Marriott is set to open a property under its Luxury Collection portfolio in Budapest this spring, marking the brand’s 120th hotel opening.
Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, will open on May 31 in a UNESCO World Heritage Site which has undergone an extensive restoration. The Palace was originally commissioned by the Arch Duchess of Austria and built in 1902 by architects Kalman Giergl and Floris Korb, housing cafes, shops and galleries along with residential apartments on the floors above.
It has since been renovated by MKV Design to combine the property’s Hungarian heritage with a more contemporary style, featuring a colour palette of teal, gold and copper to reflect the rooftop tiles of many buildings in Budapest.
The property features 111 “palatial” rooms and 19 modern loft suites with art nouveau-style decor. Each room is over four metres in height and features bathrooms with a wet room in turquoise glass mosaic with gold accents and white marble slabs. Meanwhile, the loft suites have a modern and vintage design, with views of the city.
The hotel has partnered with renowned chef Wolfgang Puck to oversee the hotel’s three dining concepts, in-room dining and meeting and events catering. Puck will launch the European outpost of his famed Beverly Hills restaurant Spago at Matild Palace, which will feature an open-kitchen layout, New Hungarian cuisine with local produce, and accents of marble, brass, wood and leather.
The hotel’s rooftop will be home to The Duchess, a secret liquor library overlooking the Elisabeth Bridge, Danube River and Gellert Hill. The bar is inspired by the Arch Duchess Maria Klotild, who supposedly commissioned the Matild Palace to include a secret rooftop section to act as a meeting point for the Decadence Movement. In this way, the bar is accessed through a hidden entrance of private elevators.
The hotel will also open Matild Café and Cabaret in September, transforming the historic European coffee house Belvarosi Kavehaz, which first opened in 1901, into a two-storey Belle Epoque café and late-night cabaret bar. Shows inspired by the 1960s will be performed on a hydraulic elevated stage, which was uncovered during the property’s excavation.
Leisure facilities will include a spa with a Turkish-inspired bath experience and treatment rooms, and a gym with yoga and pilates sessions, while business travellers will be able to use four meetings and events spaces with AV equipment.
Metehan Ozyer, Board Member of Ozyer Group, owner of Matild Palace, A Luxury Collection Hotel, commented:
“At a time like no other for the hospitality industry, we’re proud to be opening our hotel as a member of The Luxury Collection. Being part of the portfolio has given us the opportunity to preserve this beautiful landmark and create a truly unique guest experience, all while being supported by Marriott International’s infrastructure and industry-leading expertise. We look forward to welcoming guests through our doors in 2021 and beyond.”
Earlier this year, Marriott announced that its three Collection brands – Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio and Luxury Collection – are expected to expand into nearly 70 new locations this year.
