This iconic Polish hotel has regained its former glory. I visited it after its transformation

This elegant facility located right next to the train station is an ideal base for exploring Wrocław and the surrounding area. From the nearby tram stop, you can reach Centennial Hall in 20 minutes. Perhaps the facility smelling of newness is also an idea for a trip with your significant other or loved ones, which will sweeten your everyday life and let you feel like you are in a chocolate fairy tale.

It is impossible not to notice this hotel. After leaving the neo-Gothic Main Railway Station building, directly in front of you, you will see a five-story, elegant building with a red tower. This is the Grand Hotel on Piłsudskiego Street, or more precisely – Mövenpick Grand Hotel Wrocław. It is one of the historical symbols of the city, which was built in 1903 as Hotel du Nord.

During World War II, the hotel was severely damaged. In the 1950s, it underwent renovation, and later famous guests, including Zbigniew Cybulski, stayed here, but at the end of the 20th century, the building began to fall into ruin. Tourists arriving in the capital of Lower Silesia were greeted by a gray, sad building after leaving the train station. At the end of the 20th century, the hotel was closed.

The bad streak began to end in the 2000s, and the turning point was the decision of Rafin Developer to renovate it. In the years 2017-2025, the hotel was thoroughly revitalized. The interiors of the building, due to their poor technical condition, were demolished, and the preserved exterior walls and facade were renovated. The process of reconstruction and modernization was laborious, and the work was supervised by a conservator. Four years ago, the hotel was introduced under the wings of the Swiss brand Mövenpick.

Mövenpick Grand Hotel Wrocław. What does it look like inside?

In March of this year, the four-star premium brand hotel welcomed its first guests. In early June, I had the opportunity to check out what it looks like inside. If you think “I can’t afford it anyway,” give it a chance. Here are a few sample prices.

Before the revitalization began, the designers were inspired by old engravings of the hotel to infuse the spirit of its history into the modern building. The task was successfully completed – today, the hotel’s exterior resembles an impressive, pre-war building with a red roof, tower and the inscription “Grand Hotel”. It dazzles with its newness and looks especially beautiful in the evening when illuminated. How was the interior designed?

We learned this during the expert debate presenting the context of the transformation.

– We wanted to find continuity between the old and new buildings. We looked for inspiration in old books and engravings. Few photos of the hotel from before the war have survived, but we studied those we found diligently – said Piotr Kalinowski from the MIXD studio during the debate.

After entering the hotel, we find ourselves in a lobby with inviting, warm colors. It was designed in the Art Deco style, with characteristic geometric elements. Guests' attention is immediately drawn to the elliptical ceiling lamp, placed above the round sofa in the middle. Małgorzata Miernik, Design and Technical Director Poland and Baltics at the Accor Group, revealed that the designers dreamed of a... champagne fountain here, but she suggested at the time that it would be better to opt for safer, yet stylish solutions.

From the lobby, we can go to several places. On the right side of the glass revolving entrance door, there is a sunny café full of plants, on the left - a bar and a corridor leading to the restaurant "The Gate". Going straight, we reach a large, open conference room. The café and restaurant are open to everyone, not only hotel guests. All these places are located on one common surface, which emphasizes the spaciousness of the hotel and increases the comfort of guests. What is the reason for such a design idea?

- The challenge was to separate these functions, but at the same time create a connected space. Modern hotel industry was born in the 19th century. At that time, hotels were places to meet travelers from the other side of the world. In the times when there was no Internet, you could meet someone new here - explained Piotr Kalinowski.

Gateway to Wroclaw

The arched windows in the Gate restaurant reach from the ceiling to the floor. Their shape and size give the room a classic elegance and create the impression of merging with the bustling city center. Geometric patterns and gold elements make us feel like we are at a New Year's Eve ball in the 1920s, among elegant tailcoats and evening dresses decorated with fringes.

The name of the restaurant is not accidental. Opposite the Hotel Grand, on the other side of Kołłątaja Street, there is another hotel – Piast. Both buildings, after renovation, have similar-looking facades and are of similar height. That is why they have been described for years as the Gate of Wrocław.

Designer Joanna Mazurek told Wprost that before starting the design work, she went for a walk around the city to draw inspiration from the surroundings and the nearby train station. Details such as the colors – yellows, greens – refer to its interior.

Room decor at the Grand Hotel

The warm colors of the hotel lobby contrast with the minimalist decor of the rooms – in black and white, with gold elements. The interiors are enlivened by the colorful graphics of the Polish artist, Anna Rudak. The decor of the apartments is completely modern, it does not reflect the appearance of the rooms from the first half of the 20th century. The designers' intention was to be loosely inspired by the historical Art Deco, and not to recreate the pre-war atmosphere.

Personally, I would also like to see interiors that refer more to the history of this place, but the modern and elegant style creates a very comfortable space. The rooms have lighting installed in different places in the apartment, so you can play with its setting and choose it according to the time of day.

Our group also had the opportunity to look into the spacious presidential suite. From the bathroom windows you can see the second wing of the "Brama Wrocławia" - the aforementioned Piast hotel. The hotel also offers a spa and gym located on level -1 for all guests.

Not just a hotel. Here you can taste chocolate delicacies

During the debate, we learned that in addition to renovating the hotel's architecture, the designers' goal was also to introduce guests to a "sensory feast" referring to the brand famous for its confectionery products. It's not just about the colors of the place, which are associated with chocolate and champagne. All over the world, at a fixed time, Movenpick Hotels organize a "chocolate hour" in their properties. Every day at 3:00 p.m., guests can meet and talk while tasting sweets (included in the price of the stay). It is also a great opportunity to meet someone new in the "sweet scenery" of the hotel, like in the old days.

During my stay, I had the opportunity to take part in the preparation of homemade pralines with confectioner Wioletta Sobieraj. At the beginning, we were waiting for prepared chocolate bodies in molds. We had to squeeze the filling (toffee or orange) into them and precisely cover them with a layer of liquid chocolate prepared by the confectioner. The key stage was tempering - heating and cooling the melted chocolate to the required temperature, which required checking it several times with a kitchen thermometer. Then, we had to cover the mold with chocolate and remove as much of the solidified chocolate as possible from the spaces between the protrusions. The sweets went into the fridge for 10 minutes, and then, after lightly tapping the mold on the table, we put them on paper and we could eat them on the spot or take them home.

In addition to the sweet "feast", we could also taste the specialties of "The Gate" cuisine. Its menu includes international dishes with elements of Polish cuisine. The preparation of the dishes was supervised by the chef, Michał Bekisz, and the wines were selected by sommelier Mirek Lasota, who presented various anecdotes regarding the origin and taste of each of them.

My favorite on the tasting menu was the potato “risotto” with pickled apple – potatoes are the king of the kitchen and I would definitely go back to this restaurant for this dish! You can find the prices of selected menu items on Instagram. Here are some: żurek – PLN 29, ravioli with ricotta and artichoke – PLN 43, lunch of the day (soup with a second meat or vegetarian dish) – PLN 49.

How much per night?

How much does a night at the Grand Hotel cost? It depends on the dates you decide to stay. You can check the prices on the hotel's website or hotel booking portals. At the time of writing, the price for one night in a Classic room for two people on the weekend of June 14-15 is PLN 525 (with breakfast). Prices for further dates in July may be lower (less than PLN 500 for two people). A way to get discounts on future stays at Accor hotels is to collect points. Guests can get them if they cancel the cleaning service on the days they choose.

During the expert debate, the hotel's president, Grzegorz Rojek, pointed out that contemporary transformations of hotel facilities are increasingly based on their revitalization, rather than building from scratch. These activities are not only about using the potential of good locations of historical buildings, but also about creating a sense of authenticity that guests expect.

The text was created in cooperation with Mövenpick Grand Hotel Wrocław. Guests have the opportunity to take part in a workshop with a confectioner, requests are priced individually.

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