The hyper-acceleration of our first year shortened our concept of time and put DOT Sofia at the center of the urban conversation. Prestigious awards, hundreds of visitors from all over the world and events that captured the social spirit in a casual format - not a day without a line, dear friends. Thank you for being and staying together! What you've shared helps us move forward, even when it's hard, and points us in the most important direction: the one you expect us to take.
"Coming here makes me feel good. High-quality service without the excessive noise of typical city hotels. After a tiring trip or a long walk in an unfamiliar city, privacy is my most precious moment," says Karen from Australia, spontaneously comparing DOT Sofia with the best hotels in the world. The elegant atmosphere, the sense of tranquility and the quiet luxury in the heart of an old European capital prove to be a surprisingly good combination for our guests; They are already writing the history of DOT Sofia.
Started 1 year ago, faster than expected.
On the day of our opening, we received our first major recognition - DOT Sofia won the Grand Prize at the Bulgarian Architecture Awards 2023. Other prestigious awards followed, including Best Concept Hotel and Best Sustainable Building 2023. Thanks to our outstanding partners I/O Architects - arch. Georgi Katov and arch. Vyara Zhelyazkova, who made our sword for an unusual hotel "with a rusty facade" in a multi-genre area come true.
"Extremely creative interior, creativity is everywhere here" - say visitors to the hotel, often unaware that we are presenting the largest private collection of contemporary Bulgarian art in a public space. Curated by our Art Director Veselina Sarieva (Sarieva/Gallery), the DOT Sofia Art Collection includes over 200 works by internationally renowned and emerging contemporary Bulgarian artists. Almost like a big gallery, in its first year DOT Sofia presented 5 exhibitions by the artists Stefan Nikolaev, Pravdolyub Ivanov, Nedko Solakov, Dimitar Genchev and Desislava Terzieva. The photo exhibition "Sofia Stop '70" with archival footage by Panayot Bernev from 1975 marked our first birthday and was related to the exploration and documentation of the area where DOT Sofia is located - Old Sofia, the Vazrazhdane district and especially the Women's Market.
Captured by the large shutters in front of our windows, the rhythm of the women's market and its constant dynamism can be felt in the menu of the KOMAT restaurant. For most of our guests, it is also their first encounter with the tastes of the city. Honored with the most important Bulgarian culinary awards - Sofia's Best New Restaurant 2023 Guild's Choice (Go Food & Drink Awards) and Restaurant of the Year 2023 in the Debut category ("Bacchus") only half a year after its opening, KOMAT transforms the traditional Bulgarian taste into a universal gastronomic experience. The team never stops searching for culinary treasures - at the women's market and on the farms of our great partners, experimenting with the possibilities of fresh local produce. In its first year, KOMAT has become a platform for adventurous guild members who have chosen its collaborative philosophy to develop new culinary concepts and change the environment.
The symbiosis of an excellent hotel, a strong architectural vision, curated contemporary art and an award-winning restaurant has attracted the interest of the global media, putting DOT Sofia on the global travel map.
DOT Sofia became the first Bulgarian hotel to be included in Mr. and Mrs. Smith's prestigious selection of premium boutique accommodations - an invaluable companion for the fans of first-class hotel stays and top-notch service who write about us:
“In an up-and-coming neighbourhood close to the capital’s key sights, Dot Sofia is a luxe design den of apartment-style stays. Behind its striking red steel shutters, a team of local tastemakers has curated all kinds of sensory treats: 11 minimalist apartments, honed with fine Bulgarian craftsmanship; a restaurant putting an haute spin on traditional local plates; and displayed throughout, extraordinary contemporary art. Hundreds of years of history are on your doorstep, but an induction into 21st-century Sofia starts here.”
VOGUE included restaurant KOMAT in its exclusive selection of Sofia restaurants: "Your taste buds will enjoy artfully prepared (and served) local produce in the minimalist setting of a landmark building.
The September issue of Baltic Airlines chose DOT Sofia as one of three stops in Sofia: "The new boutique hotel combines the concepts of art, design and architecture; here authentic hospitality meets cosmopolitan spirit, creating DOT Sofia's trademark urban experience".
We celebrate with a sense of a job well done and look forward to seeing you!
DOT Sofia is an urban hotel with an impressive Corten steel façade in the spirit of the neighbourhood where it is located - the Women's Market and the historic centre of Sofia, which today is a multi-genre, ever-changing area. The hotel asserts its place here boldly, but also with respect for the cultural heritage and the community. DOT Sofia's original, site-specific building has won some of Bulgaria's most prestigious architectural awards and quickly attracted the interest of global publications and high-end accommodation platforms. The hotel offers 10 designer suites, each of minimalist elegance, and an impressive Penthouse with the largest private rooftop terrace in the city. The serene luxury of the clean-lined space is combined with works by iconic representatives of contemporary Bulgarian art. Art’s integration in an architectural space has long been a dream of DOT Sofia's founders, avid collectors themselves. Their private DOT Sofia Art Collection includes landmark works by established artists such as Nedko Solakov, Pravdoliub Ivanov, Stefan Nikolaev, Lachezar Boyadzhiev, as well as emerging artists such as Rudy Ninov, Kamen Stoyanov, Maria Nalbantova and many others. The works are displayed in the hotel's boutique apartments and public spaces. The building and interior of DOT Sofia is a natural habitat for contemporary Bulgarian art, inviting an extraordinary encounter with world-renowned Bulgarian artists.