Hotel Kühbacher

We were in Passau for a river cruise departing a couple of days later, and Hotel Kübachar was perfectly placed near the confluence of Passau's three rivers. There was lots of good sightseeing nearby, plus the modern MediaMarkt market a short walk away, handy because we all forget something. We liked the hotel and town so much that we'll definitely stay here again when the occasion comes up. The place was completely redone in April 2025, and it's modern and sleek, with comfortable, quiet rooms, great staff, and a fantastic restaurant downstairs, Bar & Grill Rosa, see my review. The spa is awesome and has no extra cost: two dry saunas at different temperatures, a steam sauna, a relaxation area, showers, and a full-sized stainless-steel pool. It all connects to the rooftop sitting area, and hotel guests can use it without an added charge. A great find.

The mattress was very comfortable, but it didn't make up for paying a hefty £163 a night for a room described as "Deluxe". I'd avoid Room 210. They seem to be aiming for a shabby chic look, but it just came across as shabby. The room was on two levels, which was a real nighttime hazard if you needed the loo in the dark while still half asleep. The finish was poor throughout: the shower door wouldn't close, and the gap by its hinge let water soak the floor. The sealant around the toilet door architrave and wall was badly done, with a large gap where the architrave didn't sit flush on the outside. The armchair was poorly sprung and uncomfortable. The glass-walled shower was open to the room, so there was no privacy. Worst of all was the rough concrete ceiling over the bed, especially with visible chunks missing.

Our stay was a real letdown, especially after reading so many good reviews. My wife and I were shocked by the room: it was small, not very clean, and had a bad smell that just wouldn't go away. Room service was awful, a 1/10 at best. The restaurant waiter was rude to us, and the food was another disappointment. It was cold, not enjoyable, and definitely not worth the high price we paid.

The room was okay and the beds were very comfortable, but the underfloor heating was far too hot. We couldn't sleep either night and had to get up several times to air the room. No cold water came from the tap, even after letting it run for a while. We also missed having a trash can and toiletries, and the cleaning lady didn't take away our trash. We booked because of the wellness area, which is beautiful and clean. But the saunas were only open from 4 pm to 8 pm, and that wasn't mentioned on the website. Since the site mainly shows the spa, we'd expected to use the saunas all day, especially for the rather high price. Breakfast was tasty, but at that price we expected coffee options to be included. They cost extra. I told the waiter that the Camembert was hard and rancid and needed replacing. The evening service staff were excellent, but the two young men at breakfast were unfriendly and inattentive. On the first day one waiter ignored me completely, even though I was the only customer. The restaurant itself is very cozy. Overall, the hotel doesn't offer good value for money.