Kimpton Bem Budapest by IHG — Hotel in Budapest

This is a VERY overdue review for a very memorable stay at this hotel at the beginning of April, 2025. My wife and I stayed at Kimpton Bem Budapest for a few nights at the end of our lengthy stay in Hungary, and wish that we had stayed here for our ENTIRE trip! This hotel certainly ranks #1 of all of the hotels we've stayed in all of Budapest, but also may very well be the best hotel we've ever enjoyed just about anywhere.

As always with any Kimpton stay, it begins with the warm and inviting staff. We were greeted with a little glass of bubbly, and promptly given a tour of this magnificent, clean and new hotel featuring bespoke and bold designs by Marcel Wanders.

The rooms have a vibe we have never experienced in any hotel room. It's hard to describe. Posh is one word for it.

The lounge on the main level has a memorable nautical theme. We spent quite a few happy hours here. When we weren't in this lounge, the rooftop bar was our other mainstay. Partial views of the Danube and Pest side of Budapest from the rooftop are stunning. The bar staff are affable and well-versed in their craft.

The spa is on the lower level and--talk about "being extra"--this was luxurious. The sauna, hot tub, and steam room came in clutch after a full day of walking. I've never seen a "bucket shower" / "shock bucket" in my life before, but to experience this chain/rope operated cold shock after heat treatment is an unparalleled experience.

The hotel also has what appears to be a dynamite restaurant - Agos - alas we did not dine here, but it looked scrumptious.

DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS HOTEL simply because it's on the Buda side! There are plenty of walkable places near the hotel on this side of the city! (We split our stay between the Buda and Pest side--no regrets!) Here's a short list of fun places we visited just for gags (and I'm sure I've missed some): muci coffee & pastry - 5 minute walk Budapest Baristas - 4 minute walk Fermento (best pizza place around!!) - 12 minute walk BernArt American Pop-Art Gallery - 7 minute walk Halászbástya (Fisherman's Bastion) - only a 20 minute walk! and we even tried Bem Söröző Étterem, which is a cute little sub-street-level restaurant literally steps away from Kimpton Bem. Not the fanciest restaurant in the world, but very cozy and deliberate with their dishes.

TL;DR - BEST HOTEL IN HUNGARY. If you enjoy being pampered, posh spaces, world-class treatment, and bespoke settings, this is your hotel when...

Just got back from staying here 4-9 Nov. Very last minute trip (my mate's friend had to back out), so hadn't done my research and didn't know what to expect. This was quite honestly one of, of not my best hotel experience yet.

Firstly the location, very close to the Danube and Margaret Island. The nearest tram stop was very close and the nearest metro was only 10 minutes walk away. The views from the rooftop bar was spectacular.

Secondly the room. Admittedly, I haven't stayed in many 5* hotels but this was the best room I have stayed in. My mate managed to get an upgrade to a suite and it was huge. Everything was well appointed and the bed was very comfortable.

Thirdly, and probs the best, were the staff and the service. Everyone was SO friendly and willing to accommodate every need of the guest. Their knowledge of the city was incredible and invaluable in deciding what to do during our stay. From when we arrived at the hotel, they were always there to welcome you with a glass of champagne whenever you walked through the door and willing to give recommendations on what to do in the city.

All the staff recognised you and were always willing to greet you with a smile and ask how your day was. We had breakfast each day and the staff recognised us and were willing to provide extra tea and OJ.

One example of how the staff were willing to go the extra mile was what happened with our hotel door. The handle was stiff and became difficult to open. This was raised by my friend and they immediately sent a workman up to sort it out. While it was being actioned, we were offered free tea and water while we waited while the staff were all apologetic about the situation. After 30-45 mins of waiting, we were informed it was fixed and was like new for the remainder of our stay.

One of my favourite part of the stay was the social hour. Spending an hour with the senior staff, being given very local knowledge while trying the local produce in the wine and snacks added another element to the trip. Only shame was that I was only able to enjoy 2 of 4 I could have attended. Special kudos goes to Barney, Lazlo, Peter and Martin, but all the staff were amazing.

If I had the money and came back to Budapest, I would definitely come back. My company has an office in Budapest, I will definitely recommend Kimpton BEM if anyone is coming here for business. I hope my mate's tip of local chocolate...

My wife/I just returned to the US after spending the last 5 nights of our European vacation at the Kimpton BEM Budapest. Our stay there was a highlight of the trip--it is a beautiful hotel with a wonderful staff.||Though the hotel is now a year old, it still looks and feels new. The work of designer Marcel Wanders gives it a fun, intimate and beautiful feel. Our room was small, but comfortable and extremely well designed. As we stayed 5 days, we fully unpacked and checked our suitcases downstairs--definitely a good move. Our room faced the inner courtyard. All these rooms have balconies, which are each illuminated until midnight each night. It was yet another unique touch to the hotel and made the view just beautiful.||Fixtures and furnishings are all first rate and the beds/sheets are extremely comfortable.||The staff throughout the hotel were extremely kind and friendly--which really stood out. They took a genuine interest in us and we had multiple interesting conversations with them. In particular, we attended the nightly social hours which were a lot of fun--and I stopped by every evening after returning from dinner to have a palanka (Hungarian fruit spirits) and a chat with one of the Front Desk team. We also had a nightcap each evening at the rooftop bar. Like the rest of the hotel, it is beautiful and provides nice views of the city.||The spa is outstanding and luxurious, with first-rate sauna, steam room, and hot tub. They actually have a beautiful ice maker just for ice to be poured over the sauna lava rocks!||Location is perfect on the Buda side. It's about a 30 minute walk up Castle Hill and a 5 minute walk to the 4/6 Tram which will quickly take you to the major stops on the Pest side.||In short, I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. It is both beautiful and functional (and unique!) in a great location with a fantastic staff who are friendly and always ready to assist. I would actually go out of my way to return to Budapest sooner rather than later--just so I could stay at this wonderful...