Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is a charming city with a fantastic Old Town. We stayed for only one night and wanted to be within walking distance of the city’s highlights. Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel is perfectly located in the city center just across from the historic Opera House. It is a great place to stay in Bratislava because of its location, price, customer service, and interesting history. We hope our Radisson Blu Carlton review is helpful when you are deciding where to stay in Bratislava.

History of Hotel

Radisson Blu Carlton is an elegant 4-star hotel in a historic landmark building that has been through many different names and owners through the centuries. During its heyday it was among the finest hotels in Europe. Famous guests included Albert Einstein, Jules Verne, Thomas Edison, Alfred Nobel, Theodore Roosevelt, and even Queen Maria Theresa. If it was good enough for a queen, then it has to be the best in Bratislava. It has been newly renovated and offers standard rooms, business class rooms, and several types of suites. Radisson Blu Carlton combines modern amenities with historical charm. As travelers who love both luxury and history, it’s our kind of hotel.

Affordable Price

What makes it even more appealing is that it offers luxury for less. This once famous hotel is very affordable to visitors today. We paid 87 Euros for one night in a Business Class room, which included an impressive breakfast buffet. We did have to pay an additional 29 Euros for parking, which seemed very expensive compared to the hotel rate. However, it was still a good deal.

The service by the front desk staff and bellman was very friendly and helpful. They insisted on helping us with our luggage even though we just had a small carry on suitcase. The lobby area is nice and we enjoyed reading the signs with information on the history of the hotel. Apparently we missed a few things while we were there that I read about later on their website, including a pool, gym, and famous mirror bar. Perhaps they were being restored at the time, or we were just too lazy to check out the entire hotel. The mirror bar’s red interior and library-style decor is cozy and would be a great place for a cocktail or cigar.

Excellent location and views

We arrived to the hotel tired after spending the day at Gellert Thermal Bath and driving from Budapest. We went straight to our room, where some complimentary bottles of water were waiting for us (Being Club Carlson Gold Elite members, we also received additional perks such as suite upgrade). We had the best view possible overlooking Hviezdoslav Square and National Opera. We were also able to see Bratislava Castle and much of Old Town from our room, which was lit up beautifully at night.

Business Class Room

Our Business Class room was decorated rather simply, but it offered all we needed for a cozy night. There’s a desk area, comfortable bed, flat screen TV, lounge chair, and large closet area for storing luggage and hanging up clothing. We were given bathrobes and slippers to use during our stay, which always makes us feel more at home. Business class rooms also offer free nespresso coffee. There is a mini-bar and basket with snacks to purchase.

Breakfast buffet at Savoy Restaurant

The next morning at breakfast is when we were most impressed with the hotel. The breakfast buffet at Savoy Restaurant that was included with our room was extensive. They offered a selection of both local food and typical American breakfast food. Some of the offerings included pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh bread, jams, cheese, meat, yogurt, and fresh vegetables for salad. Drinks included coffee, tea, milk, fresh juices, and Bloody Mary cocktails, although for some strange reason we passed on those.

Savoy Restaurant has an outdoor terrace which is where we enjoyed our breakfast. We love being able to dine outside in the sunshine and watch the city come to life. It was a perfect way to start our day of exploration in Bratislava.

In summary, we had a very nice stay at Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel. We chose it for its fantastic location and because it was a good deal. It was a great value for our money, and would have been even better had we not needed parking. The breakfast was wonderful and we loved sitting outside on the terrace. The history of the hotel is fascinating, and we’re glad that is has been restored for people to enjoy. It’s so cool that we stayed at the same hotel as Queen Maria Theresa, Albert Einstein, and all those other famous people. Check it out when you are in Bratislava, maybe even splurge on the Maria Theresa Room or the Presidential Suite. If you liked this post, please pin it for later and share it on social media. Sign up for our email newsletter for more travel tips and inspiration to travel the world.

Pin this post: