Hotel Stary

Great

We came to the lobby bar when the weather was raining. The bartender, Tomasz, was an excellent mixologist. Very friendly and knowledgeable. He made me a great Last Word cocktail. Another day (sunny!) we came back to see the rooftop bar but did not get the same level of treatment. Staff were young, slow, somewhat rude, and nowhere near as capable. Drink (Singapore Sling) was average. Snacks (purchased, not complimentary) were unappetising.

Really lovely, stylish hotel with a lovely (and quite unique) spa! Our room was large and had so much character and original features. All areas of the hotel were clean and just generally lovely. The spa was great and a big bonus was that it opened until late (maybe 10/11pm) which meant you could relax there after a long day of sight seeing. Great location in walking distance to the main areas of Krakow.

It’s a beautiful hotel but …. During our last night our neighbours ( 2-3 rooms around us) had a party. Slamming doors ( every few minutes), talks/shouts behind our doors, lady on heels walking forward and back. “Party” finished around 4am ( started after 11pm) . We didn’t sleep at all. Few times we asked guests to be quiet, twice we went to the reception asking for Intervention - they knocked to the door but few minutes later guests started moving around once again. Hotel’s staff don’t monitor the situation ( have CCTV but not interested), don’t care about guests (our) comfort. Party ended because some companions left the hotel. Really regret we did’t call police like we planned. Hotel’s manager hasn’t replied on our complain. Also if you like to sleep longer….. you may have a problem. Cleaners start early morning and they don’t close ( massive, heavy doors) gently as well.

From the moment the doors opened on their own for our entry we were immersed in the luxury and warmth of this hotel. It was beyond expectations! It’s hard to sum up what a great place and experience this was. We are a family of three, one thirteen year old. We had a junior suite that had a wonderfully comfortable trundle bed in a giant armoire that was perfect. There was a mini-bar, a great sitting area and a bathroom that will ruin every other bathroom for me the rest of my life. A giant rain shower, a tub built for two all surrounded by gorgeous marble. Amazing water pressure and plenty of hot water. Radiant heat on the stone floor in the bathroom that was so pleasing to cold toes. The closet is huge. Nice desk. Plenty of storage for all of us. Staff is exceptional. The dinner in the hotel restaurant was the best meal and wine we had all week. It was superb. It’s spotless. The pool/ sauna/ wet and dry and salt chamber are the most amazing places to spend time in after being in the cold. The massage was GREAT. The value of this hotel is amazing. I would return to Krakow just to go to this hotel again. Some complain of the lighting. I say they are crazy. It’s unique and clever. If you want lights like in a Holiday Inn, go to a Holiday Inn. The design of this hotel is masterful. There is gym equipment and again, spotless changing rooms with showers, towels, lovely lotions and potions. Go to the sixth floor to see the view. Its steps away from the main square. Location can’t be beat. It’s quiet, serene and worth every penny. Include breakfast with your room, you will be so happy. We have never had breakfasts like these. Everything you could possibly want. Including made to order hot cereal and egg dishes.

First time in Krakow and after lengthy research we choose Hotel Stary for our 4 night trip. This is a beautiful hotel and first impressions were as expected. This hotel is in a first class location just off the main square, so within walking distance to restaurants and bars, around 30 min walk to the Jewish Quarter. The spa is excellent and one of the reasons we choose this hotel, we didn’t have a treatment but loved relaxing in the steam and sauna after a long day exploring. This is free for guests at the hotel. We didn’t eat at the hotel, we did plan to but the 4 days we were there the restaurant was empty apart from a group of 3 people. The restaurant is expensive and I get that the hotel wants to keep it exclusive, however perhaps offering a cheaper menu might attract more guests and help create an atmosphere, of which there was none. The charge for breakfast was around €30pp. There is a fabulous French cafe, Cafe Charlotte a few steps away and this was absolutely excellent. Home made bread and preserves an egg and a glass of sparkling wine for £9!! We did enjoy drinks in the rooftop bar every night, which was nice, In similar establishments you would however be offered nibbles, nuts, olives etc. the addition of this would be a nice touch. Our room was lovely but for ladies getting ready no natural light! The toiletries provided are luxurious. There is no coffee or tea making facilities! The main reason for my 4/5 rating is the staff, whilst efficient, there was no warmth from anyone we encountered. When checking in we were not greeted with a welcome or smile. The same can be said for the bar staff, just no friendliness and actually on one occasion we were made to feel they didn’t want guests to serve at all. Definitely trading needed in this area.

Chose this hotel for the location - walking distance to places of interest - but found the property disappointing. Lukewarm reception staff, not receptive to requests (coffee mugs not available for room!). Large room but impractical and uncomfortable furniture. Closet and safe should be in bedroom along with armoire with functional drawers (don’t open!). Cast-on option available on both TVs but feature does not work. Bathroom layout also awkward, and no hooks to dry and re-use towels toward green initiative. No hooks at all in very large suite! Hotel has medieval feel but cold and dark and unwelcoming. Spa pool water is tepid - should be hotter. Nice rooftop view. Price for 4 nights was high and not good value. Would choose another hotel near town centre on next visit.

This is a lovely hotel and a prime spot for sightseeing in Poland since it sits next to the Market Square in Oldtown Krakow. The design of the lobby and rooms is very chic, almost modern gothic. Apparently the hotel has won awards for its interior, which are well-deserved as it is a very stylish place. Although the rooms are elegant, they do lose points for comfort. The furniture and bed could be more comfortable, and you only get one pillow per person unless you request an additional one (!). Moreover, there were no coffee and tea-making facilities, so small basic changes like that could really improve the place. We did not dine in the hotel, but we did have breakfast, which was a very mixed bag. My partner is allergic to gluten and dairy, which we emailed the hotel about well in advance. However, my partner was given some cooked breakfast dishes with dairy in the, by mistake. The management reaction vaulted between blasé and overly apologetic. They maintained they would rectify the situation and make sure it would not happen in the following days, but they did still make a few mistakes with basic dishes like porridge. So, be careful if you have allergies here. If management improved this issue and other issues above, this would be a 5-star review. All in all, this hotel is good, but does have some work to do on the fundamentals of a comfortable stay, particularly for people with allergies. One thing that is certain, though, is there are few better hotel locations that serve as a base for sightseeing in Krakow. So, I'd highly recommend Hotel Stary even with its limitations. Also, it has a secret weapon … the cocktail bar. The cocktails in the hotel are excellent and the bartender very skilled. Definitely try their Singapore Sling!