Penzión SESSLER ***

The rooms are simple, spotless, and have a fridge; the A/C worked well too. I liked this stay more than some fancier hotels in Vienna and Bratislava, where there are tourists everywhere and prices are inflated for visitors. The breakfast was great, served in a quaint cellar that’s part of the old brewery. The woman serving us was welcoming and kind, even though she couldn’t speak English. There’s also a restaurant with a patio open from lunch until late evening. The food is excellent, there’s an English menu and vegetarian options, and they serve beer from their own brewery along with other drinks. Locals eat there too. Everything was good quality and very affordable. A large grocery store and shopping area nearby has petrol and anything else you might need. For visitors to Slovakia, this feels like an authentic Slovakian place to stay, and I’d highly recommend stopping here while touring the country.

I was here for work and stayed four days. The hotel was nice, and my room was fine, though one colleague had an insect problem in his. The place feels like a spa, but they make their own beer, and it was really good. The food was fantastic too. I’d recommend it mostly for the beer. It blew me away, especially since it was my first time in Slovakia.

The spa and bowling alley were a nice bonus, and the staff were generally very kind. We were in town for a sports tournament and the organizers arranged our stay here, which worked out well. It’s a fairly modern penzion, the kind of guesthouse you often find in Central and Eastern Europe, with most of the comforts of home. Since it’s a smaller operation, double-check that you get the right meal. Some older rooms also lack AC, so check before booking.

I still think it’s the best beer in Slovakia, but something seems to be changing. Compared with about three years ago, it has less of its distinctive character and tastes more bitter. It feels like someone is experimenting, and if they don’t keep the original recipe, my rating will definitely drop.