CafAfA© Athenee, Hiltonaa‚¬a„¢s newest Bucharest restaurant, opens today

Newsroom 20/09/2010 | 14:08

Café Athenee opened today, after the finalization of the renovation works scheduled for 2010 at Athenee Palace Hilton. The bistro-café aims to mix the classic with the contemporary, combing the freshly modernized outlet with the classical setting of the almost 100-year-old hotel.

When asked about the investment for the Café Athenee, Linda Griffin, the newly appointed General Manager of the hotel, disclosed only the total sum invested by Ana Hotels this year for the hotel’s renovation, EUR 2 million. The food & beverage section of the hotel aims, however, to reach a 10 percent business increase for the following year, given the fact that 40 percent of the hotel’s business is represented by food & beverage.

The 200-sqm location’s menu focuses on classical European dishes and beverages, as well as Hilton-specific cuisine. Romanian food did not yet make it to the menu, yet the western neighboring country’s delicatessen, goulash, is part of the bistro’s specialties. Regarding the price range, one should expect to spend RON 12 for an espresso to RON 1,325, for the location’s most expensive bottle of champagne. Music wise, jazz and lounge will hold the café’s center stage.

The opening of the Café Athenee completes the refurbishment of the hotel’s ground floor, along with the new Main Lobby and rejuvenated Colonnades. Griffin has also announced that the renovation works will continue at the start of 2011, when the hotel’s main restaurant, Roberto’s, will go through a new facelift for its Italian concept. The ground floor shop situated in the Calea Victoriei hotel will open sometime in November or December this year and is rumored (yet not confirmed) to have a Prada store.