The Embassy Bar & Suites

The room was clean and nice, though quite a bit smaller than I expected. The AC didn’t work at all, so it got terribly hot and uncomfortable.

The rooms are really comfortable, the staff are friendly, and the location is great.

The location is amazing, and I’ll look for a place in this same area on future visits. I’d only book this hotel again if I planned to party hard, though. Our first-floor “adventure suite” was clean, modern, and fitted out with high-quality, luxurious things, from the mattress and bedding to the bathroom, doors, and other equipment. The phone staff were helpful and gave us an honest warning about noise from the bar below. We chose to book anyway because we liked the room and location and couldn’t find anything comparable available nearby, so I can’t really complain about the noise. Still, the bar or club is directly underneath, and we felt every bass thump in our stomach. I doubt the upper-floor suites are much better, though I don’t know for sure. We had less luck with practical matters. When we arrived, the bar staff downstairs couldn’t answer basic questions, including what floor our room was on and where the parking we’d booked through the hotel was. Parking is difficult throughout central Sofia. I tried to arrange it beforehand, knowing that, but got only half-hearted help that would have cost more than the room. Check the street parking rules yourself and make other arrangements if needed. If they suggest San Stefano Plazza indoor parking, don’t try it. The hallway smelled of cigarette smoke, which made me think smoking might be allowed indoors downstairs, though I didn’t confirm it.

My flight was delayed, so I got to Sofia an hour later than planned. It’s now 2:30 a.m. and I’ve been standing outside the hotel for over 30 minutes because there’s no reception available. I’ve never encountered a hotel with no reception like this. Waiting outside at this hour feels unsafe.