Being the European Capital of Culture for 2016 has not only brought serious renovations and refurbishments to a city which was still, in parts, war-torn but also a bit of futuristic design in the shape of the gleaming OVO Wrocław.
A creation of Paris and Israel-based Gottesman-Szmelcman Architecture, the white, multi-windowed, oval-shaped walls appear rather like a cruise liner, save for the fact that it is on the edge of one of the city’s many leafy parks. Inside, there is more greenery in the courtyard, around which undulating walls encompass office spaces, apartments, a Holmes Place Health Club, a soon-to-open Casino and the very sleek new DoubleTree by Hilton.
Minimalist in feel, the hotel echoes the seamless, white, calm of its exterior. 189 rooms and suites offer luxurious accommodation from under floor heating in the bathrooms to ergonomic chairs at the desks. Crisply clad beds back onto headboards depicting elements of the city. Downstairs, seriously impressive food at OVO (try the veal cheeks, parsnip puree curried onions, roast buckwheat, sauté chard) is not to be missed, but stop first at the stylish Bar for a cocktail.
