City-center location, convenient for both business and leisure travelers
Hotel offers a curated selection of early 20th-century design
One-of-a-kind rooms furnished with antiques from the Art Deco era
Modern in-room amenities include LCD TVs and minibars
Well-regarded in-house restaurant serves fine South American cuisine
Facilities include meeting rooms and fitness facilities
Free access to Sinnet Club with tennis and squash courts plus a pool
Free Wi-Fi throughout and public computer available
Free parking
Old Town is 22 minutes away by public transport
Some guests may find the property's decor an Art Deco overdose
Rooms look more curated than comfortable
Breakfast is not included in all rates
No business center
Opened at the edge of the Central Business District in 2003, the four-pearl Rialto -- Warsaw’s original boutique hotel -- is a veritable shrine to early 20th-century design. Occupying a meticulously-renovated apartment building from that same era, the property reveals attention to detail in everything from the leaded-glass of its Art Deco entry to its 44 individually decorated guest rooms. Antique furnishings are supplemented by clever reproductions (note the Bakelite light switches) and balanced by modern-day amenities like LCD TVs, Nespresso machines and free Wi-Fi. The Rialto’s size and distinctive ambiance make it a welcome respite from Warsaw’s big brand-name hotels. That said, its relentless theme will not suit all tastes. For an equally intimate but decidedly more modern alternative, try the hip H15 Boutique Hotel: an upscale spot that is about five minutes away on foot.
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Scene
A property that time-travels back to the Art Deco era
The Rialto’s time-warped appeal is evident the moment you walk through its leaded front doors (which are appropriately adorned with a geometric pattern) into the little lobby. Taking a cue from the imposing stone building’s early 20th-century exterior, this space has a seating area with carefully curated accoutrements plus an angular reception desk that evokes an Art Deco altar -- especially since computers and other modern concessions are consciously hidden from view. The look carries through the fine dining room and rather cramped humidor-cum-lounge on the main floor to the guest rooms on the floors above. Even the custom-made elevator linking the two areas is period-appropriate thanks to its stained-glass ceiling and mother-of-pearl buttons. Of course, such dedication to a single aesthetic vision has one major drawback -- namely that not everyone shares it. The hotel’s remarkably consistent style and sepia-toned palette will make Art Deco aficionados feel as if they have stepped into an old photograph; others, however, may just see it as dull and dated.
Location
A central location within walking distance of business centers, popular sights and public transport
Hotel Rialto sits on a comparatively quiet corner, just off a busy thoroughfare in central Warsaw. Because it is situated on the edge of the CBD, business travelers can easily reach key destinations: Both the Warsaw Stock Exchange and the Warsaw Financial Center, for instance, are less than a 20-minute walk away. But sightseers can reach some popular tourist attractions -- including Złote Tarasy (a major shopping-and-entertainment complex), the Palace of Culture and Science, and Lazienki Park -- in the same amount of time. On-foot access to the Koszykowa tram stop and the main train station (which are three and 10 minutes away respectively) makes going farther afield convenient as well.
Rooms
A nostalgic homage to the 1920s and '30s that incorporates contemporary conveniences
The Rialto’s 44 rooms -- ranging from 194-square-foot singles to 517-square-foot suites with separate bedrooms -- are individually decorated, but all offer an authentic Central European take on Art Deco: a broody variation that conjures up a vampy Marlene Dietrich. Each features gorgeous parquet floors, inlaid doors and a decor scheme that combines actual furniture from the 1920s and 30s with quality reproductions. Accents and accessories follow suit. The funky light fixtures, for example, were replicated by the original manufacturer, and upholstery fabrics were based on period samples. Even mod-cons here (like the minibars artfully concealed in vintage-style desks and sideboards) help enhance the back-in-time atmosphere. So do the marble bathrooms, which feature period-appropriate clawfoot tubs plus separate walk-in rainfall showers. Their sleek sinks, toilets, and bidets (to say nothing of the retro towel racks and geometric taps made of nickel-plated brass) may make Art Deco connoisseurs swoon. Guests who don’t fall into that category can be comforted by the fact that each room also contains 21st century perks like air-conditioning, an LED TV with international channels, a Nespresso machine, an electric kettle, a cordless phone, a mobile docking station for Apple devices and free Wi-Fi. Access to the International New York Times' INYT.com website is also available at no charge.
Features
Restaurant, meeting rooms, and recreational facilities -- all carrying forward the Art Deco look
The Rialto’s top feature is the in-house restaurant, Salto. Considering this spot is named for an Argentinean city, it is no surprise that the gourmet menu designed by chef Martin Gimenez Castro focuses on South American cuisine -- think classic beef and seafood dishes prepared with contemporary flair. An à la carte breakfast (which is included in some rates) is served in the restaurant each morning and room service is available. The adjacent bar, in all its Art Deco glory, serves the expected beverages.
Capitalizing on its proximity to the heart of the business district, The Rialto also has two well-equipped meeting rooms, the larger of which can accommodate up to 40 people; both are decorated in the hotel’s signature style and feature art by Tamara Lempicka, a noted Polish Art Deco painter.
Recreational facilities consist of a small but serviceable top-floor fitness room decorated with vintage sporting-event posters, plus a dry sauna, a steam room and a barrel-style cold-water plunge tub. Guests wanting more can use facilities at the exclusive Sinnet Club, which has tennis and squash courts as well as a pool, for an added fee. Other hotel features include a 24-hour front desk with concierge services; a tiny lounge off the lobby with a guest computer (formerly a humidor, it now doubles as a private dining area); dry cleaning/laundry services; free parking; and free Wi-Fi throughout.
