Sofia Hotel Guide: Kempinski Hotel Zografski

Situated on the posh Lozenets Hill, this Kempinski Hotel quietly overlooks Sofia's bustling city and the picturesque Vitosha Mountain. Completed in 1979, this luxury hotel in Bulgaria's capitol rewards guests with a stunning view of the countryside, particularly in early winter. While its slightly isolated location means a 15-minute taxi ride to the city center, skiing is minutes away.

Reception is helpful and efficient. Next to it, the lobby bar provides live music as a backdrop for coffee, tea, snacks and cigars. To please international tastes, the hotel offers a wide selection of restaurants: American House Restaurant, popular for its steaks; Ristorante Alfredo's Gallery for breakfast buffets; and the Asian-inspired Kabuki. Lozenets Restaurant serves traditional Bulgarian cuisine, including famous Shopska salad. While food is superb and portions are large, prices are high relative to restaurants in the neighborhood. That said, rooftop dining at the Panorama Restaurant is a must in warm months.

Notwithstanding its out-of-center location, the hotel caters to business travelers. Its auditorium seats 700 people and is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. Internet access is complimentary with rental of the hall. A business center supplements travelers' needs with secretarial services and translators. Both the garage and parking lots are guarded, and a taxi service is on-site.

The Atama Sports Club provides cutting-edge fitness equipment and the largest swimming pool of any hotel in Sofia. Classes in yoga, pilates and spinning are on offer, too. Guests looking for relaxation have solariums, saunas and a roster of massages and aroma therapies to choose from at the on-site spa, which is surrounded by a lovely Japanese garden. A beauty salon proffers hairstyling and manicures. This hotel even has a shoeshine service for its guests. Boutique shops are a diversion during the day and a nightclub and VIP casino provide the evening's entertainment.

The tastefully decorated—and air-conditioned and centrally heated—rooms have plenty of natural light and benefit from diligent housekeeping. The two double beds in the standard rooms are topped with blue and beige spreads and are truly comfortable. A pay TV, minibar and complimentary Ethernet are common to all. Upgrades in the deluxe rooms include a queen bed with padded headboard, contemporary furnishings, a flat-screen TV with more channels than most Bulgarian hotels provide, high-speed Internet access, and safes. Suites add a sitting area. The sparkling baths come with robes, slippers and high-quality toiletries.Smoke-free rooms are in the mix. Room service never stops. Laundry facilities are available. Only a handful of luxury hotels operate in Sofia, and this one is at the top of the ranks. The spectacular views here more than compensate for the commute to center.