Review: Apartament Na Mariensztacie

I originally wasn’t sure whether or not to write a review of my Airbnb stay in Warsaw. On one hand, reviewing an Airbnb is different compared to an airline or a hotel, since it’s someone’s private home and I would hate to disparage any individual in reviewing my travels.

On the other hand, Airbnb is a growing force in the travel community, and staying at Airbnbs and experiencing the local, personal connection that they offer is a hugely attractive proposition for many travellers.

Eventually, I decided to review my Airbnb stays going forward, providing that I have the host’s blessing to do so. I think this is the fairest policy for travel bloggers – after all, I do want to cover all of the possibilities that await today’s travellers, but I’m not prepared to go full secret shopper mode on what could be a major source of income for somebody.

Overall, I think Airbnb is a fantastic service and I’ve made use of it many times in the past as well, with great results. I’ve had wonderful stays in places like Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, and Brighton, England. There’s just something so fun about having an entirely new home to yourself for a couple of days! If you’re keen to try Airbnb, click here to get a free $50 credit!

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After staying at the wonderful Hotel Bristol for one night, we made the quick 10-minute walk over to Apartament na Mariensztacie (Apartment in Mariensztat), situated just a few steps outside Warsaw’s Old Town. The apartment goes for around $50 per night, and there’s a $36 cleaning fee. For my stay, I had some Airbnb credit sitting around, so I paid about $100 in total for two nights.

“Mariensztat” is the name of both the road on which the apartment block sits, as well as the neighbourhood it’s located in. The residential neighbourhood is quiet and serene, and has lots of green space.

Our host Andrzej got in touch with us a day prior to our check-in date to verify what time we’d be arriving. He also gave us detailed instructions on how to find the place and get into the building and the apartment in his absence.

Unfortunately we never got to meet Andrzej during our short two-night stay; nevertheless, he was a wonderful host and met all our needs perfectly. He was quick to respond over email and gave us several recommendations for both our Warsaw visit during our stay, and our next visit to Poland after our stay had ended. Thanks Andrzej!

Our unit was on the second floor of the apartment building. The building feels very authentically Polish, with a staircase wrapping around the front side of the building and the units towards the back. 

Upon entering the unit, you find yourself in a small hallway that opens up to the rest of the studio apartment. The main area is a combination of living room, dining room, and kitchen. There’s a very comfortable couch and a small TV screen for your enjoyment.

Then you have a full, well-stocked kitchen (complete with washing machine) as well as a dining table. There’s a fridge and a large cabinet in the corner.

The kitchen cabinets had all the plates, cups, and cutlery you need, as well as pantry items like flour, cereal, coffee, and tea.

Meanwhile, the large cabinet in the corner played host to a microwave, some city guides, some decorations and spare household items, and extra towels if you needed them.

To the left of the TV set was an alcove that served as the “bedroom” of the studio apartment. I loved the plaid wallpaper of this little alcove, which really served to distinguish it from the rest of the studio and make it feel a little bigger.

There were two sets of towels nicely laid out for us on the bed, which I thought was a nice touch. The bed itself was decently comfortable, though slightly on the soft side.

On the side of the bed there were also several shelves on which you could charge your electronics or read one of the books that’s been left behind by fellow travellers.

Onto the bathroom, which is located near the hallway at the entrance. What it lacks in size, the bathroom makes up for in functionality: both the shower and the sink were exceptionally well-designed given the space constraints, and there was never any chance of spilling water everywhere. The bathroom was also well-stocked with all the amenities we needed, including shampoo and body wash.

Lastly, the location of this Airbnb is unbeatable. The apartment block is situated in the charming Mariensztat neighbourhood, just steps away from Warsaw Old Town (and I mean that literally – there’s a winding stone staircase that takes you from Castle Square down to the residential areas). Other important sights like the Warsaw and the Chopin Museum are within walking distance. There’s also a pharmacy and a convenience store located downstairs. If you’re looking for a central, convenient place to stay in Warsaw, you can’t beat Apartament na Mariensztacie for value.

Conclusion

Apartament na Mariensztacie is ideal for a solo traveller or a couple that’s looking for an affordable place to stay in Warsaw. It’s located very close to the action and leaves you well-positioned to catch all of the city’s sights on a day out. The apartment itself is cozy and lovely, with all the amenities you might need, including laundry facilities. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again. Thanks for a great stay, Andrzej!

If you’re looking to try out an Airbnb stay, click here for a $50 credit!