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Hotel Pod Wawelem inhabits one of the boldest, most modern buildings in our survey of Krakow hotels. From the flat roof to the windows that appear to simply wrap around the building, the 48-room Pod Wawelem extends an enticing invitation to the modernism junkie in a city better known for its medieval and baroque heritage.
The lobby features a massive, illuminated map of Krakow. The restaurant, which inhabits a corner of the hotel's ground floor, is a stylish little place featuring particularly attentive waitstaff and quirky dishware.
After the exterior and ground level build-up, rooms are a slight disappointment. Nonetheless, rooms manage to be slightly more interesting than Krakow's legions of newly renovated midrange rooms. Pod Wawelem's rooms are uncluttered, with white walls and smart—if Ikea-esque—furnishings. We liked the original paintings and desk lamps. Silver flat-panel televisions are a nice additional touch. The bathrooms, though tiny, are well-appointed. Sinks and toilets have a contemporary flair.
Pod Wawelem's location, basically at the base of Krakow's castle and just beyond the Stare Miasto greenbelt, is a bonus. Still, rates are a bit higher here than at most of the Krakow properties we list, an outgrowth (we suppose) of the hotel's bold initial design impression.
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