Marriott International has debuted its W Hotels brand in the Hungarian capital.
Housed in Drechsler Palace on Andrassy Avenue, W Budapest comprises 151 rooms and suites as well as three dining concepts.
London-based interior designers Bowler James Brindley along with Hungarian firm Banati + Hartvig have drawn inspiration for the bold design from the venue’s history as a café, social hub and Hungarian State Ballet Academy, as well as thecity’s French Renaissance architecture.
The hotel features colour palettes of green, coral and deep blues, along with contemporary Zsolnay tiles, stained glass features and jewellery-inspired light fittings.
Soft pink hues, curved lines and lighting are inspired by the hotel’s connection to ballet, while mirrors that create optical illusions are inspired by Hungarian figures such as Harry Houdini.
Dining venues include Nightingale by Beefbar, a spin-off of the existing Beefbar concept, which will open on July 19 and offer small plates such as crispy carpaccio drizzled with a piquant chipotle dressing, plus a bar which offers creative cocktails.
Speakeasy spot Society25 will also open on July 19 in the hotel’s basement, with the concept inspired by the “creative conversations and secret table societies” of the past. The bar offers eight bespoke cocktails, each of which includes a mystery ingredient, with examples such as The Illusionist (named after Harry Houdini) and Brew Bop, which nods to Budapest’s Golden Age of coffee.
The ground floor is home to W Lounge, which serves light lunches along with sharing plates and cocktails in the evening, alongside DJ performances.
The hotel also includes several meeting and events spaces, and has an events programme which includes roundtable discussions, in-person and virtual in-room yoga classes, and music paired with cocktail sessions.
Leisure facilities include a spa with a pool, five treatment rooms and a fitness centre.
George Fleck, VP and global brand leader at W Hotels, commented:
“The debut of W Hotels in Budapest marks a monumental milestone and signals a new era of design ethos for our iconic brand. We look forward to connecting our guests to this timeless and inspiring city through inviting yet unexpected design, imaginative dining and unparalleled guest programming.”
Marriott is also set to debut its W Hotels brand in Milan in January 2024, following the W Rome which opened in 2021 in the city’s Via Liguria, next to the Spanish Steps.
A property is also under development in Florence, and last year Marriott signed an agreement for a second Milan hotel, as well as the 78-room W Naples.
