W HOTEL BUDAPEST BRINGS FRESH AIR IN HUNGARIAN CAPITAL
W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 31 extraordinary hotel brands, announces the highly anticipated debut of W Budapest, marking the brand’s first opening in Hungary.
Housed in the historic Drechsler Palace, previously home to the Institute of Ballet, W Budapest is set to become an evolutionary heartbeat of the city with visionary design, eclectic gastronomy and a socially driven spirit drawn from the cosmopolitan capital.
Located on Andrássy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city’s most luxurious shopping street, W Budapest features 151 stylish guestrooms and suites as well as three innovative dining concepts, all influenced by Budapest’s rich history, creativity and diversity.
Following the 2021 opening of W Rome, W Budapest showcases the evolved direction of W Hotels, offering incredible design in an elevated and sophisticated yet playful setting that intrinsically connects the next generation of luxury travellers to the locale.
Bold, Intriguing and Locally-Inspired Design
Interior designers Bowler James Brindley (London) and Bánáti + Hartvig (Hungary) have carefully restored and reimagined Drechsler Palace, drawing inspiration from its rich cultural history and multiple identities as a café, social hub and Hungarian State Ballet Academy, to create captivating design narratives. Alongside the palace’s history, the hotel has a ‘second skin’ design story bringing together the two sides of the city, Buda and Pest, with a playful juxtaposition. From soft layering to the use of metallic meshing to create perspective and intrigue throughout the hotel’s public spaces and guestrooms, the design concept has created spaces that reveal new depths each time they are experienced.
A few of Hungary’s most famous exports, Harry Houdini and Zsa Zsa Gabor, have sparked a creative vision for the interior concept, expressed using mirrors to create optical illusions and nostalgic touches of Hollywood glamour.
The intertwining design narratives are present throughout the hotel’s 151 distinctive guestrooms, including 45 suites. The fifth floor’s unique wooden-centric style is sympathetic to the Palace’s original roof design that has been restored, while the hotel’s connection to ballet is reflected in the all-black Extreme WOW suite and all-white WOW suite – a celebration of the famous ballet Swan Lake.
Shaking up the city’s culinary scene, W Budapest opens with three new imaginative dining concepts, curated to spark curiosity and foster connections between guests and locals alike. Under the helm of world-class restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi, the hotel’s destination restaurant, Nightingale by Beefbar, is the gastronomic heart of the hotel. A spinoff of the famous Beefbar concept, the restaurant offers an approachable introduction to Asian cuisine, pairing fresh traditional Asian flavours with a selection of Beefbar’s signature and iconic meat dishes for a vibrant culinary experience.
The bar at Nightingale by Beefbar offers a host of creative cocktails, from bourbon-based Nightingale Boulvardier to the gin and sweet wine-based cocktail Budapest Calling.
A destination for those in the know, Society25 is the hotel’s exclusive speakeasy located in the basement. Society25 takes inspiration from the creative conversations and secret table societies that frequented the space in its past life, offering a fiercely intimate and socially liberating experience. The extensive cocktail list offers eight bespoke cocktails paying homage to the great eras, people and buildings within the city, each including a mysterious ingredient, expertly overseen by Head Bartender Stefano Ripiccini. Guests can take their pick from The Illusionist named after the great Houdini; Brew Bop which nods to Budapest’s Golden Age of coffee and Geraniuminspired by Drechsler Palace itself.
A Hidden Oasis Under the City
Nestled next door to the secret speakeasy is W Budapest’s AWAY® Spa. Hidden doors lead to secret spaces where guests can seek serenity from the bustling city and enjoy moments of calm and relaxation. Here, the Houdini-inspired illusion comes to life with mirrors and water features creating a feeling of never-ending space and serenity. Inspired by the thermal baths that Budapest is famed for, the WET® pool takes centre stage, offering an alluring oasis embellished with traditional tiles and gold mesh, paired with calming earthy tones. The AWAY® Spa boasts five treatment rooms and a range of luxurious treatments along with its ‘Quick Fix’ menu, which provides a range of express treatments for guests that need a glow-up before enjoying Budapest’s buzzing nightlife. FIT® fitness centre hosts daily fitness and wellbeing classes alongside a state-of-the art gym.
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