Boutique Hotels in Sofia

"Excellent hotel located right in the city center, a short walk from Serdica metro station. The room was spacious and comfortable, with very large beds. The green marble bathroom was beautiful."

"Facilities: Good Hygiene: very good Environment: clean and tidy Service: Very good"

"Having stayed in many 5 star hotels across the world, I had high hopes for the Sofia Balkan Palace, that unfortunately were only partially met. First let’s cover the good points! It feels historic without being old, and you feel like you’re really in Sofia. The best thing about the property is easily the location; it’s close to all the main tourist attractions, and there are good transport links right by the hotel, as well as access to some fantastic restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. The hotel rooms are modern and relatively clean, with the usual amenities. However, I was disappointed that housekeeping kept forgetting to replenish the complimentary daily water, as well as pay attention to the ‘Do Not Disturb’ light that I had selected for my room on a few days during my visit. I would say that one of the downsides is the customer service; although staff aren’t rude, I wouldn’t say they’re polite or overly helpful. The hotel has average soundproofing, and I was far too aware of the music outside, my neighbouring guests talking or listening to music in their rooms, as well as guests in the hallway (which is in part due to the layout of my room, which did not have an additional door between the bedroom and front door into the room). The noise outside does lessen and stop by about 11:00 PM, and sometimes by 10:00 PM (depending on the day). Overall, I’d still say it’s a good choice for your stay in Sofia. Especially if your priority is staying in a historical boutique hotel in a good location."

"It is a very beautiful hotel inside out. What does not make this hotel great is the poor service of at least two sections of the hotel from my personal experience. Number one disappointment is the Beauty Salon. I made an appointment for meniscus at 16:30 on September 22. I showed up on time only to be told by the receptionist that the appointment is at 16:45. I told her that is not true and in fact I confirmed it with her twice. It was apparent that someone cut into the line and from our conversation I know she knew it as well. Yet, she was lying through her teeth that is totally beyond me. The worst was yet to come, I was told when I came down again at 16:45, I had to wait for another 20 minutes. That is the end of the story. Second incident is at the “well known” restaurant Mediterra. To make a long story shot, the Greek style calamari I ordered looked as well as tasted like burned wood log. To the main course “beef cheeks” the only thing I could think about it is what I once tasted on a Lufthansa flight business class section is 10 times better. Other than that I had a very pleasant stay and the receptionists are extremely friendly and helpful. I should also add the location of the hotel is very convenient and has easy access to all the main attractions."

"Stayed at InterContinental Sofia during a business trip and had a great experience. The hotel is in an excellent location in the center of Sofia, close to major landmarks, restaurants, and business areas. The room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable. Staff were professional and attentive, and the overall service quality was impressive. Breakfast was also excellent with a good variety of choices. A very comfortable and reliable option when staying in Sofia."

"Nice location and comfort and clean room. I will visit again."

"Rooms are spacious. Amenities are sufficient such as shampoo, shower gel and slippers. Breakfast has many choices. Reception helped us print the boarding pass, very helpful and friendly."

"We stayed at Crowne Plaza Sofia for one night on 13 June after receiving recommendations from friends who regularly stay at this hotel. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. We booked two rooms for three adults and two children and specifically asked for rooms close to each other. This request was completely ignored. Not only were the rooms not adjacent, they were located on different floors. Since the elevator access cards only work for your own floor, we could not even easily visit each other. Check-in was incredibly slow. Two receptionists spent around 20 minutes checking us in, which is something I have never experienced before. Before going to the pool, we called reception and asked for children’s bathrobes. The receptionist, whose name I believe was Tsvetomira, first insisted that the bathrobes were already in the room and then abruptly ended the phone conversation. The level of customer service was unacceptable. The children’s bathrobes finally arrived about an hour later, after we had already gone to the pool and no longer needed them. The swimming pool experience was by far the worst part of our stay. I strongly advise families with children to think twice before using it. The pool is apparently shared with external visitors who come specifically for training sessions. In a relatively small pool with no physical lane dividers, they expected hotel guests, including young children, to stay out of “their area”. My four-year-old daughter was hit in the head by one of the swimmers. He later claimed that she was on “his side” of the pool. Instead of apologizing, some people present suggested that I was “probably not European” and therefore did not understand “European Union rules”. Such comments were completely unacceptable and felt openly discriminatory. When the pool manager was called, nothing meaningful was done because these swimmers were apparently regular users of the facility. I then spoke with a receptionist, again I believe her name was Tsvetomira, who tried to explain that invisible lines marked on the bottom of the pool should have been respected by our children, despite there being no actual lane dividers. Rather than showing concern for a four-year-old child who had just been hurt and was crying, the staff chose to defend regular pool users. This was easily one of the worst hotel experiences I have had in the last ten years. What shocked me the most was not the accident itself, but the complete lack of empathy, accountability and professionalism afterwards. Families with children should be extremely careful. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this hotel."

"The room is quite small and the power goes out from time to time. The hotel is in a great location, in the busiest area of ​​the city center. The swimming pool is nice. Free white wine is provided in the lobby in the afternoon, which is great."

"📍 Location & Pricing • Location: Sofia, Bulgaria. Strategically located near the main transport hubs. • The metro station (coming from the airport) is very close.  • Tram stops are on the corner, and the main bus/train station is just a couple of blocks away.  • The city center is about 1.5 km away.  • Price Range: 79€/d. 🛏️ The Room Experience • Room Type: Twin room on the 11th floor.  • Size & Cleanliness: Adequate size and clean.  • Bed: 110cm firm mattress, reported to be very comfortable, with two soft pillows.  • Amenities: Flat-screen TV, coffee maker, fridge, and hairdryer included.  • Drawbacks: No major issues mentioned. 🚽 Bathroom Details • Cleanliness & Setup: The bathroom was clean.  • Shower/Bath: High and slippery bathtub. Water pressure was very good.  • Products & Towels: Basic amenities were provided. Some towels showed signs of wear with frayed edges.  🍳 Food & Beverage • Included: Yes, breakfast was included.  • Variety & Quality: A very complete breakfast buffet, offering both hot and cold, sweet and savory options, including some local specialties.  • Negative Point: The only drawback was the juice, which tasted artificial, like a powdered mix.  🏊 Common Areas & Facilities • Facilities: The hotel features a spa, sauna, indoor pool, a restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a casino.  👨💼 Service Evaluation • Reception: Morning staff was serious. Evening staff seemed bothered by questions regarding the spa.  • Cocktail Bar: Staff here was very kind and friendly.  • Spa Staff: Described as serious, speaking only the bare minimum of words.  • Daily Housekeeping: Room cleaning was minimal; they only straightened the duvet, leaving the pillows as they were. Coffee and tea amenities were not replenished.  🚗 Transport & Access • Public Transport: Excellent connection. Very close to the metro line from the airport, with tram stops nearby and the main stations within walking distance.  🔐 Security • Access Control: Access is managed via a key card.  • Safe: There is no safe deposit box in the room.  Final Verdict: ✔ Top Strength: The super comfortable bed combined with the excellent location near major transport links (metro, bus, train). ❌ Main Drawback: The service was inconsistent, particularly the minimal housekeeping (no coffee/tea refill) and the unenthusiastic staff at reception and the spa."