My wife and I stayed at the Párisi Udvar for 3 nights after staying at Atlantis Dubai, Four Seasons Istanbul, Raffles Warsaw, and the Ritz in Vienna. Unfortunately, it was by far the most underwhelming experience of our vacation. I now understand quite clearly why most reviews focus on the café rather than the hotel itself. It seems that the Párisi Udvar’s main business is not hospitality but serving as many non-guests as possible in the restaurant and café throughout the day.
The hotel lobby is undeniably beautiful and a tourist attraction in the city, which explains why it is constantly crowded with people taking photos and queuing for tables. While waiting for an Uber driver to arrive, I saw five groups of people enter the hotel lobby only to take pictures. They did not speak to anyone, buy anything, or engage with the café—simply treating the lobby as a tourist attraction. This made the experience uncomfortable for guests and stripped the hotel of any sense of exclusivity. As a guest, I had the same view, access, products, and treatment as any random person who walked in off the street.
Every meal is served in the same place—breakfast, lunch, dinner, café, and bar—making the experience feel repetitive and dull as the days pass. When making the reservation, I requested a cake for my wife’s birthday. While the staff promptly responded via email, the letter in the room mistakenly wished me, rather than her, a happy birthday.
We had to change rooms twice during our stay. The first room (204) did not have a separate shower, only a small shower inside the bathtub, which was not reflected in the hotel’s website photos, misleading us during the booking process. The second room in the same category (216), while featuring a separate shower and a Japanese-style toilet, lacked proper soundproofing and blackout blinds. Sleeping was nearly impossible due to street noise—cars, horns, sirens, and conversations—as well as light from streetlamps flooding the room. It felt like being in a bustling metropolis like São Paulo or New York, rather than Budapest.
Additionally, when I heated water to make tea before bed, the room’s electricity suddenly failed. I had to dress and go downstairs at almost midnight to request assistance. Maintenance addressed the issue, explaining that the socket was faulty and needed part replacements. While misfortunes happen, it felt like attention to guest comfort was being neglected in favor of prioritizing the lobby. I didn’t even receive an apology for the inconvenience.
Another concerning issue was the presence of a man who consistently sat outside room 209, near room 207, where we had considered staying. He had a hard demeanor, posed like a security guard, and stared menacingly at guests. When I asked the receptionists about him, they couldn’t provide any explanation, which only heightened our discomfort.
Housekeeping also attempted to enter our room despite the “Do Not Disturb” sign being displayed. Furthermore, the thermostat didn’t go below 21°C, which made the room uncomfortably warm.
On a positive note, the hotel’s location is excellent for exploring Pest on foot. Additionally, the concierge, bellboys, and receptionists were polite and helpful with our requests. However, overall, it felt like we were paying to enjoy the lobby’s aesthetic rather than receiving proper hospitality. Given the price, the experience was disappointing. I dined at the Four Seasons during our stay and deeply regret not staying there instead. My recommendation is to visit the Párisi Udvar for a drink or coffee to appreciate the beautiful lobby, but do not stay overnight. I leave Budapest feeling more tired and sleep-deprived, with the impression that my time and money were...
Read moreMy recent stay at this exquisite 5-star hotel from July 29th for two nights was nothing short of exceptional. Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised with a complimentary upgrade to a Premium Twin Bed Room with a city view on the third floor, which I greatly appreciated as I had requested a higher floor due to my sensitivity to noise.
The check-in process was flawless, largely thanks to Katherine, who provided impeccable service. She not only granted us a complimentary early check-in but also took the time to inform us of all the discounts and services the hotel offers. Her attention to detail extended to providing me with a city map when she understood that it was my first time in the City, and offering valuable advice and answers to my many questions throughout my stay. The rest of the front desk staff was equally courteous and accommodating, especially a young gentleman who frequently worked alongside Katherine, though I regret not recalling his name.
The hotel's location is superb. This was my first visit to Budapest, and I found it incredibly convenient to explore the city's center. The area is surrounded by excellent restaurants, massage centers, Starbucks, and the main streets are just around the corner.
Our room was immaculate, spacious, and featured a large bathroom with a bathtub, which my friend and I adored. The room's bright colors and view made it feel very luminous. The housekeeping service was impeccable, both in terms of cleanliness and the prompt restocking of the minibar, as well as accommodating any requests made during our stay. Any extra items requested were delivered to our room promptly and with great courtesy.
We thoroughly enjoyed the included breakfast each morning. Milàn and Miksa provided outstanding service. Milàn remembered our preferences after serving us only once, ensuring that we received exactly what we liked on the second day, accompanied by thoughtful recommendations. Miksa’s vibrant energy was a delightful way to start our mornings - having someone greet you with a smile first thing in the day is truly a plus. Also the hostesses in the restaurant area were always kind and welcoming.
We dined at the hotel's restaurant twice during our stay. On the first evening (July 29th), the waiter was extremely attentive, kind, and helpful, and we enjoyed an excellent meal both nights. However, the service on the second night was more average, though the hostess remained as accommodating as ever. The cocktails were good and intriguing, and while the menu wasn’t extensive, I would suggest adding more vegetarian options. Nonetheless, we were pleased with our choices. The mushroom risotto, in particular, was phenomenal - and I say that as an Italian!
The complimentary spa was another highlight of our stay. The staff there was very attentive, and I recommend visiting towards closing time to avoid crowds. We also appreciated the opportunity to enjoy tea on-site. The fitness area, though not so big, was charming and well-equipped with all the essential equipment. The common areas were well-maintained, aesthetically pleasing, and filled with thoughtful details that truly made a difference.
Finally, we were granted a complimentary late checkout at 1 PM on the night before our departure, which we greatly appreciated as it allowed us to better organize for our rather stressful departure. The checkout process was smooth and without any issues.
Overall, I would not hesitate to return to this outstanding hotel. It provided a perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and exceptional service, making our stay in Budapest...
Read more!!! PLS DO NOT BOOK THIS HOTEL !!!
I just got back from a 10-day Prague, Vienna and Budapest vacation. This hotel ruined the last couple days of our vacation in Budapest.
Hindsight, I should've given more heed to the negative reviews on this hotel, because they are all spot on. Most reviews seem to be that of their restaurant and their lobby, which have bloated their overall rating. This is a 3* level hotel disguising as a 5*. It's like a few people from a fast food restaurant were given a michelin star restaurant to run. I'm not sure how Hyatt decided to associate with this hotel.
We (family of 4 - 2 rooms) came in with very high expectations after staying at the Andaz Hyatt in Prague, only to be grossly disappointed with the service at this hotel. The front desk and the managers are all very well trained to apologize, instead of focusing on solving the problem for the customers.
We had 2 rooms for 2 nights. The rooms were unbearably hot even at night (22+ deg cel), and in spite of them claiming that their technicians are working on it, they were never able to resolve the issue. Apparently, the temp in the rooms cannot go below 21-22. This was never told to me when I complained immediately after I checked in, since they said they'll make it work. They offered another room (but not connecting with my kids room) so I refused the first night. Second night when the problem wasn't resolved, I moved to a different room, but every room is the same.
Add to that, the fact that this hotel is on a very busy road, so you can't even open the windows. Even with the closed windows it's not sound proof, with the traffic noise bothering all night. So if you're thinking of visiting in the summer and booking here, please do yourself a favor and book at a real 5* like Ritz.
I gave them an opportunity to compensate for the 2 nights of misery, but Manager Balazs offered to take out $100 out of my ~$2k bill. I refused to accept it, as it didn't commensurate to the horrible sweaty sleepless nights my family had to endure.
When I mentioned about writing this negative review, Manager Balazs' response was a very nonchalant "That's fine". It shows how much the employees care about their employer's reputation.
If you're charging folks the 5* rates, you better hire professional staff that act like they represent your brand in terms of customer satisfaction.
Response to the "Director of Rooms" - The "very rare request" for "this season" season says it all about the way the staff thinks about basic customer requests at this hotel. Also, means that nothing will change in this regard as in their minds this is not a justifiable request. I have been traveling to Europe with my family every year for more than a decade during Spring break. Different countries, different hotel brands, different star ratings. And I'm very well aware that the hotels have a set default temperature for the rooms slightly higher, HOWEVER - Rooms have a thermostat that generally let's the temps to be adjusted +/- 2 to 3 degrees. This hotel's room thermostat let the temps to be reduced by -3...so the temp should've gone to 19 if the default was 22. THAT NEVER HAPPENED. When #1 doesn't work to the customer satisfaction, EVERY hotel EXCEPT this one was able to reset my room's temp to my desire. EVERY hotel (and not all were 5*s)
Thanks for the invitation Mr Morvay, but I do not wish for my family to go through this miserable experience one more time. Fool me twice,...
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