Traveling and Dining: Kempinski Hotel River Park - Bratislava

Comfortable hotel for short weekend stay, site seeing or business. Great location over looking the Danube. Great to take a short stroll on the promenade where few local restaurants and cafes were set up. Watch out for outside restaurants over charging though.

The hotel itself has very friendly staff both at the reception also at the restaurant. The room was furnished tastefully in bright colours. The bed was reasonably firm and comfortable. Bathroom and shower was quite exceptional. If there was a downside about the room was the lack of tea and coffee making equipment and we had the room at the front of the building where we could hear the trams passing by every 15 minutes.

Restaurant ‘Riverbank’ in hotel was very good. A must to try the local dishes and wines. The head waiter: Ratislav and his staff were very helpful though a little miserable to start with… Only real criticism was the kid’s area in the restaurant with Wendy type play house and cars bit off putting if you are seeking a quiet dinner for two.

Local dishes that we have tasted for diner were:

Esencia z bazanta/ Pheasant Essence made from Slovak ingredients only, with karpatske special brandy and tatras forest mushroom as starter. Continued by Bravcova panenka s bryndzovymi haluskami

Panenka s tradicnymi bryndzovymi haluskami chroumkavou cibolkou a prelivom z pecenej papriky/

Pork loin with bryndza halusky - Traditional Slovak dish from Liptov region, crispy onion, roast paprika infusion as main course. Last but not least was the dessert. We had Cerstva malinova torta/ Fresh raspberry tart and selection of cheeses.

Red wine – Neronet Pavelska Terra Panna Modry Portugal 2008 Barrique

Dessert wine - Irsai Oliver Zitavske 2009 0,375 liter (sweet, aromatic, hint of rose petal, not too intense)

The whole dining experience was delightful.

‘Arte Bar’ serving selection of desserts and beverages. We had crème brulee, tiramisu and slovak lager Zlaty Bazant. Very odd combination, we must admit, but that was exactly what we fancied at the time.

Not to be missed was the complimentary service from the hotel, drop off service to the old town of Bratislava by hotel Rolls Royce Phantom which about 10 minutes drive away. Very nice touch, Kempinski!