AUTHENTIC KATOWICE EXPERIENCE
LOCATION
Silesia is the mining capital of Poland, and Katowice has been its economic and cultural centre for centuries. The heritage of the mining plants still permeates daily life – from staple dishes originally prepared for miners to the industrial design that abounds in hotels. The region of Silesia, in the southwest of Poland, rapidly developed in recent decades, leading to a surge in visitors to this previously remote region. The city, with some 300,000 inhabitants, is easily walkable. Its centre is lined with breweries, upscale restaurants, and nightclubs for students. The highest concentration of such bars is in Marianska Street, amid the hustle and bustle of the city. Best Western Hotels opened its boutique hotel here with 46 rooms in 2017. On the same spot, a brewery operated as early as 1906, while its predecessor, Europejski Hotel, first welcomed guests before WWII. The brewing tradition has stood the test of time, as has the hospitality tradition. Today, the hotel continues the legacy of a famed brewery and a hotel on the most lively street in Katowice.
ACCESSIBILITY
Katowice is easy to reach by motorway from Krakow, Brno if you come from the south, or Wroclaw if you come from the northwest. You will need around an hour to reach Krakow from Katowice. Air accessibility is one of the destination’s drawbacks. There is no larger airport in the region, so guests rely on the connections to Krakow Airport. Regardless, there are several airports in a 200-kilometre radius, and guests can thus combine their travel with a shuttle or train. The latter is one of the best choices for traversing the south of Poland, as the connections are reliable and fast. Getting around Katowice is straightforward; the former mining hotbed is walkable, and most happenings occur in the strict centre. Mariacka Street is a pedestrian-only zone, so guests must walk to reach the hotel. Luckily, there is an affordable parking garage in the vicinity. Even though the cycling infrastructure is slowly developing, most sidewalks are still shared by laidback pedestrians and keen cyclists. Nonetheless, the human-centric city centre is an excellent example of harmonious co-living between non-motorised modes of transport.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
Before the hotel started operating, the building had long housed a renowned brewery and restaurant. The legacy is the layout today: the hotel is an addition to the restaurant popular among locals. After navigating through the restaurant and finally finding the reception, we were welcomed to a miniature reception desk made in classic Best Western style. A few steps down the corridor, an inspiring space opens up. The brewery-cum-breakfast-area is a classy industrial room where the brick elements combine with elegant black furniture. The more we walked around, the more we learned that the restaurant and the Browar Mariacki Brewery were in the limelight. The hotel also impresses with pastel colours dominating the corridors and stylish carpets. The boutique nature of the building forced the architects to find innovative solutions, and they succeeded by blending pre-war architecture and modern furniture. Design-wise, the hotel is not an architectural achievement, but the functional layout is praiseworthy.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
Upon arriving and stumbling our way to the reception, we had to wait a few minutes for the receptionist. Once she greeted us, though, she exuded sincere kindness and readily advised on the city’s best sights and signature bites. The staff working in the restaurant were equally welcoming. We relished a superb dinner, with the beef carpaccio being the star dish. The menu itself was refined, with a good balance between local and international classics. A similar story continued at breakfast. The breakfast room is set in the brewery, with massive industrial lights dangling from the ceiling and the omnipresent red-brick walls enclosing the space. We were impressed by the selection of local dishes, including some humble apple fritters and sumptuous cheeses from local providers. All dishes were well presented and labelled. Given the hotel serves freshly squeezed juice, the instant coffee seemed disappointing. Thanks to the glassed windows, guests can peep at the chefs preparing the food as they dine or have breakfast. Guests can thus make sure the food is prepared fresh daily.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
Industrial elements have been trending in hotel design for nearly a decade. Some leave a lasting impression, while some fade into oblivion. We will remember the industrial elements in this hotel because of their thoughtful use, such as the wall behind our bed clad in authentic red bricks. The palpable sensation when touching the bricks evokes a feeling of industrial nostalgia. The room features a classic hotel style, with dark wood dominating the furniture, pairing well with the spotless white walls. We were satisfied with the spacious bed but less thrilled about the bed lining and pillows. They could consider investing in more quality ones. The bathroom was decently sized, and the shampoo dispenser with Rituals cosmetics was praiseworthy. We did find the toilet peculiarly small, and the hangers from plastic seemed cheap. The air conditioning was somewhat loud. Though the views of Marianska Street are inspiring during the day, at night, the hum and bass in the distance from the discos and night bars may be disturbing.
Meetings centre
As a boutique hotel, it offers only one conference room and a so-called business zone, where guests work remotely or have a business meeting. However, event organisers can also rent the welcoming industrial restaurant. It has space for up to 50 attendees and is connected to the happenings on the main city artery.
DESSERT – The extras
The brewery serving superb beer has been around for over a century. You can see the original copper beer barrels in the breakfast room. These historical artefacts pay homage to the original owners and their Oberschlesische Bierbrauerei brewery.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
The noise coming from the busy street below is disturbing at night. The windows are not soundproof, and you will struggle to get a good night’s rest on weekends. The bathroom in the room is in dire need of renovation.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
The red brick is as intrinsic to the look of Katowice and neighbouring towns and hamlets as the breweries that first served miners coming from their long shifts. The way the hotel rooms incorporate the brick is an inspiring architectural solution.
SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS
Best Western Hotel Mariacki has implemented some elementary sustainability solutions. Among others, they encourage guests to reuse towels and save water. The hotel will need to improve energy efficiency to make a real difference.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
Best Western Hotel Mariacki is not your run-off-the-mill industrial hotel. It dons a slick design interlaced with red bricks that pay homage to the pre-war era. More importantly, the hotel is an extension of the main street in the city. Its location, in the thick of Katowice’s pulsating party centre, is its greatest advantage. The restaurant and brewery help it stand out from similar industrial hotels. Perhaps the management should pay more attention to alienating the hotel offer from the restaurant. To boot, they should revamp the worn-out bathrooms and provide additional services for guests. This hotel, nonetheless, follows a modern concept where a city lives and breathes with a hotel. Altogether, Best Western Hotel Mariacki is a solid choice for guests who appreciate a central location.
FINAL GRADE: 4.77 TWO MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ Boutique Meeting Hotel
3 MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ final score from 4.81 to 5.00
2 MEETING STARS⭐⭐ final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 MEETING STAR⭐ final score from 4.41 to 4.60
