Grand Hotel Lviv (English)

Researching historic hotels in Eastern Europe presents a unique challenge. In these regions, communist influence shaped the hospitality industry differently from the West. The principle of equality left lasting marks, still noticeable among the older generation. The Western concept of genuine, warm service was long misunderstood. However, the younger generation is now passionate about adopting and delivering Western standards with enthusiasm. Let’s see how long it will take before we witness a "typical Ukrainian hospitality" emerging. This distinct, country-specific charm has become almost an alien concept in the age of globalization.

In western Ukraine, in the former Austro-Hungarian city of Lemberg, now Lviv, traces of imperial legacy abound. One standout is the Grand Hotel, located on the city’s most prestigious boulevard. This book invites you to explore its story—a journey that required meticulous research under challenging conditions, including the ongoing war.

Today’s Grand Hotel stands as a modern masterpiece. Renovated to world-class standards by its young owners, it has become a vibrant meeting place for the city’s stylish and affluent crowd. Trendy and conscious of design, the hotel reflects Lviv's new identity, where every corner boasts sleek Apple Stores and fashionable spots. The addition of a casino discreetly located at the back of the building only enhances its allure.

Most noteworthy, however, is the culinary excellence of chef Oleg Gorbachov. His creations, celebrated in several dedicated pages of this book, elevate the hotel’s reputation to new heights. Yet no book can replace a personal visit, and we hope these pages will inspire you to experience it for yourself.

"Once again, Andreas Augustin spins a tale of hospitality history. This time, he ventures east into the realm of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire — into Galicia and its capital city, Lviv. He introduces us to literary masters of the past and sheds light on this celebrated city, now a tourist hotspot.

Research was undertaken during Russian attacks on Ukraine and Lviv. The author recalls: "I was not amused, but ironically, I never felt unsafe! Maybe it helps to have a luxurious spa-swimming pool as an air-raid shelter, although I'd rather prefer the glass-walled penthouse room on top of the hotel to enjoy the view!"

Lemberg is perhaps the most inviting and historic of all Ukrainian cities. To have a luxurious (by all measures!) Grand Hotel as a residence helps. Exquisite food and highest standards of accommodation including.

Western-influenced from its time as the capital of Galicia in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the city offers a fascinating blend of cultures and lies at the watershed between Eastern and Western Europe. The Lviv Opera House, just a stone's throw away from the Grand Hotel, is a magnificent building from the monarchy, while the charming arrangement of squares and narrow streets dates back centuries.

The Grand Hotel, opened in the year of the "Great Exhibition of 1894" when Emperor Franz Joseph visited the city, is today considered the best hotel in Ukraine. Elegantly and tastefully renovated, it retains the charm of the monarchy and operates with contemporary technology at the touch of a button. The book perfectly captures the atmosphere that awaits us here. 

It is a family hotel, with a fine restaurant. 

But it also has its suprising sides: the secret of the famous author Sacher Masoch (who was born in this building) is well-guarded in the hotel's Sado-Maso Suite. Who dares to take the first step into the mysteries of the night?