Our close friend and preferred partner, Jeff Paap, who represents Marriott International Luxury Brands, recently returned from a visit to Budapest, where he had the pleasure of staying at the brand new Ritz Carlton in Budapest.
Jeff was kind enough to share his feedback with TWIL.
The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest completed its full renovation and was re-branded in March of 2016. The 170 rooms and 30 Suites have been beautifully redone in Art Nouveau and Art Deco Styles featuring hues of Blue to remind us of the Danube. With 60% of the accommodations facing Elizabeth Park featuring views towards St. Stephens Basilica.
The building has a storied past stretching all the way from its 1914 beginnings as an Insurance Office to today with it’s perfect location on Elizabeth Square which is the new home of The Budapest Eye. A stroll out the back of the hotel through the restaurant puts you directly onto Fashion Street, one of Budapest’s more desirable shopping addresses. You could not be more perfectly located in the middle of the very best of Budapest. All of the following attractions are walkable from the hotel:
- St Stephen’s Basilica
- Parliament
- Chain Bridge
- Great Synagogue
- Hungarian State Opera House
- Castle Hill
- Matthias Church
- Buda Castle
- Budapest Eye (great views and very convenient)
- Central Market
Dining in Budapest starts with Strudel and ends with Goulash with Paprikash thrown in the middle. For the truly adventurous try Palinka a Hungarian Brandy that packs a real punch. There are so many great restaurants within walking distance of The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest that you can easily dine for a week and never run out. Our Lobby Concierge masterfully guided us to exceptional dining nightly. In any case I would not skip Deak Street Kitchen, the restaurant in the hotel. Exceptional Steaks and Goulash that will stand up to any comparison. An after dinner drink in Kupola Bar with live entertainment is a perfect night cap. My only other dining suggestion would be to take an evening Dinner Cruise on the Danube to see Budapest lit up at night. It’s truly an amazing experience.
Go out! Budapest offers a great night life and I must make one suggestion, try the Ruin Bars! These are just what they sound like. Bars located in “ruins” or not yet gentrified old buildings. We walked to Szimpla Kert which the locals will say is almost too finished to still be called a ruin bar. Seedy, gritty, eclectic and a must do with hidden rooms and staircases to several floors. The DJ keeps the music pumping and there’s something new (or old) around every corner.
Other highlights of the hotel are of course the Club Lounge with its private concierge service, food and beverage offerings and as a convenient and private retreat. For further relaxation the Ritz-Carlton Spa will massage away the soreness of a long day of walking this beautiful city.
My trip also included a day trip with a short boat ride and lunch on Lake Balaton just under 2 hours outside of Budapest. The ride out and back was beautiful and there is a selection of wineries that are worth a visit as well.
Should you choose to stay at the Ritz Carlton Budapest – TWIL clients will benefit from the following added value and amenities at no additional cost!
- Upgrade at time of arrival, subject to availability
- Complimentary Buffet Breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay
- $100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
For more information and to book your trip to Budapest – contact us today! hello@twiltravel.com