Controversial internet personalities Andrew and Tristan Tate are reportedly considering purchasing the abandoned Continental Hotel in central Cluj-Napoca and relocating permanently to the city in search of both culture and tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.
The brothers were recently spotted in Cluj, prompting speculation about the purpose of their visit. According to local outlet Cluj24, the trip was connected to a possible real estate acquisition and long-term relocation plan centered around one of the city’s most notorious decaying landmarks, in the very epicenter of town.
Their lawyer, Alexandru Rîșniță, confirmed the interest:
“They want to buy the Continental Hotel and establish their residence in Cluj,” Rîșniță told Cluj24. “They wish to avoid crowds and would like to renovate there, to make a large house. The purpose of the visit is to appreciate the culture of Cluj more than that of the capital, the city’s vibe, and the lack of crowding, which is why they are looking for a home here.”
Remarkably, but not surprisingly, the lawyer suggested they are not merely interested in an apartment or villa, but potentially the entire Continental Hotel building itself.
“We have seen this option with the hotel that is in the center, from which a quite beautiful house can be made,” he said. “Yes, they have thought about buying the Continental Hotel completely.”
For Cluj residents, the choice of building carries a particular symbolic absurdity. The Continental Hotel, one of the city’s most iconic Austro-Hungarian landmarks, has spent years in a state of highly photogenic deterioration. Positioned prominently near Piața Unirii, the building has become both a local embarrassment and a strangely beloved monument to suspended development. Thus, they appear to be attempting a self-branding pivot from the scandal associated with Bucharest to the more curated and expensive style of Cluj.
Marketed alternately as Romania’s Silicon Valley, cultural capital, festival metropolis Cluj-Napoca has also become infamous for soaring real estate prices — not that this is an issue for the Tate brothers.
The relocation reports also arrive while the brothers continue facing major legal troubles in both Romania and the United Kingdom.
Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 37, have been under investigation in Romania since 2022 in a DIICOT case involving allegations of human trafficking, organized crime and sexual exploitation. Prosecutors allege that several women, including minors, were recruited and manipulated through the so-called “loverboy” method before being forced to produce pornographic content. Andrew Tate is additionally under investigation for rape.
The brothers have consistently denied all accusations.
Since the beginning of the investigation, the two have been detained, placed under house arrest and later subjected to judicial control measures. Although a trial was formally opened in Bucharest, proceedings have stalled after the court identified procedural irregularities in the indictment.
At the same time, British authorities reopened investigations earlier this year after multiple women accused the brothers of rape and sexual assault linked to incidents allegedly occurring between 2014 and 2015.
