was the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Gothic horror novel “Dracula” written in 1897. You can also opt for a helicopter tour to spot bears near the Carpathian Mountains.

The Spa

Corinthia Spa BucharestThe spacious treatment rooms located in the cupolas of the hotel offer both body treatments with products by British brand Wildsmith Skin, and facials using 111Skin. The cream-colored walls have molds of wildflowers picked from Romania’s rolling mountains. They are meant to represent the outdoor spaces in Romania and the botanical treatments.

There is also a Himalayan Salt Sauna, a Steam Room, Showers and an Ice Fountain. In the same hall, behind the clock (“eye of Bucharest grande dame”) is the hair salon that offers scalp and hair rejuvenation treatments. The Technogym equipped gym has a lot of space, and is open 24/7. You won’t feel like you’re vying for a spot for your mat or need to wait for a machine—a huge plus for those of us who like to squeeze in a yoga session before a day of sightseeing.

Accessibility and sustainability

The ground floor’s common areas, as well as Boulevard 73 and Sass’ Restaurant & Lounge, are mostly accessible, however, there aren’t dedicated wheelchair ramps. The hotel has one accessible Deluxe suite on the first-floor, and you can access the spa at the fourth floor via the elevator. 

To meet Corinthia Hotels’ goals for sustainability, the hotel uses local farmers to source produce and minimizes waste.

Location

The Corinthia Bucharest is located about 10 miles from Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), about 20 minutes away by car.

You’ll find the hotel near the Old Town of the city, which means you can walk to the famous Romanian restaurant. Caru’ cu bere The Beer Wagon. The Palace of Parliament is also within walking distance, which is the second-largest building in the world behind the Pentagon. You can order an Uber or arrange for a car through your hotel if you’d like to visit other attractions in the city, such as the outdoor museum. National Village Museum, a collection of nearly 300 wooden homes, churches, and other structures sourced around the country—one homestead dates back to 1860.

How to make the most of your stay

The Corinthia Bucharest participates in the Global Hotel Alliance so guests can join the organization. Discovery loyalty program. Members receive a 10 percent discount on rates, and earn Discovery Dollars, which can be used to pay for dining, spa treatments or hotel bills at check-out.

Rates for a junior suite at the Corinthia Bucharest Starting at 460 euros ($525 USD), the Signature Suite starts at 1,800 euros ($2,057 USD).

Each T+L Hotel Review is written by a reporter or editor who has visited the hotel. The hotel chosen must also align with our standards. core values.