A journey through time to the heart of Warsaw

Back to the beginning: Built in the neo-Renaissance style by Enrico Marconi in 1857, the hotel on the famous Warsaw Royal Route, which was already in operation at the time, was severely damaged in the Second World War and bombed like Warsaw itself. The building was lovingly and skilfully renovated and renovated refurbished, extensively again after the takeover of the house by a Swiss investor with roots in Polish culture.

The signature of an opera and theater designer

Today, the hotel appears under the umbrella of the Raffles brand, Accor’s flagship brand. The renowned theatre, opera and film set designer Boris Kudlicka set the decisive elements in the last renovation. And it is precisely this handwriting that fascinates me so much during my visit: wonderful architecture with impressive ceiling heights, oval archways, fine parquet and skilfully arranged interiors, filled with art, art and more art.

In Raffles, which has always seen itself as the “creative heart of the city”, this is the focus above all, offering its guests a true journey of discovery through contemporary Polish art. 500 works by around 120 artists from the state come together here.

But in no way does it feel thrown together or random – on the contrary. The mix of different works does not appear overloaded and yet fills the room at the same time, which in my opinion is what defines high-class interior design. This applies to the public areas, which also feature an inviting cigar lounge, as well as to the rooms and suites themselves.

The history of the building and the city is not forgotten either. Here, too, unobtrusive solutions were found to make memories and exhibits accessible to guests, thus rounding off the overall art and culture package.

Important address for “Longevity”

My stay at Raffles also had other reasons. Because Warsaw itself is definitely worth a trip, and for several reasons: The Polish metropolis was named “European Best Destination 2023” and thus recognized as a new benchmark for tourism and culture. In addition to this aspect, I have a special tip: When it comes to longevity, Warsaw is one of the most important addresses in the world.

Because the “Longevity Center Warsaw” is located on site, which is dedicated to the task of health and quality of life through modern medicine and innovative technologies. Patients use this contact point with the aim of leading a longer, healthier life full of vitality – for this purpose analysis and prevention are combined and transferred to everyday life using the latest findings.

The effect? More awareness of body and mind, significantly more balance and relaxation, comprehensive knowledge of genetic predispositions, risks and potential. And it is precisely this credo that top-class athletes such as footballer Robert Lewandowski, among others, trust here in Warsaw. I, too, am a regular guest here (or in the German branch in the hotel “Der Öschberghof”) and can warmly recommend this type of self-care for treating yourself with care.

Back to the luxury destination. There are 106 impressive rooms and suites, but the building itself also houses a concept store, boutiques, restaurants and an “office part” on the upper floors. Spaciousness is still very important here, for me there is no feeling of narrowness at any point.

On the contrary, I always feel comfortable at Raffles and feel at home in a homely way. My stylishly furnished room contributes to this. I also like the excellent service, from the reception with attentive concierge service, also for excursions and activities, to the restaurant and housekeeping.

The only drawback: During my tour of the hotel, I discovered an openly visible, left guest list along with the names and room numbers in the room service in the corridors. For reasons of data protection and confidentiality, of course, bad.

Apart from this observation, the Raffles Europejski can convince me across the board. The mixture of art and culture, history and architecture as well as the professionalism of the staff put this hotel in the top league of grand hotels.

Rath’s travel rating (current rating in bold)

1. Explicit Travel Warning
2. Better than under the bridge
3. So-so, not oh, là, là
4. Complaining at a high level
5. If only it were always like this
6. Great cinema

insider tips

Raffles Europejski is located directly adjacent to Warsaw’s Old Town. Stroll through the official Unesco World Heritage Site, past the 22-metre-high 17th-century Sigismund’s Column, one of the city’s most important sights. The Polish National Opera (built in the 19th century) and the Presidential Palace are also only a few steps away.

Warsaw itself is known for its diverse museum landscape, but my tip: take a guided tour of the in-house art collection, which is considered one of the largest private collections in the country. In terms of culinary delights, I recommend the “Flaming & Co”. You can reach the restaurant after a nice walk (about 25 minutes) or by taxi.

About the author: As a former grand hotelier and operator of the Travelgrand.ch travel platform, Carsten K. Rath is a professional globetrotter. He travels to all the hotels he writes about for the Handelsblatt on his own account.