Quick Hotel Summary
| Category | Details |
| Hotel | The St. Regis Belgrade |
| Location | Belgrade Waterfront |
| Brand | St. Regis |
| Room Type | St. Regis Grand Deluxe (Upgrade) |
| Price Paid | $480/night |
| Length of Stay | 2 nights |
| Booking Method | Corporate Travel Agent |
⭐ Overall Rating: 8.5 / 10
The Verdict
The St. Regis Belgrade delivers a polished luxury experience with spacious, modern rooms, excellent breakfast, and the brand’s signature service and traditions. While the surrounding waterfront development is still a work in progress and there were a few minor service hiccups typical of a new property, the overall experience is strong—especially at a relatively reasonable price point for a St. Regis. If you’re visiting Belgrade and want a high-end stay, this is a compelling option.
Location
The St. Regis Belgrade is located in an area of significant new development known as the Belgrade Waterfront on the Sava River. There is clearly a lot of investment in this area of Belgrade and when complete the waterside walkways will be lovely. The new development is also within a reasonable walking distance – under 30 minutes – of the older parts of Belgrade that one is likely to visit as a tourist. The downside is that the area is still very much under construction, so while plenty of the buildings are open and there are lots of restaurants and bars in close proximity, it still can feel like you’re walking around a construction site at times. For example, walking back from dinner one night, my colleagues and I found ourselves having to double back about ten minutes as we walked towards the hotel which we could see directly in front of us, when we ran into a dead end on a waterside path that had been blocked off by another building project.
Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla International Airport is only about a 20 minute car ride away.
Booking and Price
The St. Regis is my favorite hotel brand and I take advantage of any opportunity to stay at one without breaking the bank (or in this case my travel budget). The average rate for my two night stay was approximately $480 which is certainly not inexpensive, but by St. Regis standards it wasn’t a terrible price. There was also an additional service charge of 20 Euros per night – I’m not sure if this was a new way of describing a destination charge or a gratuity for staff (doubtful), but I didn’t notice it until I looked at my final bill. Kind of shady if you ask me – shouldn’t “service” be part of the regular room rate – but at least the service was very good.
Check-In Experience
My group arrived by car from Sarajevo – a very scenic 4.5 hour drive through mountains and small villages – mid afternoon. The towering glass hotel was easy to spot from a distance as we made our way into the city and continued to be impressive as we got closer.
We were greeted by a team of bellhops that grabbed our bags and escorted us to the check in desk. The lobby was impressively grand as one would expect from a St. Regis with several art installations. I was invited to have a seat at the check in desk and offered a cold fruit tea that was very refreshing.
The check in process was efficient and then I was escorted to my room by the check in agent who gave me a tour of the room and the various room controls.
Room
I had booked deluxe king room (the basic room category) which are marketed as 430 square feet, but was upgraded to a St. Regis Grand Deluxe which is nearly 100 square feet larger. While not a true suite, the elongated room had a separate sitting area next to the bed.
At the end of the room was a walk in closet and large white marble bathroom that featured both a windowed shower and free standing soaking tub. The bathroom had reusable containers of Sachajuan bath products – I was not previously familiar with the Swedish brand, but it felt high end.
The room also had a very well appointed and very expensive mini bar, but at least the coffee was free for those who need a caffeine hit.
High speed internet was free for and the connection was fast and easily supported streaming.
My room had a partial river view and also a view of a neighboring construction site. I love any kind of water view, so I was a big fan of this. You could also see the older part of the city off in the distance.
Hotel Amenities
The St. Regis has a large gym with views over the river. Additionally, there was a spa and small indoor pool and hot tub.
Food and Beverage
Somewhat surprisingly, the St. Regis Belgrade only has one true dining outlet, the all day Savant Brasserie. The restaurant was on the ground floor on the river side of the building so it offered nice views of the water. I only was able to try it for breakfast and some pre dinner cocktails (more on that below) and walked away impressed. The complimentary breakfast I was offered on account of my Marriott Ambassador status was a la carte and very good. I could basically order whatever I wanted from the menu and I went with smoked salmon toast – which came with a mountain of smoked salmon – and a side of bacon and fresh fruit. The morning I had breakfast, the hotel was also being visited by a champagne producer who offered free glasses and an opportunity to meet the winemaker – score! Unfortunately, I can’t recall the name of the producer because it was very tasty.
The St. Regis also has the signature St. Regis bar, but it was not yet open during my visit. I had a momentary panic (first world problems), as my personal St. Regis tradition is to always sample the local take on the Bloody Mary offered at the St. Regis bar. For those not aware of this tradition, the Bloody Mary (aka the Red Snapper) was invented at the St. Regis in NYC, and the St. Regis bar at every St. Regis around the world offers there own local take on the drink (as well as a few other international versions and the original). Fortunately, the bar at Savant Brasserie was carrying on the tradition until the St. Regis bar was opened a few weeks after our stay.
Service
The St. Regis consistently offers very polished, but warm service in my experience and this St. Regis was no exception. The hotel staff were quick to address any issue – like where to get a Bloody Mary. The hotel is new so there were a few service mishaps, but nothing terrible. However, obviously at a relatively high price point, one wants things to be pretty close to perfect. For example, when we first arrived at the Savant Brasserie to get the aforementioned Bloody Mary as a pre dinner cocktail, the bartender wasn’t actually there and a clearly stressed waiter was trying to play bartender until the regular bartender showed up. In my opinion, the bartender really should be there when the bar opens.
One of the things I love most about the St. Regis brand is the traditions. The Bloody Mary is my favorite St. Regis tradition, but the evening champagne sabering is a close second. The St. Regis Belgrade carried on the tradition in their lobby bar and while it was not actual champagne – despite a bottle of Krug on display – the substituted local sparkling wine was quite good and the ceremony had all the pageantry I love.
St. Regis hotels also have butler service. In some St. Regis properties this is very present. This was not that type of property and I didn’t attempt to utilize it, but it appeared they offered the typical benefits (coffee/tea service, unpacking and repacking, garment pressing, etc.) if requested.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Reasonably priced for a St. Regis
- Excellent a la carte breakfast
- Luxurious modern rooms
Cons
- New hotel so still a few minor service mishaps
- The area around the hotel is part of a large ongoing development so there is a lot of construction
- St. Regis bar wasn’t open (but I believe it is now)