One century old

Before becoming a hotel

The first modern buildings on the boulevard

The first modern buildings are built on Elisabeta Boulevard, a result of the Western influences and the modernization trends. The building that further became Cinema Bucuresti (1884), Casa Dotatiunii Oastei (subsequently Hotel Astoria), at the crossroads with Brezoianu Street towards Cismigiu Gardens (1884-1885) and Palatul Eforiei ...

The first modern buildings are built on Elisabeta Boulevard, a result of the Western influences and the modernization trends. The building that further became Cinema Bucuresti (1884), Casa Dotatiunii Oastei (subsequently Hotel Astoria), at the crossroads with Brezoianu Street towards Cismigiu Gardens (1884-1885) and Palatul Eforiei Spitalelor Civile (currently the City Hall of sector 5) (1888-1891)

Regina Elisabeta Boulevard

The land for the new hotel

Nicolae Pissiota, the hotel engineer

Nicolae Pissiota built one of the most impressive hotels in Bucharest at that time: PALACE HOTEL. An engineer who had studied in Paris, Pissiota designed the supporting structure and he appointed his cousin, Architect Arghir Culina, with the hotel design and organization works. Culina had designed Hotel Luvru (currently Capitol) on Calea ...

Nicolae Pissiota built one of the most impressive hotels in Bucharest at that time: PALACE HOTEL. An engineer who had studied in Paris, Pissiota designed the supporting structure and he appointed his cousin, Architect Arghir Culina, with the hotel design and organization works. Culina had designed Hotel Luvru (currently Capitol) on Calea Victoriei and after 1912, he designed Hotels Negoiu, Union and Ambasador. The architectural style of Palace Hotel is eclecticism with neoclassical and Art Nouveau elements specific to the Year 1900 movement spreading throughout Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Arghir Culina designed the hotel in U-shape, a design specific to inns and urban houses, thus enabling courtyards with natural light and green gardens.

Palace Hotel

The Palace Hotel is being inaugurated, as the most modern of all hotels from this side of Bucharest. It had 200 rooms, which made it one of the largest hotel in town. The facilities and services provided were meeting even the highest expectations: bathroom in the suites, reading and correspondence rooms, bar and English and French ...

The Palace Hotel is being inaugurated, as the most modern of all hotels from this side of Bucharest. It had 200 rooms, which made it one of the largest hotel in town. The facilities and services provided were meeting even the highest expectations: bathroom in the suites, reading and correspondence rooms, bar and English and French billiards room, restaurant with upper gallery (where Gambrinus Brewery was subsequently opened), French and Romanian cuisine, telephone in each room, classical music concerts during meal times, omnibus-car for all trains, etc. A sumptuous chandelier was lighting the lobby, a grandiose staircase was ensuring the access to mezzanine along the two elevators, and the room was decorated with gold leaves. The director of the hotel was George Fabris, former “Director of the Service of Apartments and Voyages of His Majesty King Leopold I (of Belgium) and of various major European hotels”. The staff was mainly originating from Western countries and they were all speaking French, German or English (from the cook to the maid), thus rarely one could hear Romanian in the hotel foyers. At the front desk, incoming guests were filling in beautiful customized forms, they were served with Berindei chocolate delicacies and other products from Nae Draghiceanu Royal Sweet Shop.

Bucharest during the First World War

During the First World War, after Bucharest was occupied by the German army, the German Imperial Military Commandment locates inside the Bucharest City Hall on the Elisabeta Boulevard, next to the Palace Hotel. Soon after, white flags with the Red Cross were carried on top of the Palace Hotel, while the building became the Centre of the ...

During the First World War, after Bucharest was occupied by the German army, the German Imperial Military Commandment locates inside the Bucharest City Hall on the Elisabeta Boulevard, next to the Palace Hotel. Soon after, white flags with the Red Cross were carried on top of the Palace Hotel, while the building became the Centre of the War Victims.

A sort of local Broadway

The Elisabeta Boulevard becomes a sort of local Broadway, where buildings with big signboards, side by side, and large cinemas were located, some of them still existing nowadays. The Palace Hotel is also at its best and it accommodates at the ground floor the Palace Cinema, subsequently named Palas Boulevard. Up until then it operated at ...

The Elisabeta Boulevard becomes a sort of local Broadway, where buildings with big signboards, side by side, and large cinemas were located, some of them still existing nowadays. The Palace Hotel is also at its best and it accommodates at the ground floor the Palace Cinema, subsequently named Palas Boulevard. Up until then it operated at No 12, in the Mircea Hotel building on the same boulevard. Next to the Cinema, under large storefronts there used to be the Vega beerhouse, Naum Toma & Co. pharmacy, Anticaria bookshop, Grigoriu sweet shop and, on the corner to Brezoianu Street, Otto Gagel bakery, on the same place where Gambrinus Brewery was to be opened in 1941

Famous guests

The Gambrinus Beer House

The Gambrinus Beer House is inaugurated at the ground floor of the Palace Hotel, belonging to a fellow Naumescu, who continued the 40 years tradition of the famous brewery originally opened in Bucharest by Caragiale. In 1901, the famous playwriter invested in the Gambrinus Beer House, which from 1897 was located inside Mandy house on the ...

The Gambrinus Beer House is inaugurated at the ground floor of the Palace Hotel, belonging to a fellow Naumescu, who continued the 40 years tradition of the famous brewery originally opened in Bucharest by Caragiale. In 1901, the famous playwriter invested in the Gambrinus Beer House, which from 1897 was located inside Mandy house on the Ion Campineanu 4 Street, near the National Theatre. Caragiale himself used to serve his clients, wearing a white waistcloth, so he could tease them with his sarcastic humour. The brewery was especially popular among journalists from Romanian newspapers Universul and Adevarul, who would fish for news and gossip, as well as actors celebrating their premiere, and also writers – it was a proper place for “nenea Iancu”. Even after Caragiale left for Berlin in 1905, Gambrinus Beer House remained the place for people to meet, people from theatres and hosts for some jazz shows and even some popular bands of fiddlers. The building from the Campineanu Street was demolished in 1940, thus ending Gambrinus Beer House’s history full of stories. It will once again start in august 1941, when the luxurious Gambrinus Beer House opened at the ground floor of the Palace Hotel, in the place where Otto Gagel bakehouse used to be.

During the bombardments

Hotel Cismigiu

The Communist Party’s power in Romania will also influence the future of the Palace Hotel: the place is nationalized and its name is changed into “March 6”, the date when Dr Petru Groza’s government constitutes (1945), the first communist government in Romania. “Elisabeta” Boulevard will also be named “March 6” until 1965, when its name ...

The Communist Party’s power in Romania will also influence the future of the Palace Hotel: the place is nationalized and its name is changed into “March 6”, the date when Dr Petru Groza’s government constitutes (1945), the first communist government in Romania. “Elisabeta” Boulevard will also be named “March 6” until 1965, when its name is replaced by “Gh. Gheorghiu-Dej”, and the former Palace Hotel becomes... Hotel Cismigiu. Palas Bulevard, the famous cinema of the interwar period, located on the ground floor of the Palace Hotel, will be given the name of “Timpuri Noi” Cinema, by the communists. Gambrinus Brewery remains a happy exception and will keep its name unchanged (almost impossible during the communist period) until 1995, when it was closed together with Hotel Cismigiu.

Other famous guests

Hotel Cismigiu was named after the famous public garden located nearby, where 100 years before the first public fountain had been installed, and the administrator of Bucharest fountains was called “marele cismegiu”. Hotel Cismigiu functioned during the last years of the communist period, until 1985 when it was closed because of its very ...

Hotel Cismigiu was named after the famous public garden located nearby, where 100 years before the first public fountain had been installed, and the administrator of Bucharest fountains was called “marele cismegiu”. Hotel Cismigiu functioned during the last years of the communist period, until 1985 when it was closed because of its very poor conditions. In its restaurant, one could have listened to the beloved singer Aurelian Andreescu. The hotel was also visited by the writer I. D. Sarbu, the historiographer Alexandru Zub, the singer Gil Dobrica...

Repairs

Student dormitory

The building is closed

The famous “Hotel Cismigiu” song

HERCESA

The Hercesa investment