The Balthazar Design Hotel is an enchantingHotel 5* boutique hotel ideally located in the heart of Krakow, at number 63 Grodska Street, which links the Market Square to Wawel Castle. Discover a magnificently restored 19th-century building with a team of attentive staff, bedding like a cloud and the city's most romantic restaurant: the Fiorentina.

We recommend booking your stay at the Balthazar Design Hotel via Booking.com, which often offers free cancellation. Send us a message on Instagram if you go, it would make us super happy.

We had the opportunity to spend a night at the Balthazar during our stay in Krakow, and it's clearly one of our favorites. What we liked best: a royal location (see below), the best restaurant we tested, the dreamlike atmosphere and the top-notch welcome in our rooms.

Why the hotel's location is absolutely perfect:

1. Grodska Street is one of the city's oldest streets.
2. It is entirely pedestrianized and has a unique charm.
3. You're at the foot of Wawel Castle and close to the Market Square.
4. St. Martin's Church is just across the street and well worth a visit.

Le Balthazar houses just 29 rooms spread over 2 floors. Depending on the room you choose, you'll enjoy the following amenities: king-size bedding, giant headboard, private bathroom with walk-in shower, underfloor heating in the bathroom (our morning delight!), plush carpeting, Smart TV, Molton Brown welcome products, cedar scent and 1st category mini-bar, albeit at a rather high price.

A revealing detail: the careful welcome with a handwritten greeting from the manager, a map with a legend of Krakow, liqueur (Amaretto) and a few cookies. Many hotels don't understand how important this is.

We had a delightful night's sleep during our stay, with many dreams of far-off exotic lands, a restful sleep and maximum energy when we woke up. The cushions are soft and smell wonderful.

Tip: when booking, ask for a large room on a high floor, away from the elevator and at the back of the building. These are the best and quietest rooms. Curiously enough, the size of rooms in the same category here varies quite considerably. Say you're celebrating a special occasion to increase your chances of getting a good room, even if it's never guaranteed.

A memorable experience awaits you at the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant: Le Fiorentina. It's probably the most romantic restaurant in town, on a par with the Regal Bar & Restaurant on the ground floor of the Saski Hotel. We love Fiorentina's fresh flowers and brick walls. The perfect blend of Tuscan warmth and Krakow nobility.

And on your plate? Inventive, tasty, top-flight cuisine. The specialty is seasoned beef, prepared on a charcoal grill. You absolutely must try the Florentine-style steak... Yum! Mention should also be made of the caviar (produced in Poland) and the surprising cherry-shaped foie gras starter (photo).

In the morning, an à la carte breakfast is served in the restaurant. It's not a buffet: you sit down and someone comes to take your order. The menu is very extensive and eggs are prepared according to your preferences. Croissants and breads baked just right. Everything is brought to your table on a 3-tier tray, along with cheese, vegetables and fruit.

The Balthazar Design Hotel is located in the heart of Krakow, 2 min from Wawel Castle and 5 min from the Market Square. The nearby Church of St. Bernardine is well worth a visit. But it's clearly not as impressive as the spectacular St. Mary's Basilica... A pure architectural gem and a feast for the eyes.

If the weather is sunny, we recommend a stroll through the ring-shaped Parc des Planty, which encircles the city's historic center. Directions: leave the hotel and turn right. The park appears a little further on, on your left, near the streetcar stop. The walk lasts between 1h and 1h30 and takes you almost back to your starting point.