Sitting under a blue sky on the terrace of the Athenee Palace Hotel, one might mistakenly think one is in the midst of an exotic jungle setting. That's due to the mysterious monkey sounds emanating from the foliage of nearby tree-tops. But no, it’s not the Amazon or deepest parts of Africa. It’s Bucharest, capital of Romania, and the noise one hears is a mimicking one, a creative ruse to keep nuisance birds away from guests' tables.
It works, as guests sit leisurely, undisturbed, drinking with friends and family or eating a fine meal cooked carefully under the direction of chef Franz Conde. But monkey sounds are far from being the only intriguing aspect of this elegant, downtown Bucharest hotel. Dating back to 1914, this historic landmark, as R.G. Waldeck’s book Athene Palace points out is, "one of the world’s grand hotels. Survival, triumph, journalism, politics, and intrigue have all contributed to (its) current fame.”
Take the English Bar for example. More recently home to the country's exclusive Cigar Club, it carries aloft an enviable history. During World War II, this intimate, cozy, ground-floor corner bar was the scene of nefarious, dramatic goings-on as elites, including members of European royal families from neighboring countries, fled the advancing Nazis to the temporary safe haven of neutral Romania, mixing together over cocktails with spies from all sides sitting at nearby tables.
Today’s ambience could hardly be more different than that of yesteryear. Then, tension was at its highest, but now the English Bar provides utter relaxation, a highly-valued place to unwind, complete with plush surroundings, a mix of muted reds and yellows, with soft light projected from chandeliers and gentle music easing from overhead speakers.
