MonarC Hotel

The hotel is right in the middle of the city, so it’s busy and traffic noise goes on nonstop. Still, the views from my room, the breakfast area and the rooftop patio are amazing. The staff were so hospitable, and I had great conversations with them about where to go, where to eat and other services around the city. I just forgot their names for this review.

The terrace views of Namazgah Mosque are absolutely stunning. Great coffee at reasonable prices, too. Just remember it’s cash only. Highly recommend 😍✨🕌

The breakfast had a good range for a four-star hotel: vegetables, several cheeses, pastries, yogurt, juices, eggs and sausages, plus coffee and omelettes on request. Our room was clean and had a jacuzzi bath, and the staff I met were all friendly and confident. The receptionist confirmed my booking and price, said I could pay by card, arranged early check-in when I arrived at 9:30, and prepared my invoice in about half a minute at no extra charge. I’d read a lot of complaints about rude staff, cash-only payments and hidden fees, and was even considering cancelling on the way there. After staying, I found those claims didn’t match my experience. The hotel is at a crossroads, so a room facing the mosque or river could be noisy. It’s not the Nobu London with a Michelin breakfast of 200 dishes, but there was nothing to complain about. A pretty good fit for solo travelers, couples or families with kids. The attached photo shows an evening view of a mosque, with the hotel on the left.

We went up to the rooftop both during the day and in the evening, and the mosque views were amazing. Olgert and Kujtim gave us great service there, and the woman at reception was very friendly too. The caramel ice cream is definitely worth trying. A large sundae was about 380 Lek, and they showed us a receipt confirming the price before we paid.