First rule of cleavage: it’s not how low you go, but where and when you show Elisabeth Dale
Back in 2013, when we started this blog on short term rentals in Belgrade, we knew the best was yet to come. As the number of all kinds apartments for short term rent increased, so did the range of topics of interest to potential users of this type of accommodation. Everything we covered here was a breakthrough of sorts – either qualitative, aesthetic or monetary – and some of the apartments we described became the benchmarks of quality, unsurpassed to this day.
With the market dynamics, however, most won’t be resting on their laurels for long.
In the past month we have witnessed the appearance of something that we have have been waiting for a long time. As of today, we believe it’s time to speak of high-class apartments in Belgrade!
The drop that made the cup run over was in fact a whole barrel (or a haystack, if you opt for the camel and straws metaphor). It came in the form of a single and truly magnificent short term rental in Nemanjina street, that we decided to name after the eternal city.
It’s very classy. To the extent that we haven’t seen a short term rental in Belgrade that is quite so dashing in appearance and swanky in its offerings. And we have quite a bit to say about both of them. So if you feel like reading the whole thing through, stick with us. If not, you can go and check out if it is available right away on the apartment’s homepage.
The first impression of apartment ROME is one of cold elegance and times past. It lays on the second floor of an apartment building built in art-deco style, behind a large two winged door in the hallway partially coated in marble. Its entryway is plain and spacious. Two large bulit-in wardrobes in a simple white color take up one of the walls, and a backyard facing window that lets in the daylight.
However, once you ajar the old door, something spectacular awaits behind:
The space opens up in all of its visual splendor. A strange combination of decorative trophies and opulence overwhelms your senses. After the initial shock, you will first distinguish a colossal ponytail palm that towers over a chic, black leather Chesterfield armchair. The animal skin pelt covering the floor looks as if it once adorned the back of an exotic game in sub-Saharan Africa. The low backrest ottoman, which resembles a Roman accubita lays in the corner and enhances the impression with its cheetah upholstery.
The far end of the room is reserved for a TV stand with elevated faux marble frames. The TV set comes with a relatively small screen for short term rental standards and a relatively large and truly stunning table lamp which resembles a vase. Shaped like a narrow glass cylinder it has four stacks of glass pearls inside it and they reflect the incandescent light in a most charming manner.
The next in line are the bedrooms. They are both very impressive and equally uncompromisingly original.
A giant, two-piece, relief cast in bronze overlooks the bed. Its motif, escapes us in our ignorance of mythology and art history, but it most certainly appears dramatic. We assume it is a battle of pagan deities, or ancient heroes – and a surreal landscape to lull you into sleep indeed. A chest of drawers and two elegant high rest chairs upholstered in faux leather accompany it.
The second bedroom allures with a different kind of elegance. It also serves the purpose of a study room. The sleeping part consists of a graceful, (and less curvy) bed frame with a high headboard, accompanied by two oval nightstands stitched in black leather and two gorgeous bedside lamps with tan shades. The study is really a section with two divans that have an acrylic dark colored translucent armrests, with an abundance of cushy pillows
A pair of modified sewing tables with stitched leather on their surfaces are in the corners of the room. The one on the right has a has a beautiful vintage Rheinmetal typewriter on it. and there is a bookshelf that lies between the two tables. It is literally crammed with an fine collection of titles (mostly in Serbian).
Bathroom is simple and modern, characterized by top quality fixtures and high functionality.On top of the basics (the towels and soaps), a whole bundle of extra amenities is added: the shower gels, the bathrobes, hair dryers, shaving creams and even a first aid cabinet filled with supplies. Now, this might be something people are used to in high class short term rentals in the developed world – but it is waaay above standard in Serbia.
The kitchen and its adjoining space boast an equally pleasant design. Painted in tranquil bright colours, with lots of daylight and appropriate halogen lights, this rooms enlists the kitchenware that is expected of upper-class homes rather than short term rentals. The cupboards and cabinets are custom made and perfectly arranged in its alcove shape. The utensils, cookery and cookery items are all there. And at a risk of being downright vulgar, we must say that so are the tidbits.
It goes without saying that the refined taste which conceptualized this top-notch apartment in Belgrade, took into account the oft-forgotten element in short term apartment accommodation. The fine, Mediterranean selection for Hors d’oeuvre awaits all visitors of ROME, regardless of the length of their stay.
The kitchen also happens to be the spot of a fully fledged laundry – as you’d expect from a modern luxury home, it is completely out of sight. The unobtrusive, built-in cupboard next to the entrance hides a washing machine and a dryer stacked on each other. Of course, the ironing board and cleaning utilities are also there.
Finally, ROME comes with a balcony. It can be accessed from the kitchen, the living room but also the corridor of the building. A young clibing vine peers from the flower beds hung along the railing and overlooks the backyard surrounded by old residential buildings. Although the view is the least impressive, it carries a lot of authenticity of Old Belgrade.
In spite of its age, the apartment is very modern. The thermal and sound insulation are top-notch, and presence of electric radiators and air-conditioning units in all of the rooms ensure that you can adapt the atmosphere to your own liking. The fine burnished parquetry covers the whole apartment (except for the bathroom and kitchen,obviously) and the only room without the modern suspended ceilings with lighting fixtures has the classiest chandelier.
Decorations abound to the point of extravagance. Each of the rooms is supplied with beautiful vases and fresh flowers, each is adorned with at least two small sculptures, the curtains and draperies are perfectly matched and the lighting both accent and functional borderlines visual art.
As you come down to Earth from the first impact of this visual holiday, and start dealing with less ephemeral qualities of the apartment, there are two little objections that may pertain to it.In our biased defense of Rome, we do have a justification for both.
Firstly, the ambiance and the service come at a price. Not just any price, but the most expensive in our current offer. But in all honesty, it is to be expected. This short term rental perfectionism in Belgrade will convince you that every cent was well spent.
The other tiny detail is the one that the contemporary elite will mind quite a bit, is the fact that ROME is in the reddest of all zones for parking, and it hasn’t got a dedicated spot of its own. This is also quite Belgradian, as those who resided in this area in the past six decades didn’t need that much mobility. Ok, this is not an excuse, but it is very much in the spirit of the capital.
All in all, ROME offers the best of the past and the present, both in terms of zeitgeist and the standard of service a short term rental in Belgrade could provide. Hence, if you want a high class short term rental apartment in Belgrade, your first-choice has just come to being. And if you can afford it, our advice is to have no second thoughts about booking it.