Our journey through Moldova took us to the historic northeastern city of Soroca, set on the right bank of the Dniester River which forms the border with Ukraine. Here we enjoyed a comfortable overnight stay at the friendly, family run Central Hotel which has less than 20 rooms.
From the moment we arrived, the welcome felt genuinely warm. The owner clearly knew our guide well and check in was simple and we invited to choose our breakfast from four set menus displayed on a laminated card.
We were pleased to find our room on the ground floor, as the hotel does not have a lift. The room itself was spacious and thoughtfully equipped: a comfortable double bed with reading lights, bedside tables (one with a small fridge tucked beneath it, slightly limiting access to the charging point), a wardrobe, desk and chair, television, luggage rack, and two complimentary bottles of water.
The bathroom was an unexpected highlight. Of the ten hotels we stayed in during our trip, this one offered arguably the best shower: a walk in design with a solid, flat base, excellent water pressure, plentiful hot water, and simple controls. The space also included toiletries, a heated towel rail, a generously sized mirror with excellent lighting, and a hairdryer.
Breakfast was served at 8am in the basement restaurant and, as we had pre ordered, it was ready on arrival. We chose the egg free option: crepes filled with cottage cheese, served with jam and the ever present Moldovan sour cream. The accompanying Americano, served with hot milk, was particularly good.
The basement restaurant also contained a small bar, although it wasn’t open during our stay, most likely due to the limited number of guests. Outside, there was a closed but attractive looking drinks-serving area, which would no doubt come into its own during the warmer months.
Overall, this was a pleasant and comfortable stop in Soroca. While the facilities were simple, the friendly welcome, spacious room, excellent shower and enjoyable breakfast made it a very enjoyable overnight stay.
