Shiroka Laka Hotel

Shiroka Laka Hotel is a 2009-built four-star property set on a hill above the village of the same name, in the architectural and folklore reserve of the Rhodopes. Its exterior reworks the timber-and-stone form of the traditional Rhodope house into a contemporary shell. Inside, rooms and suites are soundproofed and fitted with flat-screen televisions and wired internet, ranging from double rooms up to executive suites. The restaurant seats seventy indoors, with a further twenty places on a panoramic terrace, and serves Rhodope specialities alongside a wine list large enough to pair a bottle to almost any dish. It is open daily. A tavern and a night club sit alongside it. For downtime, the relax zone runs a jacuzzi for four, a steam bath, a dry sauna and a variety of massages, plus a fitness gym next door. Children under 13 are not admitted to the relax zone without an adult. The village itself sits in the Rhodope Mountains of southern Bulgaria, known for its well-preserved architecture. From the hotel, guests can walk into that historic centre or head out onto forest trails and, in winter, nearby ski slopes. Meals are made from local, chemical-free ingredients, and the whole property is non-smoking.