The property was built on Filaret Hill, Bucharest’s highest point in 1906 in Brâncoveanu style (see my articles on Mogoșoaia and Potlogi palaces near Bucharest). Designed by Architect Gustav Adolf Sutter, passing through the better (the rich and famous before WW2) and the worse (NKVD and the Commies), the small palace hosting this hotel is best described as 'plush'. A 2 ton Murano glass chandelier, especially designed, Italian furniture, green silk, a marble chimney, yes, it is overdone (especially some of the bathrooms, such as the one in the Venetian room), but, as everything has been tastefully appointed, it does right to the property; it is a joy to see such a beautiful property restored to this extent in Bucharest. The hotel is not in the very city centre, making it for those that want to live and be treated differently and those looking for a quiet stay. The view from the apartment with a belfry (they do have such a thing, and that is my picky recommendation) is great and different from other top hotels in the city simply because it comes from a natural level and not from the tzshpeth floor. The club living downstairs would only compete with La Residenza's living room (in Timișoara), while there also exists a small, private bar on the first floor. The cosy restaurant, complete with its terrace, is pleasant, if not a bit crammed, but it could certainly do with a brighter, happier colour scheme. To add the cherry on the cake, the hotel has its own Bucarest d'antan narrow street ending with it, and a stairway leads down to the wide Carol Park.
Bucharestian’s last visit at the Carol Parc was not too joyful though, pointing to a (typical for this country) decay in service quality: the staff - including management - attitude had changed a from the previous visit, all the way to the ‘I know it all, so you’d better shut up and swallow’ approach so frequently met in Romania. When showed to the reunion room, we found a clerk heavily smoking there, with the air hardly breathable and not even bothering to say hello, apologize or stop smoking. Later, while we ordered a black and a green tea, the green was replaced with a black and the black with mint infusion, both being served without any explanation / excuse / note. Therefore, for the time being, while the rooms at the Carol Parc remain among Bucharest’s most beautiful and elegantly appointed, for the service I would stick to the Capșa.
GPS - N44 25.144 E26 05.586
23-25 Aleea Suter, http://www.carolparchotel.ro/
Click on the map for getting the full detail Google map of the area.
