First time going to Belgrade? I Recommend you stay in a hotel downtown.

This review is a little different from the others. Here I compare two hotels located in the center of Belgrade. They have a different rating in booking.com, but they are quite close as quality of service. One of them I visited in February 2018 and the other- in November 2018.

It is about the Garni Hotel Nevski and Belgrade Art Hotel. They both look great in pictures. I’m just going to clear up a little the view of them and give you a first hand info, refracted through the lens of my 5D Sensograph.

See ….

Nevski:                         

…. The lobby does not look so glossy, it’s even modest. There is a bar on which the receptionists work and several tables with chairs. It looks clean and pleasant;

…. We took a two-bedroom suite that had huge rooms. Unfortunately, only one bathroom and toilet, but this is a problem in most hotels except Ruskovets hotel in Dobrinishte, Bulgaria, where not only the rooms are spacious, but there is a living room, a terrace, even two bathrooms;

…. On the second day the mirror was very dirty, I was sure it was not our fault, the house-keeping did not clean it.

Belgrade Art Hotel:     

…. There was no lobby or rather it was very small. It was very nicely decorated for the upcoming Valentine’s Day. There was no lobby bar, but there was a regular bar on the second floor and an enticing pastry shop on the ground floor selling macarons. However, when we wanted to test them, the saleswoman didn’t pay any attention to us when we entered. She was busy with some activity which she didn’t want to interrupt, to greet us even, let alone serve us. So, I can’t tell if their coffee, or the pastry or the macarons were good,;

…. Much more pleasing to the eye interior, artistic, as is clear from the name of the hotel;

…. The rooms were not large but comfortable enough. There was an extendable sofa bed for the children.

Feel ….

Nevski:                         

…. Much greater comfort in the rooms. The children were in two separate, close to each other beds. Cozy, but without special effects, that is, there are no design accents;

…. There is parking at the hotel and it’s free– the biggest plus!

…. The shower door was slightly damaged and did not close tightly, which allowed the water to leak on the floor;

…. We asked and they promised to give us one more duvet but it didn’t work for any reason. Whether they couldn’t understand us in Bulgarian or they did not pass the message to the employees on the next shift, I have no idea why this happened;

…. However, the people at the reception and restaurant were very polite, very smiling and helpful. They gave us a map of the city. They told us which taxi company to use so we wouldn’t get into the trap of false ones. The company was NAXIS and had a mobile application in which you can request a car on the spot.

Belgrade Art Hotel:    

…. Because of some problem with the computer, the Internet or the electricity, they could not accommodate us about 30-40 minutes, so we had to wait;

…. Somehow, it wasn’t very comfortable in the rooms. I had other expectations, but they didn’t justify it. The suite was not warmed when we settled, we were cold, the floor was cold and the carpets were scarce. Until the air conditioner turned over the air, it was unpleasant;

…. Bathroom with two sinks, which makes it possible to optimize the bathroom time for our 4-member family;

…. Super convenient location, right on the pedestrian Knez Mihailova street. The biggest plus of the hotel!

…. Again as a plus of the location, in the neighbouring side street, there was a small tavern called Restoran Taverna, which might not look great, especially while entering downstairs under the ground, but the food was very tasty there. The rakia, as everywhere in Serbia was great too! Well there was smoke from cigarettes but what to do. You should know that smoking indoors is not forbidden yet in Serbia.

If you arrive late from Zagreb by car, you settle in Belgrade Art Hotel and you are hungry like a wolf, this is your salvation. In case you are planning a trip through Zagreb, I would recommend a great hotel in the center– Palace Hotel.

…. There was no parking at the hotel. You can’t even approach to it by car. We left ours at a nearby multi-floor parking, which was not very expensive. It was supposed to be nearby, but we were for the first in the center of Belgrade and we went in circle for a while with the suitcases until we find our way. It turned out that it is in a very comfortable distance, but we found out that on the next day.

Listen ….

 Nevski:                           

…. In general, the hotel was quiet and pleasant, night time was kept quiet;

…. Nice contemporary pop music from Serbia at breakfast.

Belgrade Art Hotel:     

…. During breakfast we listened to contemporary Serbian hits, it was nice;

…. Night time was peaceful and quiet in the hotel, regardless of the bar on the second floor- we did not hear noise by late guests.

Smell ….  

Nevski:                           

…. The aroma of the charcuterie in the breakfast was fresh and delicious;

…. Smoking was prohibited in the rooms- Congratulations for that!

Belgrade Art Hotel:     

…. Wonderful smell of the products in the rich breakfast. Freshly served, aromatic espresso from a professional coffee machine.

Tasted ….

Nevski:                         

…. The breakfast was delicious- I liked the charcuterie, the croissants and the Proikas the most. A Proika is a small bun of corn flour with cheese inside, it is typical for this region;

…. To my big surprise, they offered soy milk- commendable!

…. Unfortunately, the coffee machine was not professional- it constantly needed cleaning of the container and the coffee was not very nice.

Belgrade Art Hotel:     

…. A much better and more varied breakfast in a better setting. There were many interesting things other than the standard offered in other hotels;

…. A rich assortment of bread- Great!

General score by the  5D Sensograph:

Nevski : 4.8 of 5 hearts

Belgrade Art Hotel:  4.9 of 5 hearts

If you demand a location in the center and do not mind that the parking is not exactly in the hotel, prefer to stay in a more artistic setting and with high demands for breakfast, choose Belgrade Art Hotel. However, if you are looking for the opposite- parking at the hotel, an idea farther away from the pedestrian tracks and wide comfortable rooms- Garni Hotel Nevski is your place.

The prices of the two hotels in booking.com are analogous, so maybe you would take that offer, which provides genius discount. Take advantage directly from the two boxes here. I did so and even used my genius benefits.

Booking.com

Booking.com


In general, both hotels are located close to the artistic and full of pubs old, cobbled, very pleasant street Skadarlija. Knez Mihailova street, on which is Belgrade Art Hotel, is  wide pedestrian and full of shops. On the side streets there are interesting places, souvenir shops, cafes and one great tiny ice cream parlor Crna Ovca, i.e. the Black sheep. The ice cream is the most diverse, with all sorts of exotic tastes and very nice. The coffee is perfect, the service outrageously good, the music is Mozart’s-Mega cute place!

Read also my reviews about one of the best old restaurants in Belgrade Franš and about the party cafeteria of Beton Hala- AmBar.

Come on, stop reading- jump in the car this weekend and drive away to Belgrade! Book your hotel here directly, don’t waste time digging through the web.

Don’t worry about getting to the Hotel Nevski or Art Hotel in Belgrade. Just use the Google map here by clicking on the red pin of its location and then select directions:

Garni Nevski

А: 24a, Venizelosova, Stari grad, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

T: +381 11 3229722

Belgrade Art Hotel

А: 27 Knez Mihailova, Stari grad, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

T: +381 11 3312000

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Do you ever wonder how some places are so very different from others in service, environment, as a general experience? This means you are also interested like me in the topic of The Experience Economy by Pine and Gilmore. I’ve tried to recognize those places which apply it in practice it principles, whether deliberately or accidentally, and I think it is worth to consider them. Right click on category The Experience Economy.