M
Shared with you by A member · member no.
Assessment visible · Rates members only
Not recommended · Tartu
Below our star-rating threshold
Tartu
Hotel Soho
★★★
Rüütli tn 9, 51007 Tartu, Estonia
Engine scores
·Newness ≈2022
·Location 4.4
·Bedbug mentions 0 in 335 reviews
Member rate
€—,———
Booking.com shows the public rate for the same room and dates
Members see this rate in full. It is typically lower than the public price on this property — the same room, the same hotel, the same confirmation.
What guests love
Exceptional breakfast buffet with premium offerings including sparkling wine, ice cream, fresh fish, high-quality breads, waffles, and diverse international items that consistently impresses guests (87×)
Unbeatable central location directly on the main pedestrian street in old town Tartu with Town Hall Square, university, churches, restaurants and bars within immediate walking distance (112×)
Warm, professional and genuinely helpful staff who assist with local recommendations, provide flexible check-in/out, and create a welcoming atmosphere throughout the property (68×)
Spacious, clean, comfortable and well-appointed rooms with good beds, functioning air conditioning, and reliable hot water showers with good pressure(54×)
Modern, attractive lobby and common areas with pool, ambient vegetation, comfortable seating and pleasant atmosphere for relaxing between activities(19×)
Excellent value for money given the prime location, quality amenities, breakfast inclusion and service level compared to competitor hotels(31×)
Free or affordable parking option directly across the street with barrier access, solving a major pain point in central Tartu(14×)
Reliable and fast WiFi throughout the hotel enabling seamless connectivity and remote work capability(8×)
5 more positive findings visible to members.
Watch-outs · 8 recorded
Severe soundproofing deficiencies allowing neighbors' conversations, pre-parties and late-night returns from clubs to penetrate rooms with near-audible clarity (14×)
Inconsistent housekeeping with instances of missed room cleanings across multiple nights, hair in bathrooms, dirty mirrors, dust and inadequate bathroom sanitation (9×)
Dated, worn and tired room decor with 1990s-era furnishings, stained carpets, creaky beds, nonfunctional lights and general aesthetic neglect despite cleanliness (11×)
Uncomfortable beds with worn-out mattresses that sag significantly, requiring replacement and causing poor sleep quality even when other room aspects are satisfactory
(8×)
Unbearable nighttime noise from adjacent bar district with bass from clubs pounding through walls and street noise making sleep impossible even with provided earplugs
(9×)
Inadequate room amenities including missing basic items like drinking glasses, no water for sale, missing tea and coffee facilities, empty minibars and incomplete toiletries
(8×)
Poor bathroom conditions with slow drainage, visible mold, broken shower areas, foggy mirrors and inadequate lighting defeating the purpose of bathroom fixtures
(6×)
Unpleasant odors in rooms described as hospital-like or musty smells that guests found disturbing and staff were dismissive about addressing
(5×)
5 more further watch-outs — including the two most frequently reported — are visible to members.
Flags & notes
Parking note. Adequate — Free or paid parking available across the street with access barrier, though availability varies and guests report needing city parking during peak seasons.
Review history 335 dated reviews · 2022-02 → 2026-08
Monthly average (1–5)Smoothed trend
Review counts: 335 Google
8 month(s) with no reviews — possible closure/renovation gaps (shaded on the chart).
What the trend suggests
Possible decline2023-07 – 2023-0875% confidence
Two consecutive months of falling ratings (3.17 in July 2023, 3.73 in August 2023) suggest a service or facility issue during mid-summer 2023. Q3 2023 snippets document emerging complaints: room odour ('Quarto com mau cheiro'), worn bed/mattress ('colchão desconfortável'), poor dinner service ('Serviço de jantar péssimo'), and sound insulation problems ('VÄGA läbikostvad seinad'). The recovery to 4.75 in September indicates the issue was temporary, consistent with a seasonal or staffing challenge.
Issue resolved2022-02 – 2025-0972% confidence
WiFi unavailability was noted in Q2 2022 ('Wi-fi numuriņā gan neķēra!'). No subsequent complaints about WiFi appear in Q3 2022 through Q3 2025 snippets, suggesting the issue was resolved by mid-2022 and remains absent in recent reviews.
Emerging issue2024-01 – 2025-0976% confidence
Room renovation/age concerns intensify in recent periods. Q1 2024 onwards ('rooms are dated'), Q2 2024 ('Tuba oli pisut väsinud'), Q3 2024 ('Toad on väsinud'), and Q3 2025 ('Hotel con falta de renovación (las camas se hunden muchísimo)') show consistent complaints about worn furnishings, worn-out beds, and lack of modernisation. This pattern is notably absent or minor in 2022–early 2023 but becomes pronounced by 2024–2025, suggesting visible aging of the property.
What guests report
View
Courtyard-facing rooms offer complete peace; street-facing rooms subject to bar noise and traffic
Bed & mattress
Generally comfortable mattresses praised, but some units show significant wear and sagging requiring replacement
Bathroom & water
Good water pressure and hot water; some issues with drainage, mold visibility, and mirror fogging during showers
Wi-Fi
Free, reliable and notably fast throughout the property
Breakfast
Exceptional quality and variety including sparkling wine and ice cream; worth the stay alone; best breakfast many guests have experienced
AC / heating
Functional air conditioning appreciated, though some units reported as broken or not producing heat
Elevator
Available
Hotel team
AN
Sales manager
Annegret Nõgene
SP
Head of creative
Sten Pedari
TK
Hotel Receptionist
Triin-Elis Kuum
Members see the full detail. Ask for an introduction
Local knowledge
Request a courtyard-facing room to eliminate street noise from bars and clubs; these rooms have complete silence even with windows open
Breakfast is outstanding but fills up around 9:30-10:00am; go early for hot items like eggs, waffles, porridge, or request staff to replenish
Earplugs are provided in every room; essential for weekend stays or rooms facing Küütri/Rüütli streets due to active bar scene
Fourth-floor rooms have slanted ceilings—watch your head and confirm ceiling height if this bothers you
Book premium/suite rooms for spa access amenities like robes and slippers; basic rooms lack these despite spa package bookings
Hotel underwent renovations in August 2025; some guest rooms may still show wear from pre-renovation period
Restaurant reservations can be cumbersome—multi-night meal bookings require separate payment and incur €15 surcharge per meal vs. bundled rate
No tea, instant coffee, or electric kettle in rooms; bring your own or request from reception
Members see the full detail. Ask for an introduction
Room intel
Quiet rooms / wings: Rooms facing courtyard/interior side; Rooms not on street-level floors
Noisy rooms to avoid: Rooms 419 specifically mentioned as problematic; Street-facing rooms on Küütri and Rüütli streets; Lower floors closer to bar district
Extra charges guests were surprised by: Parking €15 per night (free some weekends); €15 surcharge for separate meal bookings versus bundled rates; City tax potentially not included in advertised rates
Members see the full detail. Ask for an introduction
Family facilities: Ice cream at breakfast; Children's menu mentioned; Described as welcoming for families with kids
Rooms & categories
5 room types
4 photosBEST VALUE
Twin Bed Room
Twin Bed Room
Tea/Coffee makerShowerTVAir conditioningHairdryerDesk
5 photosOPTION 2
Double
Double
Tea/Coffee makerShowerTVAir conditioningHairdryerDesk
6 photosOPTION 3
Superior Room
Superior Room
Tea/Coffee makerShowerSafety deposit boxTVAir conditioningHairdryer
6 photosOPTION 4
Superior Double
Superior Double
Tea/Coffee makerShowerSafety deposit boxTVAir conditioningHairdryer
5 photosOPTION 5
Spa Access Suite
Spa Access Suite
Tea/Coffee makerShowerBathSafety deposit boxTVAir conditioning
You are reading research nobody publishes.
This assessment is one of 200+ across 25+ cities. Members also see the rate — and book it. Membership is by introduction; if you found your way here, tell us who you are.