Atrium Hotel Ateneu City Center

The room was so cold that I could see my breath, and the portable heater they eventually brought barely helped. I spent the whole night unable to sleep, and the staff seemed unconcerned when we raised the problem. We had already told them our flight would be delayed by severe cold weather, but that didn't seem to matter. The bed was uncomfortable too: a thin quilt, a springy mattress that creaked, and a sofa bed that wasn't prepared. The bathroom was freezing, and the bed hadn't been made properly. Tea and coffee were there, but no milk or bottled water. In the morning the coffee machine didn't work, breakfast was cold, and they refused our request for fresh eggs. We'd paid in full through Booking.com, yet on arrival we were asked for unexpected extra charges called a late fee and a city centre or city tax. They said it was a newly introduced Bucharest fee, but that wasn't clear or acceptable after full payment. This was a distressing, uncomfortable stay. I strongly advise people, especially older guests or anyone sensitive to cold, to avoid this place. It didn't feel fit to accommodate guests properly.

The Romanian Athenaeum (Ateneul Roman) is nearby, which makes the location handy. Staff were competent. Call in advance about parking, and you might be able to reserve a spot inside.

The neighborhood has lots going on, with restaurants, street food, craft beer and bars all around. Atrium Hotel Ateneu is central but set away from the main street, so it worked well for our few days there for work or a holiday. The rooms were clean, quiet and comfortable, breakfast was good, and the staff were friendly and really helpful. Nothing overly fancy, just a nice atmosphere.

I was charged to park my motorcycle, which was ridiculous to me and had never happened in my ten years of riding. The courtyard and parking area also had rubbish and construction materials lying around, and the hotel itself felt old and worn out. The price was another problem. Their website showed a room for around 50 euros, but when I arrived, that room was suddenly unavailable and the price had gone up to around 70 euros. It felt like a very dodgy way to do business.