IN TIP-TOP HYATT SHAPE
LOCATION
Sofia is a destination where the city centre is hard to define. Nonetheless, the area around the national assembly, strewn with numerous public institutions and towers, is the closest to the notion of a city centre. That is also where the iconic Alexander Nevsky Cathedral stands. Because the hotel is only 300 metres from this district, it boasts an excellent location. Park Zaimov, Sofia’s most popular recreational area and the city’s green lungs, is only a stone’s throw away. You probably did not know that Sofia is one of the greenest cities in Europe. If you have free time, we warmly recommend strolling through the park. Considering you cannot stay any closer to the very heart of the Bulgarian capital and its lively happenings, the hotel’s location is outstanding and thus an excellent choice for event organisers.
ACCESSIBILITY
When there are no traffic jams, the hotel is easy and fast accessible. The hotel driveway is also very tidy. Guests arriving by car will find a spacious parking garage at their disposal. The traffic in the capital of Bulgaria is a story of its own. You will reach the hotel relatively easily, should you be lucky enough to arrive in Sofia outside rush hour. Otherwise, the traffic is utterly chaotic. It is best to opt for experienced taxi drivers, with whom we have had only good experiences. Public transport is perpetually advancing but remains light years behind the transport systems in more renowned destinations, barring the tidy, clean, fast and effective metro system. Sofia Airport is just as modern as the metro, designed in a very European style, perhaps only oversized. We must also praise the metro connection between the city and the airport. The metro, inaugurated in 1998, is undoubtedly the most effective way to get around the city and is affordable by European standards.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
Architecture-wise, the hotel is modernist and minimal. It features clean lines, a facade of white marble and an elegant canopy roof over the terrace. Altogether, Hyatt Regency Sofia appears monolithic and elegant, yet generic at the same time. The same can be said for the interior, typical of the Hyatt hotel chain – with dark furniture and pastel hues dominating. We have stayed in numerous similar hotels before where everything is where you would expect it to be, but not one feature really turns heads. Still, everything functions seamlessly within the hotel. We must sing praise for The Revolutionary Dining Room restaurant, which is, in its own right, a design trendsetting bistro-like space. The chandeliers, ceiling and intimate lounges combine into an eclectic architectural mix where you will feel fantastic.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
A very kind tandem made our day complete at the reception. Their kindness, genuine hospitality and effectiveness were unmatched. It is always nice to start your hotel stay this way. We had similar impressions throughout our stay. We must admit that the staff is very competent and extremely kind, from the personnel in the spa to the team working in the rooftop bar. That is the essence of excellent hotel service. In addition, the hotel is maintained with great care. Although the hotel is not the youngest in Sofia, everything works tip-top. We found the bistro menu in the Rooftop Bar offering fusion snacks from all corners of the world particularly intriguing. The a la carte breakfast in The Revolutionary Dining Room was superb, apt for a five-star hotel. We were most impressed by the local cuisine, which included exceptional ajvar. Tasty hummus, front cooking and a range of freshly-squizzed juices complemented the offer. The breakfast easily justifies the relatively high price of staying at this hotel.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
The spacious room is designed in a typical timeless Hyatt fashion, pairing dark wooden flooring, elegant furniture and white walls. In addition, a designer lounger and eye-catching carpet under the bed adorn the room. In typical Hyatt style, the writing desk is spacious, allowing guests to work remotely. Our room had an alluring balcony overlooking the elegant hotel courtyard. It also included premium chairs. The top-of-the-line bathroom is decorated in line with expectations and includes select cosmetics. In the hotel rooms, you will get a great night’s sleep thanks to the fantastic bed lining. We only have a tiny remark regarding the rather loud air conditioning. The device for managing the air conditioning is not the most intuitive to use.
Meetings centre
The heart and soul of the conference offer is the multifunctional Vasil Levski Hall, which can be divided into three smaller rooms or adapted to the event organiser’s wishes. We were equally impressed by the foyer, ideal for smaller exhibitions. The multifunctional Botev Hall complemented the conference centre. The icing on the cake is the Rooftop Bar, which has become the place to be in Sofia. Not least, the Rose Garden Terrace, perfect for up to 70 attendees, is a sought-after venue.
DESSERT – The extras
The personnel exceeds expectations on all levels. That is why we can say without a shadow of a doubt that the service is most impressive. It justifies Hyatt’s slogan: “You are more than welcome”.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
When you stay in a hotel for business purposes, you expect the internet to function fast. Although registration for the Wi-Fi was straightforward, we expected higher connectivity in the age of 5G. We also did not understand the decision to leave the mini bars empty, considering the corona crisis is now behind us.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
If we were to evaluate meeting hotels according to their spa centres, then the Spa Ortus in Hyatt Regency Sofia would easily take the top. Almost 500 square metres of surface means the spa is never too crowded. On top of that, the four types of saunas work flawlessly. The cleanliness is phenomenal, and the impressive pool offers everything you can wish for.
SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS
Hyatt is a hotel chain that prioritises sustainable activities. The Hyatt EcoTrack programme tracks sustainable indices, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water, waste and recycling. Moreover, the rooms boast sustainable cosmetics. Hyatt is one of those hotel chains that walk the talk.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
Hyatt Regency Sofia offers guests the doorway to the exclusive level of hotels without compromises. In Sofia, it seems their concept is enough to be crowned as one of the best. With its typical Hyatt qualities, lovers of the hotel chain will appreciate the offer. Yet, the hotel is among the most expensive in Sofia. Luckily, the hotel justifies the price, even though it could polish its offer in segments. Hyatt Regency Sofia is impressive and, in many ways, an excellent meeting hotel.
FINAL GRADE: 4.91 GOLD City Meeting Hotel
GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60
