Tried & Tested

Hotel check: Warsaw Marriott

31 Mar 2009 by Sara Turner

WHAT’S IT LIKE? The Warsaw Marriott Hotel opened in 1989 as the city’s first big chain property. While parts of it feel a little dated, much of it has enjoyed a refreshing facelift – the Panorama bar on the 40th floor being the crowning glory. When I arrived there was a big queue for check-in, which meant I had time to sample the free coffee and examine the ostentatious lobby, which was dressed in marble and gold, with dark wood furniture and patterned carpets. There can also be a bit of a wait for the lifts as they struggle to cope with demand at busy periods of the day.

WHERE IS IT? It’s located in the centre of Warsaw, a stone’s throw from the Stalin-era Palace of Culture and Science, the city’s most well-known landmark. The hotel is connected by an underpass to the main station and the Golden Terraces shopping centre, easy to spot thanks to its undulating glass roof. The airport is 8km from the property and taxis costs about 80zt (£15). The hotel does not offer a shuttle service.

ROOM FACILITIES As in many hotels, the higher the room category the more space you have, and in corner suites and upwards there are separate baths and showers. The bedrooms are located on floors 21 to 40, and guests staying in higher category rooms have access to the Executive lounge on the 38th level. My corner room on floor 23 offered great views of the Palace and featured mismatched upholstery (green checked carpet, pink sofa, and red and gold runner on the bed) and prints of Victorian landscapes on the walls. General amenities included a minibar, large bottles of free mineral water, an iron and ironing board, a trouser press, safe, full-length mirror, robe and slippers, flatscreen TV with pay-per-view movies, air conditioning, Marriott-branded toiletries and a hairdryer. Room service is available 24 hours and a turn-down service is provided every evening. Wired internet access is available for 25zt (£5) per hour or 75zt (£14) for 24 hours.

RESTAURANTS AND BAR There are seven of these, ranging from Champion Sports Bar on the ground floor, which serves burgers and shows matches on 30 overhead televisions, to the newly renovated and glitzy Panorama Bar and Lounge on the 40th floor, which serves potent cocktails and has magnificent views of the city at night. I had dinner in Parmizzano’s, a high-end Italian restaurant. Early in the evening it tends to be quiet so it is better to come later if you want a bit more atmosphere. The décor may not be to everyone’s taste – a black carpet with pink roses, cream walls, dark wood furniture and no natural daylight – but the food is delicious. I chose for my starter the freshly baked ciabatta bread with a selection of olive oils infused with garlic, rosemary and chilli, followed by balsamic-marinated grilled vegetables and goat’s cheese (49zt/£9). For my main I had ricotta and spinach-stuffed ravioli with tomato and basil sauce (55zt/£10). Breakfast is served from 6.30-11am in Lilla Weneda, between Parmizzano’s and the casino. It’s a huge room with floor-to-ceiling windows and has the feel of a school canteen – people fighting for the overcooked scrambled eggs and row upon row of tables and chairs. You are probably better off ordering it to your room or grabbing a coffee and pastry en route to your next stop.

MEETING AND BUSINESS FACILITIES There are meeting rooms totalling almost 1,672 sqm of space on the second and third floors, which are all gradually being renovated. The biggest is the 591 sqm Grand Ballroom, which was recently refurbished and can seat up to 700 people. It can also be subdivided into six smaller rooms. Audio-visual equipment, translation services, wired and wireless internet access and catering are all available. There is a small business centre off the main lobby, which is open from Monday to Friday and offers private voicemail, a computer, fax and secretarial services.

LEISURE FACILITIES There is an indoor pool in the basement along with a gym, sauna, solarium, hair studio and spa. Other facilities in the hotel include an indoor golf course, gift shops, a pharmacy and a flower shop. Having set the trend in Warsaw for on-site gambling, the Marriott also has a casino on the second floor with various tables offering roulette, black jack and poker.

VERDICT Warsaw’s first big business hotel has a good range of facilities, and with ongoing renovations it is determined to keep up-to-date with its competitors. A decent choice in a central location.

Fact File

HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 518, including 361 Standard rooms, 62 Executive rooms and 95 suites.

ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The city views and free litre-bottles of mineral water.

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in April started from 519zt (£98) for a King room with a city view.

CONTACT Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Al Jerozolimskie 65/79; tel +48 22 630 6306; marriott.com

Jenny Southan

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