Built in 1793, this elegant hotel, with marble floors and columns, offers a warm welcome – and in excellent English – and an interesting stay in the center of the old and beautiful city of Lviv (Lvov). The location could not be bettered, within easy walking of many of the center’s attractions, museums and restaurants, even for the mobility-challenged. However, like the rest of Ukraine, there are few escalators or real elevators and a lot of steep, worn, high steps that you must climb – and no true handicapped facilities at all.

Our wonderful suite (room 75) had a balcony with spectacular views of the city squares, cathedrals and surrounding hills topped with the “high castle” and monuments. There was a slight tremble to the creaky wooden-floors as the trams trundled by, but little traffic noise – not at all disturbing. The furnishings were magnificent – reproductions of the period – in creams, white and gold – as were the thick, layered silk drapes at our four windows and doubled door to the balcony. Under the central chandelier was a huge six-seater table and high-backed chairs. We had a free-standing wardrobe, dressing-table, buffet, refrigerator and a gracious three glass-door hutch whose glass shelves held an antique tea-service, crystal wine glasses, plates and silver ware. But – Ukrainian surprise! – no coffee or tea-maker in the rooms. Our king-size bed was comfortable, warm with a fluffy duvet – but only 14 inches high! There were, surprisingly, no easy-chairs or sofa to lounge on in the suites – you read on the bed! Our bright, clean, modern bathroom was en-suite but – Ukrainian surprise! – only had intermittent hot water. When I complained about the ‘rather too authentic 18th century cold showers’ at the front desk (which always was staffed with cheerful English speakers the whole week) I was told that by the time we returned later it would be fixed. That, in essence, was the secret to getting hot(ter) showers – wait until later after everybody else on the lower floors had had theirs – then the hot water got up to the top floor!

The hotel no longer has the warm, inviting bar and coffee area shown in the ‘Gallery’ on the website but there is one of those fantastic “Gloria Jean” coffee shops just around the side. The dining room also had friendly staff with excellent English and a good menu and full bar – but it was like eating in a high-school auditorium, hard-wood floors, forty-foot high ceiling and bare white walls. The free breakfast was very generous – traditionally European cheeses, hams, sausages and breads and big silver servers of fish, potatoes, eggs but – Ukrainian surprise- there was no heat or flame under the chaffing dishes! (… order fresh or scrambled eggs).
We enjoyed our stay and visit to Lviv very much and would want to stay at the Hotel George again if we were ever fortunate enough to return.