Pensiunea Saphira

We just stopped in for dessert and had papanasi, the Romanian dessert. It was fresh, tasty, and really good. The staff seemed tired, though, and didn't seem up for customers' jokes or small talk.

The traditional Romanian dishes here are incredible. If you're in Romania, try the Goulash soup and one of the traditional main courses. Enjoy!

Our bus tour arrived at the end of September, with 40 guests expected, but the heating hadn't been checked. It was near freezing outside and both our rooms were cold. Heat came on the next day, then only for a few hours each day, and was off at night and in the morning. The shower drain was blocked, so water spread across the bathroom floor. We reported it right away, but it was never fixed, and had to use the shower in short bursts. Two women on the tour also had a bathroom door handle come off in their hands, and that wasn't fixed either. I had paid for two rooms, but one was so cold and smelled so bad that we all stayed in the other one, with one of us sleeping on a hard couch. I brought the comforters from the unused room, then the cleaning staff took them away and wouldn't return them, saying they had been replaced with thicker ones. They argued when I asked for comforters for the room I'd paid for, so I was left paying for a room without them. I couldn't understand it. Breakfast was cramped and nowhere near adequate for a tour group. Staff struggled to keep food stocked, and getting coffee took about five minutes in line. My roommates gave up and bought breakfast at the local supermarket to eat in our room. I still needed coffee, so I went down. One guest greeted me with “welcome to the jungle,” which seemed to sum up the breakfast struggle. At dinner, our steak was so bad we gave it to the dog and cats at the day care across the street. They enjoyed it, especially the dog. I didn't. There were no carpets or rugs on any floor, just one tiny picture on a wall, and the decor was sparse. Maybe it was better than 100 years ago. Maybe not. Don't stay here. I can't believe the positive reports are genuine, they must be favors to the owners or written by staff under threat of being fired.

The room was clean and warm, which is why I gave it four stars. The walls are so thin you can hear the neighbors snoring. For the restaurant, I'd give three stars. It depends on what you order and maybe a bit of luck whether you get through the whole meal or just something edible, even though you're paying for it :)