June 20, 2023 6 min read

Winter is the perfect time of year for city breaks, and dubbed as the new Paris we focus on the highly underrated city of Budapest, with so many hidden gems, we show you where to stay.

Where to stay in Budapest

Pest-Buda 

A boutique hotel of just 10 rooms bursting with personality. The hotel sits on a quiet cobbled street in the Castle District, Budapest’s romantic, historical centre. Blending modern and historical elements, interiors feature industrial-style copper lamps, bare-bulb lighting, oak floors and contemporary artworks by Hungarian graphic artists. Original brickwork and classic craftsmanship is showcased in the limestone bathrooms where walk-in rain showers take centre stage. Comforts include bathroom products by L’Occitane and internet-enabled radios allowing you to access UK stations. All rooms have real star quality, but as this is true boutique accommodation, there aren’t facilities like a gym or pool.

Pest-Buda is owned by the Zsidai Group, which operates a dozen restaurants around the city, and has its own in house Bistro which is worth a visit in its own right. With a French café feel, the menu offers international and Hungarian classics that you can enjoy whilst listening to the live music in the evening. At breakfast you try ‘French’ pastries as well as hot dishes like eggs Benedict which we highly recommend!

Pricing: Double rooms from £95 in low season; and from £150 in peak. Breakfast excluded (from £8).

 

Kozmo Hotel - Cosmopolitan Luxury

Occupying a monumental bourgeois building that has kept its original elements, the Kozmo Hotel is perfectly located in a quiet region on the Pest side of the city, close to Grand Boulevard. Keeping its original elements, the spire-shaped tower makes it the tallest building in the vicinity, offering 360° views of Budapest.

The hotel highlights meticulous interior design with art on display throughout by Lluis Lléo  and photography by Carlos Cánovas. The rooms represent a true haven of discreet, cosmopolitan luxury. Spacious and homely with the finest linen and amenities, many boast a large terrace overlooking the vibrant city of Budapest. Suites feature an additional private living room, ideal for business travellers, families and romantic getaways.

Two restaurants provide a vast culinary offer within the hotel. The Bistro offers a relaxed elegance where you can enjoy ‘show cooking’. Watch your dishes being prepared by the talented chefs throughout the day and come here for the last drink of the day. Alternatively, the Oyster Bar is the perfect setting to enjoy intimate dinners and celebrate a special occasion, where caviar, oysters and champagne are highlights on the menu.

You cannot stay here without experiencing the spa at Kozmo, where time stands still. A true oasis in the middle of Budapest where you can disconnect.

Pricing: Doubles from Euro 155 per night  

 

 

  

 

Aria Hotel - Music Lovers Boutique

The Aria Hotel Budapest is a luxury boutique hotel with an exquisite design inspired by music. Its design is the mastermind of Henry Kallan, who was also responsible for New York’s literary-themed Library Hotel. A garden courtyard soars through the centre of this building with a playful design, where black and white carpet resembles a piano leading to the lobby.

Four wings are dedicated to the major genres of music: Classical, Opera, Contemporary, and Jazz. Within each, luxurious rooms are inspired by an individual composer or musician, decorated with fabulous original art by Czech caricaturist Josef Blecha. The 49 rooms have private terraces either overlooking the beautiful music garden courtyard or elegant surrounding streets.

Underground, there is a seductive spa and 35-foot swimming pool, where all guests are welcomed to enjoy the Harmony Spa's Wellness Centre with a Finnish sauna, Aromatic Steam Room, & Infrared Sauna, known for it's anti-aging health benefits. 

The Stradivari restaurant has a soothing wall of water, violins hanging from the ceiling and a menu of excellent, well-presented international and Hungarian dishes. Whilst on the ground floor is the sleek Satchmo’s Bar & Lounge, which has built a reputation for its cocktails and the irresistible macarons by the dessert manufactory Chéz Dodo. However, at the top is the High Note Skybar with its panoramic views of Budapest! The split-level roof terrace has become a fabulous spot for dinner or a few drinks.

Pricing: Double rooms from €250

 

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Eat & Drink In Budapest

With Budapest on the map for its exquisite Hungarian cuisine from morning until night, its no wonder that there has been a surge of refurbished cafes to cater from 8am until the early hours. Knowing which to seek out can be overwhelming in the vibrant city, so we’ve shortlisted our top gems so you can experience the variety that the city has to offer without missing out.

Zsolnay Cafe - All Day Romance

Located on the busy Teréz körút, within the Radisson Blue Beke Hotel is the little oasis, with a stunning interior, the café is open from 8 am to late catering for all meals and drinks of the day. It’s the perfect spot for a warm-up hot drink, business meetings or even a romantic meal and champagne. The menu goes to another level, where even the pastry assortment includes lactose and sugar-free options. Everything is homemade from the breads to the grilled sausages and served on the uniquely decorated cups created by Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactory Ltd themselves.

Zsolnay Café, Budaoest Terz korut 43,

Radisson Blu Beke Hotel 1067

+36 1889 3900

 

 

 

Mazel Tov - City Garden

Mazel Tov is a dog-friendly, cultural space in the city’s centre. It's garden is laden with planted herbs and trees, lit beautifully to transform the space into a garden party location. With an informal, casual atmosphere, the focus is on offering visitors a truly wonderful gastronomy experience in one of the most intimate and greenest arbors. The menu is vast from Roasted Autumn salad’s to one of our personal favourites, the Marinated and grilled salmon steak, served with citrus cauliflower cream and cauliflower tabbouleh.

Live music is played by musicians most evenings, whilst you enjoy the exotic atmosphere.

Mazel Tov, Budapest, Akacfa utca 47 1072

+360 626 4280

 

 

Salt - Countryside In The City

Based on the ground floor of Hotel Rum, the fine dining restaurant Salt, is where Chef Szilárd Tóth’s kitchen herbs and wild plants play an important role. Majority of these are hand-picked by the team and the chef himself from the Hungarian countryside, then freshly pickled and fermented. Even the poultry comes from the chef's own family meat manufacturer and the way in which he brings together these fresh ingredient’s has won Salt their first Michelin Star in September 2021.

Expect an attentive experience, where the Chef's table is placed in the middle of the restaurant, so you can watch dishes being prepared and easily approach.

SALT,1053 Budapest, Kiralyi Pal Street 4. Entrance Rum Hotel

+36 7033 2109

 

 

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What To See

Whether you want to admire the art nouveau architecture, while cruising down the moonlit Danube, or dip in the cities Therma Baths before enjoying cocktails in the rooftop bars over dinner – In Budapest, there is something for everyone.

The Buda side of the Danube may be the smartest part of Budapest with it’s old town and royal castle, whilst Pest is full of action and packed with historical buildings, great places to eat, drink and shop.

 

At night, one of the best ways to see the city is by a city cruise on the river, taking in the beautifully lit up skyline. With it’s amazing architectural heritage, be sure to visit Buda Castle, St. Stephen's Basilica, the Parliament building, Liberty Square, and the Chain Bridge.

 

Budapest’s Christmas markets are a festive delight when visiting in the winter months. Forpicture perfect ice skating in front of a castle, head to Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park where the boating lake freezes over and turns into Europe’s largest ice skating rink. Or visit the famous Vörösmarty Square Christmas fair which is the oldest and most spectacular of all the Christmas markets in Budapest.

 

Spoil yourself and warm up in the cities Therma Baths. High in calcium and magnesium, it is the best way to ease joint pain and improve blood circulation. Housed in a neo-Baroque palace in Budapest’s City Park, Szechenyi Thermal Bath is Budapest’s largest thermal bath complex where you can indulge in the healing treatments.  

   

The etiquette in Budapest is generally similar to that in the UK. Escalators in Budapest have traffic lanes, as does the UK. The left side is for walkers, and the right side is for those standing. It is polite to give up your seat on public transport for the elderly or those with children. However, what may seem unlikely it that most small shops in Budapest won’t take credit or debit cards, so you’ll need to have cash to hand.