I spent a night at The Marmorosch, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel centrally located in Bucharest’s Old Town, and very much enjoyed the stay. This is a unique hotel with nice amenities.
The Marmorosch Bucharest Review, A Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel
The Marmorosch is located inside the historic art deco building and former home of the Marmorosch-Blank Bank, which was at one time the largest bank in Romania but was shut down during the communist period. Many original elements, however, remain and give the hotel great character.
At a cost of 29,000 points per night or about $200, I chose to use a free-night certificate (valid for up to 35,000 points and it was expiring soon) in conjunction with a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase. Getting less than a cent per point from Marriott hurts, but that is the current state of affairs.
I arrived via Uber from the airport after a late-evening arrival from London on TAROM and found the hotel in a crowded part of town just outside the Old Town pedestrian zone. The hotel is surrounded by nightclubs and strip clubs (and restaurants and bars), so keep that in mind if traveling with children. It can get a bit rowdy and was loud outside, though not inside the hotel.
Let me add here that the hotel seemed very popular with locals. The bars and restaurants were full of people going in and out dressed up very nicely taking a lot of selfies…it just did not seem like an out-of-town crowd.
I was welcomed and assigned room 219, a corner room.
While I did not partake, a complimentary glass of sparkling wine was offered during check-in.
Room
The room was small, but I loved the very high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. The room included a a desk, chair, bed, and closet while the small bathroom had a shower but no tub.
Toiletries were provisioned in bulk containers and with soap, shampoo, and conditioner from The White Company of London.
Power ports (220-volt) were located around the room and there were also USB-A ports around the desk and bed.
Coffee and tea are available in the room (Nespresso machine plus tea kettle). A refrigerator was also present, but empty.
I slept well in the bed…it was cold out, so I did not need to use the air conditioning or the heater, but the room does have a/c.
A welcome amenity (fruit bowl) was waiting in the room, which was a nice touch and the fruit was good too…I actually ate it all…
Fitness
I began my morning with a workout in the basement-level fitness center. The rather dark facility has modern cardio and strength training machines from a brand called Matrix (not my favorite machines).
Pool + Wellness
After my workout, I proceeded next door to the pool and wellness area and enjoyed a swim in the indoor pool followed some time in the sauna and steam room.
The use of these facilities is complimentary for hotel guests and I would say this facility is a big value-add for the property, though most finer hotels in Bucharest have similar facilities.
I even returned in the afternoon before my flight to Sofia and while there were a lot more people in the afternoon, it was still pleasant. A locker room with lockers and a shower is available.
Spa treatments like massages and facials are also available:
Breakfast
Breakfast was very good, featuring a large buffet with hot and cold items, fresh juices, and an a la carte menu from which hot items could be ordered like eggs or waffles.
While there are two automatic coffee machines present for self-service, you can request a coffee from the bar, which has a larger, manual machine and produces a far more satisfying cup of coffee.
Marriott Platinum and Titanium members can choose complimentary breakfast or points…I chose the free breakfast, which would have been about 30EUR if I had to pay for it.
Restaurants + Bar
The breakfast room is behind the lobby bar, but several other food and dining options are available. The lobby atrium, by the way, is just a gorgeous place to sit and enjoy.
Blank Restaurant
A French-inspired meant to feel like you are stepping back in time 200 years.
The Marmorosch Lounge
The lobby bar is really the most beautiful part of the hotel, located under an airy atirum with coffee and drinks available.
MBB Coffee Corner
The lobby also has a separate coffee corner, though that part was closed off for a private event.
The Vault
Perhaps the coolest part of the hotel is The Vault bar, which is located in the basement and as the name implies, is in the former bank vault. It’s a cool two-room bar filled with (now empty) safety deposit boxes.
Enter through the gold door near the lobby:
Then proceed downstairs:
Room Service
24/7 room service is available.
CONCLUSION
Another couple of days would have been nice to explore Bucharest and relax at this hotel, but even my short stay was enough to verify that I will return to The Marmorosch (at least until Hyatt opens a hotel in Bucharest) and highly recommend it.
I stayed there in October and loved it.
I saw your JW Marriott review (and almost stayed there on that basis), but must have missed your review of this hotel. I’ll go back and look.
I stayed at this hotel several times. It is very nice and I too enjoyed the lobby bar.
Funny story. On my first stay, we were there at the same time as a Congressional delegation being led by Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise. Kevin was extremely personable to everyone there. Steve, ah, not so much. The second day I was there, I was at breakfast and Kevin and I are waiting at the omelet station. He was there a bit before me and had ordered. When I ordered mine, he complemented me on my choice of fillings. For the rest of my life – and as much as I don’t want to like him – whenever I hear his name, I’ll always have the thought “well, he did complement my omelet bar choices”. Damn you, Kevin. LOL.
Love that story! A shame that McCarthy was run out by these fringe lunatics, though I lost so much respect when he decided to brown nose Trump after 1/6.
McCarthy is a rino and was run out by people putting America First instead of the big government bureaucracy and Israel first. The lunatics are the congresspeople who elected him speaker knowing 90% of the Republican voters despise his do nothing for conservatives except give in to leftists approach. He is a nice guy but being nice and saying to obey and do nothing is why we have lost freedom for 100 years. Same with McConnell being hated more by the average Republican voter than Democrat.
On a recent trip, different airlines lost the luggage of my elderly Uncle and Mom. My Mom is capable, however she cannot handle the issue of lost baggage along with the many issues, sadly, afforded to my Uncle. This dynamic was recognized by the staff.
The staff took it upon themselves to deal with the airlines (hours upon hours), help them find clothing and made sure they had full tea service daily in the calm of their upgraded room. Not to mention the front desk called me twice with updates during their stay, without my asking.
Just lovely.
Looks like a nice hotel overall.
Question – how was Bucharest? Let’s just say, I’ve not heard nice things AT ALL about the city itself, but have heard great things about other areas of the country.
Not my favorite city, for sure (you probably saw the strip club article). I found some good coffee and I wouldn’t mind visiting the communist museum, which was closed. I’ll say a bit more in a photo essay from my time there.
You need to hang with a local to understand the city. Lived there for 18 years and really enjoyed it. Still visit 2-3 times a year.