Early 2018, Raffles Europejski Warsaw will open its doors to begin a new chapter in an extraordinary history which spans 160 years.
In the heart of the city, on the Royal Route, surrounded by the cobbled streets of the Old Town and luxury boutiques; 106 timelessly elegant suites will come alive mixing bespoke furniture, oak floors, a corner library and a carefully curated Polish art by Anda Rottenberg and Barbara Piwowarska.
The building itself is proudly Polish; from the restored original 19th century cornicing, to the 21st century mural by Jarosław Fliciński specially commissioned for the Long Bar, and the contemporary art.
The rich blend of Polish heritage, the skills of local craftsmen and art at Raffles Europejski Warsaw will narrate the nation’s rich history across its walls.
Chris Cahill, chief executive, AccorHotels Luxury Brands said: “We are delighted to be opening the iconic Raffles Europejski Warsaw, such a landmark in the city of Warsaw, to which we will bring the legendary Raffles service, known for its benchmark standard across the globe, as well as a series of gastronomic delights, stunning ballroom and conference facilities, and a beautiful spa.
“The Raffles Europejski Warsaw will offer the visitor bespoke luxury and beautiful art-filled interiors, building on the past and preserving for the future as it opens for its next exciting chapter in the very heart of Warsaw.”
Restored to its rightful pre-war owners in 2005, a majority stake was later taken in the hotel by Vera Michalski-Hoffmann – a publisher and patron of the arts.
The new owner shared the vision with the descendants of the founders to not only return to the Polish people a hotel as luxurious in the 21st century as it had been in its 19th century heyday, but also to create a showcase for the best of Polish modern and contemporary art.
The 106 elegant guest rooms and suites will be the largest in the city, with the Raffles Suite a magnificent 293 square metres.
Interior design comes courtesy of Warsaw-based internationally acclaimed WWAA Architecture practice together with National Opera House stage designer Boris Kudlička and APA Wojciechowski team.
Julien Barbotin-Larrieu, representing the owning company, HESA, explained their choice of Raffles to manage the property: “With Raffles at the helm of the hotel, a brand synonymous with heritage and luxury, whose own illustrious history, began just thirty years after the Europejski’s with the iconic Raffles Singapore, we feel confident about bringing a new level of luxury to Warsaw; one that is as much about the cultural experience as the comfort.
“Our aim is to provide a real sense of place, allowing guests to understand the soul of Poland by immersing themselves in the art, the gastronomy and the history which they will be surrounded with, on a level as yet unsurpassed in the capital.”
Today, the iconic Raffles collection includes 11 distinguished addresses around the world.