Personalities and 5-star stories at the Athénée Palace - In its 107 years of existence, the Athénée Palace Hotel has seen, hosted and witnessed many historic events, but it has also been a magnet for the personalities of the times it has lived through.

Both before the world wars and in the inter-war period, the Athénée Palace played host to the socialites of Bucharest and Europe: kings, queens, princes and princesses, presidents and celebrities all passed through its sumptuous doors. It was a favorite venue for receptions and tea dances. The "Le Diplomate" room and the "English Bar" have been building their top reputation since the 1930s, when they were some of the most popular venues in the capital.

Ecaterina Caradja (née Kretzulescu), was one of the most respected and remarkable women of her time, who frequented the Athénée Palace, where she was held in high esteem. She became very well known for her help to British and American prisoners of war in our country, who baptized her "The Angel of Ploiești".

One of the most attractive "young ladies" who made an appearance at the Athénée Palace was Elena Prodan. She was a beautiful woman who knew how to stand out. At receptions, she would come last, after all the guests had arrived, and would direct her entrance. She was generous, warm and generally cheerful, with a more liberal outlook on life.

The English Bar also attracted writers, poets and the new intellectual elite of the time. Both inter-war and post-war writers spent hours in the hotel brasserie. Ion Barbu, Păstorel Teodoreanu, Geo Bogza, Octavian Goga, Camil Petrescu and Nicolae Grigorescu are just some of the famous names who passed by.

Păstorel Teodoreanu, the famous epigramist and lover of exquisite dishes, went down in history with a funny story. One evening, he came out of the bar more cheerful than usual and walked up to a galloned man in uniform, whom he thought was a doorman. He took out a 5 lei note and asked him: "Please get me a taxi." The poet had made a mistake and thought the porter was an admiral, who had just left a hotel reception. Indignant, he declined his identity, threatening the poet with arrest. The poet retorted without thinking: "Then call me a boat".

At the Athénée Palace, Pastorel met and enjoyed the unparalleled cuisine of the famous chef Nicolae Colea Olexiuc, who remained his favorite, and whose recipes he later took over and published. Aspic, butcher's pot, batogul, boeuf salad and many others remain famous.

Other famous Athénée Palace dishes? "Magret of duck breast with endives and cherry puree", marzipan, dark chocolate and cream cheese desserts. The famous "Amalfi" cocktail, a favorite of Countess Waldeck, author of the book "Athene Palace"It is one of the most famous drinks that you can still enjoy today.

Many have come to the Athénée Palace, guided or hopelessly seduced by its gastronomic reputation. One example? US President Richard Nixon. In 1968, on the occasion of his visit to Romania, his culinary master Iulian Stanciu, who was then chef at the Athénée Palace, cooked for him.

The culinary fast was maintained throughout the 60s and 70s. Dumitru Burtea, one of the seniors of the Romanian culinary art, was then a practicing apprentice at the Athénée Palace. "Customers were welcomed and shown to their tables according to the protocol of the great hotel houses. They were served in an atmosphere that exuded elegance and the restaurant staff served wearing bow ties and white gloves. The culinary pomp was preserved, and we can say that we had a school of culinary artists who were trained and owe a great deal to this iconic hotel"recalls Dumitru Burtea.

30 years later, sports and music celebrities were dropping by the hotel to sleep in the luxurious suites of the renowned Athénée Palace HotelPrince Albert of Monaco, Marco Van Basten, Edwin Van der Saar, Messi, Joe Cocker, The Rolling Stones, Nicholas Cage, Lady Gaga, Brigitte Bardot, Tom Jones, Paris Hilton or Paolo Coelho, many political officials.

In 2020, the company "ANA Hotels", the owner of the hotel, started the fourth major renovation of the monument building. The hotel modernization project is being carried out in two stages: the first stage includes updating the design and infrastructure of the 132 rooms of the "New Wing", built in 1965, and the second stage is aimed at renovating the hotel facade and the rooms of the "Old Wing", built in 1914.

The new design of the rooms is based on a contemporary and elegant furnishing concept that complements the hotel's 107-year history. Work on the first phase of the renovation will be completed soon, so that from June onwards, we can enjoy the new Athénée Palace Hilton experience.