In a world of yoga retreats, eco-resorts and minimalist design, Prezident Palace isn’t trying to fit in. In fact, this five star mini-palace in Belgrade’s old town is a self-proclaimed homage to Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, two of history’s most extravagant figures. If we’re to eat cake, it’s Serbian Vasina torta in this story.
Prezident Palace doesn’t look particularly grand from the outside, and the lobby – despite dripping with crystal chandeliers and a gold piano – belies the majesty of its upper floors. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the hotel must be one of Belgrade’s heritage hotels due to its old world glamour and French baroque decor; however, Prezident Palace is a relatively new addition to the city – one of the first real luxury options – having opened its doors in 2021.
The hotel has 60 rooms, catering to a wide range of visitors; The deluxe options aren’t cheap by Belgrade standards, but offer a high quality and more affordable option for guests. For those wishing to push the boat out, there’s the Executive Suite and an entire VIP floor with four enormous suites, two of which take the names of the hotel’s muses: King Louis XVI Presidential Suite and Queen Marie Antoinette Suite.
Our choice – a Superior King room – is a very generous size with plenty of wardrobe space, as well as a sitting area with two floor-length French doors and Juliet balconies overlooking Venizelosova Street. The bathroom is floor-to-ceiling marble with a separate wet room.
The whole package is undoubtedly a bit gaudy, but where Prezident Palace perhaps lacks the tasteful simplicity of other five star hotels, the comfort and service can’t be faulted. The beds are huge and very comfortable; the bathrooms contain all the necessary appliances and vanity products in case you forget your toothbrush; and the in-room tea/coffee station is well stocked.
And while the rooms are nice and very comfortable, it’s the hotel’s extra facilities that would entice us to return. There’s a fully equipped gym and palatial indoor spa with pool, tepidarium, jacuzzi, steam room and Finnish sauna. Guests can make this a full spa break experience by taking advantage of the menu of treatments on offer.
You could easily spend a day moving from space to space in the hotel’s indoor spa, but most guests flock to the hotel’s big differentiator: its rooftop pool and bar, offering sweeping views across Belgrade from its regal old town to brutalist New Belgrade, where the city’s Communist past lives on.
From the comfort of the jacuzzi you can enjoy a unique city tour, both during the day and at night when Belgrade really comes to life. The rooftop bar is open day and night, with a menu including a good selection of Serbian wines to be enjoyed alongside some excellent people-watching, as Prezident Palace seems to be a hotspot for Belgrade’s young and beautiful.
The team behind the hotel is attentive and accommodating, and it’s this service that really affords Prezident Palace its five star rating.
If the hotel’s mission is to provide an experience that makes its guests feel like royalty, the Marie Antoinette restaurant brings this to life.
Its ornate dining room is an amassment of chandeliers, renaissance-style ceiling murals and gilded furniture. Heavy velvet curtains frame wall-to-wall windows showcasing the city beyond from nine floors up.
Dinner is a formal affair with an extensive menu of national and international dishes, as well as an impressive wine and spirits list. It won’t surprise you to hear that a number of dishes come garnished with 23 karat gold flakes.
And we’d highly recommend making good time to enjoy one of the most scenic breakfasts you’re likely to have. In keeping with the theme, the selection is queenly with a generous continental spread of local cheeses and meats, a full table of cooked dishes, and plenty of sweet options. And, as big fans of the breakfast aperitif, we were delighted to be able to start the day with something sparkling.
As the tourists continue to flock, it’s without doubt that Belgrade will provide more and more luxury hotel options in the coming years. For now, Prezident Palace remains one of just a handful of five star hotels in the city, but we’re confident that its excellent quality of service and incomparable facilities will keep it among the best for some time to come.
We stayed
in a Superior King room, priced at around €300 with breakfast in high season.
For packages and offers, book directly through the hotel’s website.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
thewanderluxe.co.uk 