f0zzyNUE I presume you are flying TK, they depart from T2. If you take the metro there is only one exit, the departure hall is immediately on the right. The Lounge is nothing special (Level 0). After the Duty Free take the lift on the right towards the exit and then do left 180. Some some pictures can be seen here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luft...re-lounge.html
If you are smoker, I think the initial device restriction is lifted.

The lounge is in the Schengen area, I have no experience how much time do you need for passport control. When Bulgaria was outside of Schengen from my memories that was varying between 5 and 30mins (all passengers had to pass through it - domestic departures were from totally different area of the airport)

Just had the night at the IC Sofia. We were upgraded to a King Classic Cathedral View but decided to stick with the 2 bed standard room. We arrived by taxi at around 23:30 and had to get up at 7:00 in the morning - so the view would not be to enjoyed - anyway the cathedral was dark during the night because something fantastic was taking place - the 5th Lunar Festival - Festival of Lights with projections on many buildings in the city center. Streets around the hotel were blocked so the taxi could not drop us off in front of the hotel.
We were excited and after dropping our bags in the room we went to find at least some of these exhibits on display until 0:00 / 0:30. Strolled through the city center for around 2 hours and liked the city so we will come back soon. Before sleep we grabbed two local beers from the minibar to use the 20$/15€ Ambassador voucher. Prices are very moderate.

Regarding the room - the two beds were single beds (not queen or king) with some kind of hard mattress. I could sleep well. Bathroom was large with separate shower and bathtub. the toilet seat mounted very low :rolleyes:
In the morning (after oversleeping due to a non working iPhone alarm) we had a quick breakfast in the lounge (empty - no staff - wonder where you would order the a la carte options from the menu on the tables :rolleyes:). Afterwards we went back to the airport by Metro. Quick and very punctual ;) (checked google maps for time with taxi - due to some congestion it would have been around 25 minutes while Metro trip was 32 minutes.

We skipped the Aspire lounge at the airport.

IC Sofia Minibar prices
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1f16522eab.jpg

Diamond Ambassador welcome letter
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0a4ea9d400.jpg

our upgrade was not generous. simple one-category upgrade for the reward room to a cathedral view room. on paid rates the price difference would have been 28€ for that upgrade. will see what happens next time ;)

f0zzyNUE
Just visited today for a quick breakfast, hoping to meet my fav staff member and I did. I had a nice conversation trying to ask some questions:
1. In general, they are trying to provide good AMB upgrade experience no matter whether it is a points or cash booking
2. In general, AMB upgrade experience is not dependent on whether guest is regular or not
3. If something goes wrong they are trying to compensate the situation as much as possible
Next time if you want to experience good craft beer or great wine feel free to drop a DM for some recommendations

SOF may be suffering a downturn for visitors who are/were BA status holders.

SOF was a very useful destination on BA to requalify for BAEC/BAC status. The BA forum regularly posted meet ups.

The 2025 revision to the BA Club status criteria probably renders mileage runs in business/club on BA to SOF both expensive and futile.

Detailed review of my stay in September 2025
 

What is your IHG One Rewards status?
Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes, very much.

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked cheapest rate and received one King Terrace Suite Cathedral view

How are the rooms?
Around 50sqm large + terrace.
More a Junior Suite than proper suite.

Elegant interior design.

Seating area, desk.
Very comfortable bed.

Bathroom with bathtub, separate shower and toilets. Byredo Bal d’Afrique toiletries.

Flat screen television sets with basic selection of international channels.
Chromecast

Usb sockets next to the bed and desk.

Nice view over the cathedral. Very pleasant and large terrace.
Very efficient air conditioning (it was very hot in Sofia this weekend!).

No PressReader.

How is the exec. lounge?

Not huge but very pleasant..

Excellent service.

Very good breakfast with à la carte eggs (breakfast can also be take at restaurant).

Afternoon tea with very good pastries.

Evening drinks and very good hot and cold canapés. On some days the club lounge was quite busy, so the buffet emptied quickly and it could take a little while before it was replenished.


What was good and what was bad?

GOOD
- Great staff
- Nice suite with terrace.
- Very pleasant club lounge
- Elegant décor
- Unbeatable location
- Metro station with direct access to Terminal 2

BAD
- Nothing.

Value for $ or IHG One Rewards Points? Would you return?
Yes, definitely.The InterContinental enjoys a very central location. Most of the city can be explored on foot, and for longer distances bicycles are easy to hire.

Sofia itself is a pleasant city, and in September the weather is still warm (it sits on the rather same latitude as Rome).

The city is green, with more and more lively and trendy spots appearing.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...030e0d10c.jpeg

Club lounge
 

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...822c18b59.jpeg




Around the hotel
 

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...15f97b5bc.jpeg


Thanks lot's of hidden gems, which even I as a local did not recognize.

Happy New Year

FYI starting tomorrow (2 Jan) there will be some repair works on the ground floor and Ador will be unavailable.
Breakfast will be on the Mezzanine floor at restaurant Studio.
Current ETA is 2 weeks.

Spent 2 nights Fri-Sun as Diamond Ambassador with Club Access. Booked on points, was upgraded to Cathedral View.

Club Intercontinental was really nice and quiet. The evening cocktails had tons of stuff to choose from, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Afternoon tea was nice as well. There were plenty of hot and cold canapes, sweet and savory stuff. It has no view, the only "problem".

Hotel is well connected to metro and airport and located just in the city center. All major attractions are reachable on foot.

15 EUR ambassador credit can be spent on the minibar.

Top notch egg florentine in the lounge for breakfast. Regular breakfast in the restaurant was also great, I loved the "Bulgarian corner" with wide spread of traditional bulgarian stuff.

The only nitpick I have is that there's no pool in this hotel... :D Apart from that, this is a great place in Sofia to stay. Considering the cost of the hotel, this has to be one of the better value InterContinentals in Europe.

I had a nice Birthday staycation earlier this month.
Some days before the stay we went for an Eggs Benedict breakfast with Mrs. K and during a nice conversation with our favorite Front desk lady I was advised there is only 1 room left of my desired upgrade. So i booked and was upgraded on the spot :)
Regarding the breakfast in the Club Lounge - it is back. Something I spotted during my 1 night stay there was no Cocktails menu as shown by MrsW but I was assured afterwards they are still served (we were just getting ready for the fantastic evening :). Katerina was not at the lounge.
Speaking of Katerina we decided to visit the Ador's bar last weekend and were enjoying how the Lounge guests Cocktails were being prepared under her watchful eyes.
Crosschecking what MrsW posted and the Ador's menu it looks not everything is included in the Lounge menu, but upon inquiring I was assured we can receive an excluded Cocktail. I tend to believe the statement as I met the bar guys for the first time and they did not know me.

I will add pictures later today.