Hotel Review: InterContinental Ljubljana – The Most Luxurious in Town

InterContinental Ljubljana opened its doors in 2017 as the only IHG property in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. Housed in a 20-floor building (the 2nd tallest in Ljubljana) just steps away from the train station and bus terminal, the property has 165 rooms sporting the newer look of InterContinental hotels. Ljubljana has gained prominence in recent years as a tourist destination and until the entry of InterContinental, there weren’t many true luxury lodging options in town. 

I arrived in Ljubljana on a gloomy afternoon from Sarajevo. Getting from airport to city was relatively easy. There were three airport shuttle booths from three different companies all offering the same price – EUR 10 to get to the city. The shuttle dropped me off directly at the entrance of the InterContinental Ljubljana where the bellman quickly opened the door to escort me in.

Location-wise, the InterContinental Ljubljana sits at the CBD where most of the offices are located. The city’s famous triple bridge is only about 15 minutes walk away. Ljubljana is a relatively small town and most places that are of interest to tourists are within walking distance. 

Check-in was relatively quick and I was quite impressed with the detailed explanation given by the front desk. After seeing my IHG Rewards Club status, the staff member immediately offered late checkout which I gladly obliged. For the welcome gift, I was also given the option to choose between points or a drink by the bar.

Club King Room at InterContinental Ljubljana

During the check-in procedure, I was told that I was upgraded to the Club King Room. However, since my original booking did not come with executive lounge access, my upgrade was just for the room and not for the access. That said, I’m happy just to be upgraded. The club rooms are larger than the base level rooms (52 sq meters vs. 41 sq meters). The size is the same as the property’s next tier rooms – the deluxe – but the club room differs in that it comes with a nice wooden flooring instead. 

As mentioned previously, the rooms here sport the newer InterContinental design. The usage of wood and dark, masculine panels remind me quite a bit of the refurbishment being done in InterContinental Malta when I stayed there and also of the color scheme at InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay. There were pendant lights at both sides of the bed which gave the room a chic, modern feel. 

At 52 square meters and with a square-ish layout, the club room at InterContinental Ljubljana was spacious enough for a long ottoman to be placed in front of the bed and still have a wide enough gap between that and the TV. Apart from that, there’s also a lounge chair by the window as well as the obligatory work desk. The flat screen TV which was attached to the wall had screen mirroring capabilities and I loved streaming my own shows whenever I needed entertainment.

The minibar at the InterContinental Ljubljana came well-stocked with various beverages. There was one bottle of natural water and another of sparkling water offered on a daily basis. Milk, in various fat percentages and even in organic or soya, can also be delivered for free upon request. All rooms come with a coffee making machine while the tea, in various types, comes from Ronnefeldt.

Another thing I really love about the room was the floor-to-ceiling windows. This allowed for plenty of light to come in during the day and I enjoyed just watching the world go by from the window whenever I was in the room. 

The bathroom is relatively spacious with a bathtub and separate cubicles for the shower as well as toilet. Toiletries come from Chopard which is a nice departure from the usual Agraria brand seen in other InterContinental hotels. The large rain shower head was a nice touch and made for relaxing soaks.

Facilities

Facilities-wise, the InterContinental Ljubljana has a wellness level in the 18th floor where the gym, sauna, jacuzzi and indoor pools are located. While I did not manage to go for a dip during the stay, I thought the layout of the swimming pool took clever advantage of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The jacuzzi is located just next the pool with a few resort-style chairs to complete the scene. As with the pool, both the jacuzzi and resort chairs also look out to the view outside the hotel. If I were not out and about in Ljubljana, I could imagine myself just sitting here all day with a good book.

The gym is relatively large for a hotel of this size and comes with the complete set of equipment. I used it twice and was alone during both times. There is a good balance between strength and cardio equipment. The facility is open 24 hours a day.

Breakfast

Contrary to most hotels I’ve been to, breakfast at InterContinental Ljubljana is served on the top floor (20th) rather than at ground level. B Restaurant, which is a dining destination in its own right during lunch and dinner, serves as the venue for the morning meal. 

As with many InterContinental hotels, breakfast at InterContinental Ljubljana consist of a modest buffet with pastries, fruits, cereals and sausages as well as an ala carte offering. Guests who have booked breakfast with their stay or those who shell out EUR 20 per person for their morning meal can order as much as they wish from the ala carte menu. 

In my 2 days there, I tried a variety including eggs benedict, pancakes and even beef with eggs. Of all the items I tried, I particularly loved the truffled omelette with the fragrant aroma of the truffle palpable the moment it’s served on my table. Generally, everything was of high quality. The croissant in the buffet was among the crispiest I’ve ever had.

Verdict

While the InterContinental Ljubljana was not my first experience with the newer InterContinental hotels aesthetic, this property is probably my favorite so far in the looks department. Service was also excellent with a genuine desire among the hotel staff to please guests. It actually rained almost the entire time I was in Ljubljana but I’m glad I spent the most part “stuck” here.

InterContinental Ljubljana
Slovenska Cesta 59
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

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