Park Hotel Stara Zagora

I haven't stayed at the hotel, so this is just about the restaurant outside. The location is great and the food was perfectly acceptable. Service was slow even though it wasn't very busy, and one staff member was rude from the start and came across as quite unprofessional. Oddly, although it's by Lake Zagorka and across the road from the Zakorka Brewery, there isn't any Zargorka beer on the menu.

The pool area was so cold that it felt easy to get ill, and hygiene was far below what I expect from a hotel that used to be 5 stars. Half the facilities in the spa “center” weren't working. The staff were mean and rude, saying nothing depended on them, while reception didn't seem to know about the problems. They still charged the full entry fee. Choose somewhere else if you don't want your holiday spoiled.

The room was lovely, with great facilities and a terrace where I could sit and watch the shallows flying around collecting materials for their nests. I could even log into my Netflix account. From arrival to departure, everything went smoothly, including the young, smiling receptionist who handled things without fuss. Dinner was a highlight. The restaurant has a modern feel and big windows that let in the sunlight. My Burrata salad was a generous, pretty-looking portion, and the beef burger with fries was delicious and nicely presented. I skipped dessert because I was full after those first two courses. The waiting staff were pleasant and unobtrusive. Breakfast was served in a different dining room with decor from another time. There was a big choice of cereal, yoghurt, cold meats and hot food, and it was excellent. I had a wonderful stay and would visit again.

Breakfast was supposed to be available from 07:30 to 10:00 AM, but the staff couldn't serve it until 08:00 AM. Nobody on duty did anything about it. I wouldn't recommend this hotel.