BEHIND THE SCENES – Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel

Intensive industrialisation reached its peak in Serbia at the end of the 19th century and was based on food and textile industry. In 1904, when development was in full swing, the first industrial mill was built in Belgrade. A fire interrupted the building’s simply charming and rich history in 1994. From that moment on the building started decaying in a sad manner until it ended up in the hands of the Austrian company Soravia.

In Europe there are only a few hotels which have been constructed on the grounds of former industrial sites. Revitalising such buildings creates a hotel architecture of exceptional quality – an architecture which on the one hand gives the impression that time has stopped and on the other expresses a modern lifestyle. The owners entrusted the building’s architectural restoration to the renowned GRAFT architects from Berlin. The state in which the architects found the building can now be seen on the artistic photographs which are displayed in the hotel rooms. A new hotel architecture was created which excites at every step.

The Radisson Hotel gave new life to the industrial area located next to one of the most important roads in Belgrade. It can be found only a stone’s throw away from the Belgrade Fair and together these two sites have put a new venue on Belgrade’s map. If we are to believe the planners of the project “Belgrade on Water”, the hotel at the edge of the new city centre will also soon become part of a completely new appearance of this part of the city.

Try to imagine you find yourself in a house from a futuristic movie. The architects created a space which combines history, technology, art, fun, and relaxation with exquisite culinary art, and which seems to be both very modern and very traditional at the same time. Today, the old part of the former mill forms the impeccably restored central part of the hotel, decorated with a number of cleverly thought out details, such as the hotel sign on a copper wallcovering behind the reception desk. The central square is an integral part of the story. Ksenija Vujović, the marketing and sales director, stressed that in warmer months the square in front of the hotel will turn into a special venue.

Without exception, the Radisson Hotel understands the needs of its business and congress guests. The elegant hotel rooms attest to the fact that this is truly a first class hotel. The selected materials and the less-is-more approach will fascinate even the even the best-travelled congress guests. Artistic photographs portraying the old mill found their place in each room. The painted raw concrete walls seem like some sort of a reflection of the hotel rooms and highlight them even more. The authors of the paintings are Strauss & Hillegaart.

The hotel’s congress premises were designed to stimulate the participants’ creative thinking. This concept is embodied in a special room called the Brainbox, where select colours, specially designed chairs, and the general atmosphere contribute to promoting the creative process. The larger congress hall with natural daylight and a capacity of 220 delegates is currently one of the most beautiful conference centres in the city. The beautifully refurbished premises of the old mill with a hint of modernism create a sense of wellbeing. As all other Radisson Blu hotels, the Old Mill hotel offers highspeed Internet access and the Brain Food programme, which is known for its sustainable approach and selected menus.

What a surprise! You won’t be able to enjoy such a culinary experience at other hotels in the region for a long time: a new culinary concept which is modern and outstandingly fashionable, with a blistering combination of new techniques and textures, and a blend of Serbian and international cuisine. The minimalistic menu available only in Serbian Cyrillic and English looks quite promising. Less is more and the Old Mill always finds the perfect balance.
To start off, there are creative appetizers each with select local cheeses on the side. Indulge yourself with a Serbian “Bašta”, with goat cheese from the mountain Stara planina and a tomato tartar. Or let the “Busa Burger” dazzle your taste buds with its “Lutenica”, a spicy vegetable spread, and grade-A ground meat, served on a beech tree board with an imprinted OMB logo for inspiration. The juicy mangalitza without cholesterol speaks for itself. Eating such pork is a once in a lifetime experience and is not not to be forgotten easily. And for the grand finale sip a beer from the Kabinet craft brewery in Kosmaj. A family brewery with large unfiltered beers and premium branding.

With the Old Mill, the hotel scene in Belgrade has gained a new passionate, dedicated and experienced culinary team that was born under a lucky star. It is characterised by a youthful determination and mastery that will attract culinary enthusiasts to the hotel and serve them culinary delights no one in the city can compete with. These are created using locally produced fresh and organic ingredients, which are in themselves a reason to visit this hotel. Chef Fabrizio points out “local ingredients are my true inspiration. In order to maintain the quality of the hotel’s kitchen we bought a herd of sheep from the mountain Stara planina none can match.”

FABRIZIO BIGI – Executive chef
He is responsible for one of the best young culinary teams in the local hotel scene. The wunderkind of cooking was born in 1974 in Modena. He started his international career in Jordan, in the Kempinski Ishtar and Kempinski Aqaba hotels. He continued his professional path in China in the Westin Beijing Financial Street hotel and as a chef established the cuisine of the Meridien hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Due to the fact that he was a member of staff when the prestigious JW Marriott hotel in Baku was opened, he has profound experience in opening new hotels. He is the most creatively consistent chef with great respect for local cuisine.

MILAN LEKIĆ – Pastry chef
A chef born in the Serbian province of Vojvodina, who started his professional career in the city of Somobor and moved to the capital shortly afterwards. He developed his enthusiasm for pastries at the Hyatt Regency hotel and has been creating delicious desserts ever since. In 2008, he collaborated in establishing the culinary story of the Zira hotel.
Milan likes to experiment with new tastes and textures, and creates noble culinary creations such as the “chocolate retrospective”.

VANJA PUŠKAR – Souschef
Vanja’s culinary philosophy is as unusual as his path to the peak of the Serbian culinary scene. At only 28 years of age he was already improving his knowledge at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Belgrade. Despite his youth, he contributed profoundly to the cocreation of Belgrade’s culinary landscape. In 2012, he opened the “Chefs Club Beograd” together with a couple of friends and set the goal of reconstructing Serbian cuisine and adapting it to modern trends known under the term “Soul Food”. This way of thinking has become a big hit in the city.

Radisson Old Mill went right to the edge and succeeded. It seems as if they were able to find the right aesthetic measure. They don’t put any unnecessary frills on the premium ingredients and the space resonates with the mill’s past history. The concept of an elegant and authentic hotel, a cult restaurant and a dynamic lounge bar has been created, giving a new dimension to tourism in Belgrade and setting new standards. What’s more, its innovative cuisine also makes it a mirror which reflects Serbian culture.

The hotel is located near the city centre, the fairgrounds, and the Arena.
Traveling to nearby attractions like the Belgrade Arena and the fairgrounds is easy from the hotel’s location in the Belgrade city centre. In addition to being close to palaces, museums, and churches, the hotel is also just minutes from New Belgrade, the city’s upandcoming corporate area with a variety of businesses and Serbian government offices. Additionally, the airport is only 16 kilometres away.

The hotel’s home in Belgrade, Serbia surrounded by history.
The hotel is located in Belgrade, Serbia and lies adjacent to the Belgrade Fair, the city’s central trade show. Guests can easily access the array of historic and cultural attractions that dot the area, including the House of Flowers, the Royal Palace, and the Nikola Tesla Museum. The Topčider Park is Belgrade’s first public park and is within walking distance of the hotel.

Nearby attractions:

• Belgrade Fair – 300 m
• Museum of African Art – 1.7 km
• House of Flowers – 1.7 km
• Home of Archibald Reiss – 1.8 km
• Temple of St. Sava – 2.1 km
• Topčider Park – 2.1 km
• Residence of Prince Miloš – 2.2 km
• Monak’s House – 2.2 km
• Old Palace – 2.4 km
• Knez Mihailova Street – 2.7 km
• Nikola Tesla Museum – 2.9 km
• Skadarlija – 3 km
• Fortress/Kalemegdan – 3.5 km
• Museum of Vuk I Dositej – 3.7 km
• Royal Palace – 4.5 km