InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest hotel review

A 111-year-old grande dame pairs Belle Époque glamour with a just-renovated calm that feels like a reset button.

After flying in from Australia, dazed and deeply jetlagged, I wanted one thing: somewhere to disappear for a day. InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest turned out to be exactly that. From the moment I stepped into my King Premium Corner Room, the city felt distant, the pace softened, and the exhaustion lifted. This is a hotel that understands both its past and the needs of a modern traveller.

The property first opened in 1914 and has long held an iconic status in Bucharest’s political and cultural life. Today, freshly renovated and reintroduced under the InterContinental flag in 2023, it blends heritage with five-star polish.

Where is InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest?

InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest overlooks Revolution Square and sits just beside the Romanian Athenaeum. The former Royal Palace and Calea Victoriei are right there, too.

It’s a genuinely brilliant base. You can walk to museums, grand boulevards and buzzy bars, then retreat behind those stately doors when you need a breather.

What is the style and character of InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest?

Intercontinental Athenee — Luxury intertwines with charm. (Credit: Supplied)

This is old-world Bucharest at its most polished. The building began life in 1912 under French architect Téophile Bradeau and opened in 1914. Over more than a century, it has survived war, political upheaval and even a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 1977.

Inside, marble columns, chandeliers and sweeping corridors give it a palatial air. The historic Le Diplomate Ballroom, with its gold leaf detailing and stained-glass ceiling, remains one of the city’s most prestigious venues. Yet the recent renovation lightens the mood, introducing contemporary finishes and a softer palette that stops it from feeling overly formal. It’s grand, yes. But it’s also warm.

What facilities does InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest have?

The hotel has 283 rooms and suites, 13 meeting spaces and a ballroom that can host up to 900 guests, making it as strong for conferences as it is for city breaks.

Wellness is a standout. SPA InterContinental has just undergone a full renovation completed in 2025 and includes a heated indoor pool bathed in natural light, Jacuzzi, dry sauna, steam room, ice fountain, experience showers and a state-of-the-art fitness area. There are also private treatment rooms and advanced beauty technology, such as NOOANCE Paris LED Therapy.

What are the rooms like at InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest?

Intercontinental Athenee King Premium Corner Room — The King Premium Corner Room is perfect for solo travellers and couples. (Credit: Emily Murphy)

I stayed in a King Premium Corner Room, and it was exactly what I needed after 24-plus hours of travel. Spacious, light-filled and blissfully quiet, it felt more homely and peaceful.

With hand-finished oak floors, a king-size bed and a large bathroom, it had a true residential feel. My corner position meant big windows and views over Revolution Square, while the bedding was plush enough to make a jetlagged nap stretch into something far more restorative.

When I woke, groggy but revived, room service felt like the only logical next step.

What dining facilities does InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest have?

There are three main venues: JORJ Restaurant, Café Athénée and The English Bar, along with Club InterContinental for lounge access guests.

After my epic nap, I ordered the Romanian mezze platter to my room. The platou de gustări românești came loaded with zacuscă (traditional Romanian roasted vegetable dip), tarama, eggplant salad, mashed beans, roasted bell pepper salad and toasted bread. It was deeply comforting and genuinely delicious, the kind of local tasting plate that anchors you in place after a long journey.

Breakfast at the buffet in JORJ Restaurant was generous and well executed, with the kind of spread that lets you ease into the day.

Does InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest have access for guests with disabilities?

Athenee Palace reception — Specific requests can be made for guests with disabilities. (Credit: Supplied)

The hotel offers accessible rooms, facilities and public areas, though specific room configurations should be requested in advance to ensure they meet individual needs.

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Is InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest family-friendly?

InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest family room — InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest can accommodate travellers with kids. (Credit: Supplied)

Families are welcome, with spacious rooms and suites, indoor pool access and a central location that makes sightseeing easy. While it leans more classic luxury than kid-friendly, it works well for families wanting a luxury, well-located city stay.

The verdict

Intercontinental Athenee terrace — The terrace is a good spot to slow down a bit and unwind. (Credit: Supplied)

InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest is more than just a historic address. It’s a place that feels reassuringly solid after a long journey. The heritage gives it gravitas, the renovation keeps it fresh, and the service adds the final layer of comfort.

For me, it was the perfect soft landing in Romania. A corner room, a restorative sleep and a plate of Romanian mezze later, I felt ready to meet Bucharest properly.

Staff throughout were kind and accommodating, which makes all the difference when you are running on little sleep and slightly scrambled body clocks.

Details

Best for: Culture lovers, history enthusiasts and travellers seeking a refined five-star base in central Bucharest.
Address: 1-3 Episcopiei Street, Sector 1, 010292 Bucharest, Romania
Cost: From approximately $400 per night, depending on season and room type.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

This palatial Bucharest hotel blends Belle Époque glamour with modern luxury