Sam VanHeukelom
Jul 2026
★★★★★
A beautiful hotel, but the service is far below InterContinental standards
We have just completed a six-night stay at the InterContinental Warsaw. Based on the excellent reviews and its reputation as one of the leading InterContinental hotels in Europe, especially for its Club Lounge, we arrived with very high expectations. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing.
The positives are clear. The hotel is modern, clean and very well located, close to both metro and bus connections. The Club Lounge on the 41st floor offers an amazing view and has the physical setting and potential to be one of the best InterContinental lounges in Europe.
The main problem is the service culture.
Most staff members will do what you ask, but there is very little warmth, spontaneity or proactivity. Smiles and greetings are rare, staff seldom check whether guests need anything, and almost every interaction has to be initiated by the guest. Some employees appeared disengaged, insufficiently trained or focused on their phones. Dirty plates were sometimes left on lounge tables for too long, English proficiency was inconsistent, and there was very little natural interaction with guests.
The overall atmosphere therefore feels transactional rather than hospitable. We rarely felt genuinely welcomed, recognised or appreciated.
Check-in was also rushed and confusing, particularly as a Diamond Ambassador member. There was no Club Lounge check-in, only a minimal upgrade, little explanation of the hotel facilities and benefits, and no particularly warm welcome or recognition.
Daily service was inconsistent as well. Room amenities were regularly not replenished, breakfast variety was limited in both the main restaurant and the Club Lounge, and the doormen and bell staff frequently offered little or no greeting.
A notable exception was Vadym, Artem and Yana in the Club Lounge. They delivered genuinely good service, were attentive and friendly, and clearly made an effort to look after us. They stood out positively and are three strong members of the team.
This is certainly not a bad hotel. The building, location, cleanliness and lounge views are all very good. However, the service level we experienced was well below what we are used to from InterContinental hotels.
With stronger leadership, better training and a more guest-focused service culture, this hotel could live up to its reputation. Based on our stay, however, we cannot consider it one of Europe’s flagship InterContinental properties.
FYI: Diamond Ambassador, family Andries