I recently stayed at SENSE Hotel in Sofia and had mixed feelings about the experience. The hotel has a lot going for it, particularly its modern design, fantastic views and excellent changing facilities in the Spa, but several issues prevented the stay from feeling truly premium. The room itself was stylish and comfortable, with a large double bed facing floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and a beautiful view of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The furniture was modern and sleek, and the large TV was a nice touch. Unfortunately, the room also had a few shortcomings. Road noise on the fourth floor was quite loud and disturbing, affecting sleep, and the soundproofing could definitely be improved. Light also seeped through the blinds at night, which was another annoyance. The air conditioning was somewhat weak and even at 16°C struggled to cool the room properly, although the temperature remained reasonably comfortable. The bathroom had a powerful shower with plenty of hot water, but the shower door leaked from the bottom, leaving the floor wet after every shower. There were also no face towels, making it difficult to keep the basin area dry. Housekeeping was inconsistent. On arrival, there were towels for only one person despite the room being booked for two. I had to ask twice before another set was delivered. On another occasion, housekeeping actually removed a set of towels rather than replacing them. This suggests the cleaning team could benefit from better training and more consistent standards. The spa facilities were pleasant, although there are some limitations. The pool only opens from 9am to 9pm, which is disappointing for early risers who would like to swim before breakfast. The sauna and steam room are small but nice. The 38°C hot tub was relaxing, although it has no jets, so a proper jacuzzi would have been a welcome addition. There is also a 27°C cold tub. Towels are provided, and the changing facilities are excellent and there is also a fully equipped gym. The rooftop bar has an amazing setting, but in the evening it becomes very loud, with flashing lights and loud music, so it isn’t really somewhere to enjoy a quiet, relaxing drink. The in-house Pan-Asian restaurant looked impressive, but the prices were extremely high, so we decided not to dine there. Breakfast was fairly bog-standard and, in my opinion, there are better options elsewhere in Sofia, such as Beyond Breakfast. One particularly disappointing aspect was the service at reception. One male member of the reception team was consistently unhelpful and came across as rude and disinterested. He never seemed willing to assist customers and maintained a visibly stroppy attitude. This was particularly noticeable in a hotel positioned as an upscale property and significantly affected the overall impression of the service. Overall, SENSE Hotel has the ingredients of a great luxury hotel: an excellent location, stunning views, beautiful modern rooms and very good facilities. Howev
