Hotel ZEN Rooms a Bandung Wetan

Sawunggaling started life in 1920 as a private residence. Through its more than a century of existence, it has seen guests come and go as either a guesthouse or a hotel. Stepping into its humble lobby, you are immediately welcome into its long legacy. The architecture and furniture have been mostly preserved. There are also numerous black-and-white photos on the wall depicting the hotel and scenes of Bandung from the past, further immersing you in the building's rich past. As for the room itself, one could definitely find worse. The one I stayed in was neatly made and decently clean, though some of the furniture might show their age. The amenities are minimal, but the room is spacious, the AC works, the water heater is nifty to make a cup of morning tea, and there's even a bathtub - something very rarely found in newer hotels. On the flipside, the power sockets are not optimized for gadget use and the key is still not electronic. However, somehow the throw pillows in my room highly stunk of old hair oil. Thankfully, the actual pillows smell pleasant, so it's not much of a problem, but I did have to stack the throw pillows away from the bed to avoid the stench. Pay close attention to which room you are booking since the cheaper rooms don't come with hot water for the shower. This can be tough for people not used to showering with cold water (like me) especially since Bandung has relatively cool climate year round. There's also no wifi and the phone connection is also spotty (at least in my room) so it can be hard to even use data. The service is quite good, as all the staff are very friendly. There's a mixed café/coworking space on the ground floor, so it's a good space to work or get coffee if you don't feel going out. Speaking of which, its location near the heart of Bandung is quite convenient; there's a lot of sights to see and malls to shop in. Overall, if you keep your expectations in check and appreciate the history of the place, you'll have a pleasant stay at Sawunggaling - just like so many others had in its 100 years of existence.