Bucharest's Marriott Grand Hotel

We enjoyed staying and eating at the Bucharest Marriott Grand Hotel (Calea 13 Septembrie, 90, Sector 5, Bucharest 050713, ROMANIA; phone 800/228-9290 or [40] 21 4030000 or visit http://marriott.com/property/propertyPage/BUHRO) in October ’03.

This is a deluxe hotel located near the Casa Poporului, or “House of the People,” which was built by Nicolai Ceausescu, the former Communist ruler of Romania. The hotel is a former palace built by Ceausescu to accommodate his wife’s visiting guests. The palace was developed into a Marriott hotel after the fall of Ceausescu’s regime.

The lobby is breathtaking, with two marble staircases sweeping up to the first floor, where the restaurants and lounges are located. Our executive room cost €250 ($314) per night, and it was spacious and tastefully appointed. We also appreciated the excellent service rendered by the well-trained staff. Marriott does a good job when it comes to running a deluxe hotel.

We dined in two of the hotel’s five restaurants. The Cupola was named for the impressive glass dome above the dining room. An extensive breakfast buffet was served here daily and it was also open for lunch and dinner. For two, dinner cost €40 ($50) without wine. Evenings were accented by a string quartet performing in an adjacent lounge area.

Cucina offered northern Italian dishes tastefully presented. The décor reflected the rustic look of the Italian countryside with brick, stone, rough-hewn wood, aged copper pots and pans and herbs hanging to dry. For two, a dinner of pasta, wine and tip in this pleasant, relaxing atmosphere was about €30 ($38).

FRANK BERESH
Palos Heights, IL