Hotel Europejski

Hotel Europejski is a historic luxury hotel in central Warsaw, Poland, located on the Royal Route near Warsaw Old Town and Piłsudski Square. The hotel opened on 1 January 1857 and was designed by the Polish-Italian architect Enrico Marconi. At its opening it was regarded as one of the most modern and luxurious hotels in Europe and in the Russian Empire. Its location, architecture and association with Warsaw's political, cultural and commercial life made it one of the city's best-known hotel institutions. The building underwent significant alterations in the early twentieth century. From 1915, architect Antoni Jawornicki directed a series of upgrades, including the relocation of the main entrance and the construction of two ballrooms in the courtyard. In 1921, members of the Przeździecki and Czetwertyński families organized the joint-stock company Hotel Europejski Spółka Akcyjna, reflecting the property's formal corporate structure before the Second World War. During the German occupation of Warsaw, the hotel was renamed Europäisches Hotel and was reserved primarily for Wehrmacht officers, although much of its pre-war Polish workforce remained employed there. The building was badly damaged during the destruction of Warsaw following the Warsaw Uprising and the German retreat in late 1944 and early 1945. After the war, the original owners initially received permission to rebuild and established a restaurant in the surviving portion of the structure. The property was subsequently seized by the communist government in 1948 under the Bierut Decrees. Reconstruction between 1949 and 1951, led by architect Bohdan Pniewski, adapted the building for institutional use. It housed the Military Political Academy from 1951 to 1954 and later offices of the Ministry of Transport. Some historic interiors, including the grand staircase and ballrooms, were removed or substantially altered during this period. The government decided in 1956 to restore the building to hotel use. After a temporary period in which it accommodated Jewish emigrants from the Soviet Union, the property was transferred in 1957 to Orbis, Poland's state tourism company. Pniewski and Bohdan Kijowicz oversaw its conversion into a 260-room hotel with 13 suites. It reopened on 2 July 1962 as the Orbis Hotel Europejski. Over subsequent decades it hosted prominent visitors from politics, music, literature and the arts, including Robert Kennedy, Marlene Dietrich, the Rolling Stones, Indira Gandhi, Günter Grass, Artur Rubinstein, Mstislav Rostropovich, Czesław Miłosz and Lech Wałęsa. Following the end of communist rule, heirs of the pre-nationalization owners brought a restitution claim against the state-run Orbis Hotels chain in 1993. The litigation lasted approximately twelve years. The heirs ultimately prevailed, and Orbis closed the hotel on 30 June 2005 before transferring the property later that year. During the planning period for restoration, ground-floor premises operated as shops and cafés, while former hotel rooms and apartments were leased as offices. The entire structure was closed in 2013 ahead of reconstruction. A major restoration began in July 2013. The building reopened in 2018 under the Raffles Hotels & Resorts management brand as Raffles Europejski Warsaw. The renewed complex contains 106 hotel rooms, a restaurant, bar, spa, art gallery and Lourse pâtisserie, together with a luxury retail area and office accommodation. The development includes approximately 3,000 square metres of retail space on the ground floor and approximately 6,500 square metres of Class A office space on the upper floors, including space operated by WeWork as shared offices. The current offering combines historic architectural identity with contemporary luxury hospitality, dining, wellness, retail and flexible-work facilities.

Hotel Europejski opened in Warsaw on 1 January 1857. Designed by Enrico Marconi, a Polish-Italian architect, it quickly became known as one of the most modern and luxurious hotels in the region. Its position on the Royal Route placed it within Warsaw's principal ceremonial and commercial axis, close to the historic centre and important civic landmarks. The property was modernized during the early twentieth century. From 1915, Antoni Jawornicki directed substantial improvements, including moving the principal entrance and creating two courtyard ballrooms. In 1921, the Przeździecki and Czetwertyński families created Hotel Europejski Spółka Akcyjna, giving the hotel a joint-stock corporate structure. The Second World War brought a major change in the hotel's operation and identity. Under German occupation it was called Europäisches Hotel and was used mainly for Wehrmacht officers. Although much of its pre-war Polish staff continued working there, the building's role was determined by the occupying authorities. It suffered severe damage during the final destruction of Warsaw after the Warsaw Uprising and the German withdrawal in December 1944 and January 1945. Following liberation, the original owners were initially allowed to begin rebuilding. They opened a restaurant in the part of the building that remained usable, but the state confiscated the property in 1948 under the Bierut Decrees before full reconstruction could proceed. Between 1949 and 1951, Bohdan Pniewski redesigned and rebuilt the structure for institutional purposes. The building served as the Military Political Academy from 1951 to 1954 and then as offices for the Ministry of Transport. This post-war adaptation changed the internal layout substantially: historic elements such as the grand staircase and ballrooms were removed, while dormitories, classrooms and a gymnasium were introduced. In 1956, the government resolved to return the building to hotel use. It temporarily housed Jewish emigrants from the Soviet Union during 1956 and 1957, after which the property was transferred to Orbis, the state tourism company. Pniewski, working with Bohdan Kijowicz, directed the hotel conversion. The resulting establishment had 260 rooms and 13 suites and reopened on 2 July 1962 as the Orbis Hotel Europejski. During the following decades it became an important Warsaw venue for international and Polish public figures. Recorded guests included Robert Kennedy, Marlene Dietrich, the Rolling Stones, Indira Gandhi, Günter Grass, Artur Rubinstein, Mstislav Rostropovich, Czesław Miłosz and Lech Wałęsa. The Golden Gate Quartet also gave its only concert in Poland at the hotel in 1965. After the fall of communism, the property's ownership became the subject of a long restitution dispute. In 1993, heirs of the pre-war owners sued to recover the hotel from Orbis Hotels. Orbis argued that it had effectively created and financed the post-war building, but the heirs eventually won after roughly twelve years of litigation. Orbis closed the hotel on 30 June 2005 and transferred the property on 1 September 2005. During the period before redevelopment, the ground floor accommodated shops and cafés, while former rooms and apartments were rented as offices. The whole building was closed in 2013. Reconstruction started in July 2013. The restored property reopened in 2018 as Raffles Europejski Warsaw, managed by Raffles Hotels & Resorts. The renewed hotel has 106 rooms and combines accommodation with a restaurant, bar, spa, art gallery and Lourse pâtisserie. The larger complex also includes approximately 3,000 square metres of retail space and approximately 6,500 square metres of office space on the upper floors. A portion of the offices was operated by WeWork as shared workspace. The current property therefore functions not only as a hotel but also as a mixed-use heritage development whose identity rests on the continuity of the Europejski name, its central Warsaw location and its restored luxury positioning.

• 2018

  Raffles Europejski Warsaw opens

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  The restored hotel reopens under Raffles Hotels & Resorts management with 106 rooms and integrated retail, office, dining, cultural and wellness facilities.

• 2013

  Comprehensive reconstruction begins

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  The building is closed and reconstruction starts in July as part of a planned mixed-use restoration.

• 2005

  Orbis closes and transfers the hotel

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  Orbis closes the hotel on 30 June after the heirs prevail in the restitution case; the handover is completed on 1 September.

• 1993

  Restitution litigation begins

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  Heirs of the pre-nationalization owners file a claim seeking recovery of the hotel from Orbis Hotels.

• 1965

  Golden Gate Quartet performs at the hotel

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  The Golden Gate Quartet gives its only concert in Poland at Hotel Europejski.

• 1962

  The Orbis Hotel Europejski reopens

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  The hotel reopens on 2 July with 260 rooms and 13 suites following a post-war redesign.

• 1957

  The property is transferred to Orbis

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  After temporary use for Jewish emigrants from the Soviet Union, the building is transferred to the state tourism company Orbis for conversion back into a hotel.

• 1951

  Post-war institutional reconstruction is completed

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  The rebuilt structure begins operating as the Military Political Academy after conversion led by Bohdan Pniewski.

• 1948

  The property is seized by the state

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  The communist government takes the property under the Bierut Decrees before the original owners can complete its reconstruction.

• 1944

  The building is badly damaged during the destruction of Warsaw

  [1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  The hotel suffers severe wartime damage during the final phase of the German occupation and retreat.

Showing the 10 most recent.

A heritage luxury hotel positioned around Warsaw history, restored nineteenth-century architecture, high-end accommodation, cultural programming, dining and central Royal Route access.

• Luxury hotel · 2018

  Raffles Europejski Warsaw

  The restored flagship hotel occupying the historic Europejski building in central Warsaw. It reopened in 2018 with 106 rooms, combining contemporary luxury accommodation with preserved or revived elements of the property's historic identity. Rooms differ in size and layout, and many offer views toward the Royal Route and other historic parts of Warsaw.

• Pastry shop and café · 2018

  Lourse pâtisserie

  A pastry and coffee concept within the renewed Europejski complex. It extends the hotel's hospitality offer beyond overnight stays and connects the property with Warsaw's café, retail and public street life.

• Dining · 2018

  Hotel restaurant and bar

  The reopened hotel includes restaurant and bar facilities serving guests and visitors as part of its full-service luxury hospitality model. Specific menus, culinary leadership and current operating details are not established in the supplied sources.

• Wellness · 2018

  Europejski spa

  A spa forms part of the post-restoration hotel program, supporting the property's positioning as a full-service luxury destination. Detailed treatment lists and operating information are not provided in the supplied reference.

• Mixed-use property · 2018

  Europejski retail and office complex

  The restored development incorporates approximately 3,000 square metres of ground-floor retail and approximately 6,500 square metres of upper-floor Class A office space. Around 4,000 square metres of the office area was operated by WeWork as shared workspace according to the supplied reference.

• 2018

  Adoption of the Raffles operating brandM&A

  Background

  The restored Europejski property was prepared for renewed operation as a high-end international hotel.

  Action taken

  Management was assigned to Raffles Hotels & Resorts and the property reopened as Raffles Europejski Warsaw.

  Aftermath

  The Europejski name continued as part of a globally positioned luxury hospitality brand while the building retained its historic identity.

  Source

• 2013

  Full closure and heritage-led reconstructionStrategy

  Background

  After the restitution process and an interim period of retail and office leasing, the building was closed in anticipation of a comprehensive restoration rather than continued operation as a partially adapted property.

  Action taken

  Reconstruction began in July 2013, with plans for a restored luxury hotel integrated with retail and office uses.

  Aftermath

  The project produced the 2018 reopening as Raffles Europejski Warsaw with 106 rooms and a broader mixed-use program.

  Source

• 2018

  Hotel Europejski reopens under the Raffles brand after restoration[1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  After a reconstruction that began in 2013, the historic Warsaw property reopened as Raffles Europejski Warsaw with 106 rooms and a mixed-use program including dining, spa, retail, gallery and office facilities.

• 2018

  Hotel Europejski reopens under the Raffles brand[1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Following a multi-year restoration, the historic Warsaw property reopened as Raffles Europejski Warsaw with 106 rooms and a combination of hospitality, dining, retail, office and cultural facilities.

• 2013

  Hotel Europejski closes ahead of full reconstruction[1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The building was fully closed in preparation for a comprehensive restoration and conversion into a renewed luxury hotel and mixed-use complex.

• 2005

  Ownership restitution dispute concludes in favor of the former owners' heirs[1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  Lawsuit · Other

  A lawsuit initiated in 1993 by heirs of the pre-nationalization owners ended with their successful recovery of the property. Orbis closed the hotel in June 2005 and completed the handover later that year.

• 2005

  Heirs regain Hotel Europejski after a prolonged ownership case[1]Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org

  Lawsuit · Other

  Heirs of the pre-nationalization owners succeeded in litigation against Orbis and recovered the property, leading to the hotel’s closure and subsequent redevelopment process.

1. 1Hotel Europejskien.wikipedia.org