Why we love it?
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).
Why we love it?
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
Why we love it?
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