Hotel Villa Bohema

The hotel’s old fashioned interior feels like stepping into the 19th century, and it’s kept in good condition. Its position is terrific: the smaller square is less than a minute away, and the bigger Market Square is about another minute on foot. It’s up a steep hill, but the views over the city are spectacular, especially from a room on the city side. That view is a big reason people come to Kazimierz. The arrival and parking setup was confusing. There are no road signs on the grounds, so you can easily drive toward the coffee area by the main entrance or people leaving the hotel. The entrance isn’t marked, and the foyer and reception counter are so dark they feel like a back entrance, even when you get close. The parking lot is also hard to navigate, and you have to figure out how to get behind the building yourself. Breakfast felt more like a petit dejeuner, with few choices. The staff couldn’t say whether the omelette was gluten free, and service only runs from 8 to 10, which doesn’t work for early risers. There’s a pleasant area around the hotel, but the yard was a mess, with a pile of dirt, trash, and sand beside garden furniture that looked as if it had been blown around by a hurricane. The website said the room would have pool flip flops, but none were there, and the cleaning lady didn’t have any on her trolley either.

Everything was cooked very well, and the chef is clearly skilled, but we left disappointed. We’d checked that the restaurant was open on Easter Sunday and booked based on the advertised menu. Those options weren’t available. We were told about the first course but not the main one, so after expecting pork, a leg of duck arrived without warning. I really dislike duck and would rather eat one of my shoes. I managed a little, with difficulty. The meal wasn’t cheap. The receptionist said she would have adjusted the bill if we’d told her before paying, which was kind of her, but we were ready to pay for a meal we actually wanted. All in all, disappointing.

I had a clean, pleasant single room in this cozy hotel. It was off season, and the price felt fair for that time. Restaurants and bars in the city center are just a short walk away. I’d recommend it.

The location was nice and the facilities were good, while the food was just OK. I wasn’t happy with the layout of the room I was given or its view.