Matca Hotel Relais & Châteaux — Hotel in Bran

My family and I (wife and two children) recently stayed in one of the villas, and we were immediately struck by the absolutely breathtaking views. The location is truly spectacular. The hotel itself is beautiful, with a very stylish restaurant and an impressive-looking spa. We had dinner at the restaurant and the food was delicious, and a special mention must go to the staff at the restaurant and bar who were all incredibly welcoming, professional, and attentive. However, considering the premium price point of the villa, we were disappointed by several issues that significantly impacted our comfort, particularly when it came to getting a good night's sleep. First, the master bedroom unfortunately does not have its own air conditioning unit. The only AC is in the living area where our children were sleeping on the sofa bed, which meant we couldn't cool our bedroom during the night without disturbing them. This was made more challenging by two other factors. The blackout curtains were not properly sized for the windows, allowing a significant amount of light in, especially as our villa faced the sunset, meaning the room was bright from around 4 AM onwards. Additionally, the bathroom was fitted with an extremely bright motion-activated light. While practical during the day, any use of the toilet at night would flood the space with intense light, making it very difficult to get back to sleep. Another area of disappointment was the spa. While the facilities look wonderful, they didn't deliver on their promise. The dry sauna was advertised as being 85-90°C, but the thermomether showed 70°C and it felt even colder. The wet sauna was similarly underheated. Furthermore, there was no water provided in the dry sauna for steam, which is a basic expectation. In summary, while the hotel has a world-class location, stunning views, and excellent restaurant staff, the fundamental aspects of a luxury stay—a comfortable night's sleep and functional spa amenities—fell very short of...

This place is gorgeous. The design of the hotel is simple yet clean and impeccable. You can't best the location! Quiet, nestled among the farms and hills of the Carpathian mountains and 30 minutes from Bran, this hotel is a knockout! We stayed in one of the villas and the extra expense is certainly worth it. Comfortable bed and a lovely jacuzzi out on the deck. One suggestion for the hotel - plant trees, bushes, and let the grasses grow. Though the villas are independent of each other, once you are outside on the balcony or in the jacuzzi, there is no privacy.

The gym is one of the best I have ever seen at a hotel. It is large, and the equipment is new and top of the line. I actually liked going to the gym! The spa pool area is also spectacular. Beautiful pool and sauna area looking out at the mountains. Truly relaxing retreat. I can't comment on the rest of the spa. When we arrived, we were told it was closed for the whole week and there were no more massages. We were incredibly disappointed since the place bills itself as a "Hotel, restaurant, spa". This is unacceptable in my book, especially if you don't alert your guests first. Oddly, when we were checking out and were asked how our stay was, I expressed the disappointment at the closed massage rooms and the lady was confused! She didn't know that part of the spa was closed. IMO, this shouldn't happen at a place like this.

The restaurant had slow service. In addition, it is the same menu for lunch and dinner, every day of the week. My recommendation for the hotel is to have two menus and switch them every day. The cheese plate and salads get old after a while. In addition, they have very few vegetarian options, which is too bad since the place is surrounded by farms and farm-to-table really should be the highlight.

In summary, this place is stellar and you can't do wrong, but just call ahead about that spa and be prepared for the same meal...

My husband and I stayed here for one night in October. We visit Romania often to see family and decided to try this new hotel. The location is absolutely beautiful, with stunning views that take your breath away.

Upon arrival, the staff were very friendly and accommodating, which made a great first impression. For lunch, the menu was a mix of traditional and modern European dishes, which we enjoyed. However, the menu remained the same for dinner, which was a bit disappointing. It would be better to offer more lunch-specific options and reserve the finer à la carte dishes for dinner. While the food was undeniably delicious, the menu felt limited. It would also be good to offer bar snacks. The only letdown was the bread – though it was local, it was dry and didn't impress.

The spa treatment was a highlight, with relaxing and professional service. The relaxation rooms were cozy and comfortable, offering a great spot to unwind.

The rooms were clean but felt a bit too dark for our taste. They were fairly traditional in style, without any standout features. While the hotel certainly delivers on the hallmarks of a five-star experience, we felt the overall price was too high, especially considering the location in Romania. For peak season, I don’t think we would stay again solely due to the cost.

On a brighter note, the electric bike hire was a fun addition, though again, overpriced.

One standout was Ihor, the charming shepherd dog who stole our hearts. Overall, it was a memorable experience, but with some adjustments, particularly to pricing and menu variety, it could...