The Emporium Plovdiv MGallery Hotel Collection

Pleasant
Traveller Type: Business Traveler
  : Hey, how can we transform a former socialist mall into a hotel? That was a dilemma the team at the architectural bureau Sundukovy Sisters must have mulled over when designing The Emporium Plovdiv Mgallery. The former supermarket Evlompia is located within spitting distance of Plovdivs city centre and was a favoured shopping mall among locals. The building from the eighties features a typical brutalist design. They excelled, nonetheless, creating stunning public areas, including the hotel lobby and entrance. The deluxe rooms are just as impressive. The central lobby mimics a Roman forum, where guests can drink champagne, focus on work or revel in the design. We found it the perfect zen place for some remote work and relaxing.
  : We cannot ignore the debate about hotel stars. Once a hotel has five stars, it must deliver a world-class experience. In this light, hotels in the five-star category are like clubs playing in the Premier League, where every mistake is scrutinised. Although The Emporium Plovdiv boasts a fantastic architectural design, the rest of the offer is only satisfactory. Despite its technological innovation in the rooms, not everything runs smoothly. As always, the essence of the hotel is in the service. Unfortunately, this hotel comes short in that respect. We hope the hotel leaves a more memorable impression next time around. Although the digital gadgets in the room were very useful, the light disturbed us during the night. Torro Premio is also a breakfast hall, where we had high hopes. Eagerly expecting an la carte menu to deliver, we were disappointed by the underperforming service, barely edible eggs benedict and microwaved French pastries. We expected much more from breakfast with a price tag fixed at 20 EUR per person. In a five-star hotel, the dishes should at least match those in the qualifying round of a Masterchef show. The staff generally seems disinterested or even inexperienced. It is a shame the cuisine leaves a poor impression. Excellent architecture does not guarantee a superb stay.

Wonderful
Traveller Type: Business Traveler