St Andrew’s Apartments

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to St Andrew’s Apartments on Avram Iancu Street, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones that completely catch you off guard. This little gem sits right in the heart of Sibiu’s Old Town, and I mean properly in the thick of it – you’re literally steps away from those famous colored houses that look like they’re watching you with sleepy eyes.

The thing about this place is that it actually feels like you’re living in the old town rather than just visiting it. The apartments (and yeah, they’re proper apartments, not just hotel rooms with a kitchenette thrown in) have this authentic Romanian character that you can’t fake. I stayed in one of the upper floor units, and honestly, the morning light streaming through those traditional windows while I had my coffee was pretty magical. The owner clearly knows what travelers actually need – there’s decent Wi-Fi, the heating works properly (crucial if you’re there in winter, trust me), and the kitchens are stocked with real cookware, not those flimsy tourist-trap pans you usually get. I ended up cooking a few meals with stuff I grabbed from the local market on Piața Cibin, which is maybe a three-minute walk away.

What really sets this place apart is the location without the tourist trap pricing. You’re close enough to hear the church bells from the Lutheran Cathedral – which, by the way, becomes part of your daily rhythm rather than annoying after a day or two. The street itself is quiet enough that you can sleep with the windows open, but you’re still within easy walking distance of all the main squares. I mean, you can stumble back from a late dinner at one of those wine cellars near the Small Square without having to navigate half the city or deal with taxis. The check-in process was refreshingly straightforward too – no hovering staff or pushy upselling, just keys and good directions to the nearest grocery store. I will say the stairs are a bit steep if you’re hauling heavy luggage, but that’s pretty standard for these old buildings. The 9.6 rating makes total sense once you’ve been there – it’s not trying to be fancy, it’s just doing everything right for people who want to experience Sibiu like a local rather than a tourist passing through.