W Budapest — Hotel in Budapest

Preliminary remark: For a review of my stay kindly watch my comprehensive video review on my YouTube Channel Truly Excellent Hotels & More (link can be found in my profile) & don't forget to subscribe for further reviews of Truly Excellent Hotels & More around the globe.

Nestled within the breathtaking neo-Gothic Drechsler Palace, the W Budapest stands proudly in the cultural epicenter of Budapest, along the storied Andrassy Avenue, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Boasting 151 impeccably styled guest rooms and 45 opulent suites, the W Budapest offers a sophisticated blend of modern comfort and historical elegance, with rich color palettes, plush furnishings, and intricate architectural details that pay homage to its Neo-Gothic roots

During my stay, I had the pleasure of experiencing one of the hotel's Fantastic Suites. This 73-square-meter sanctuary masterfully integrates vibrant abstract artwork and bold historical motifs with stylish, modern furnishings, all while providing panoramic vistas of the Hungarian State Opera House. The suite offers a harmonious blend of sleeping and living spaces, featuring a sumptuous king-size bed, a comfortable sofa, two elegant chairs, a dressing table, and a 55-inch LED TV. Guests can enjoy complimentary WiFi, a well-stocked minibar, a Nespresso coffee machine, and tea-making facilities. The generously sized bathroom, adorned with mirror surfaces in a chess pattern design, includes dual washbasins, a luxurious free-standing bathtub, a separate rain shower, a Japanese toilet, and a sofa, complemented by premium toiletries from the esteemed Italian brand Davines. Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed with two delightful pumpkin-shaped chocolates in my suite. The hotel offers daily housekeeping and evening turndown service, complete with complimentary water. My suite provided breathtaking views of the Hungarian State Opera House, a neo-Renaissance masterpiece by the famed architect Miklós Ybl, and the lively Andrássy Avenue.

Breakfast at Nightingale by Beefbar, the hotel's sole dining establishment, offers a modest buffet featuring a variety of fresh fruits, cereals, yoghurts, cold meats, cheeses, smoked salmon, salads, orange juice, pastries, and two types of white bread and toast. À la carte options, such as Eggs Benedict with truffle hollandaise, are also available at no extra charge. Unfortunately, the service often lacks attentiveness, and the restaurant frequently experiences overcrowding and inadequate seating, resulting in significant waiting times during breakfast. In the evening, Nightingale by Beefbar presents a diverse menu of Asian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. However, the sampled dishes, served simultaneously, fell short in refinement and unique flavor profiles, with a price tag that seemed unwarranted for their quality. Beyond Nightingale by Beefbar, the W Budapest offers Society25, a bar celebrated for its belle-époque era-inspired curated cocktails, and the W Lounge, a vibrant venue for afternoon coffee, evening live music performances, and late-night DJ sets.

The AWAY Spa, the hotel's subterranean wellness retreat, draws inspiration from Budapest's thermal baths and offers a range of treatments, an aromatic steam room, a Finnish sauna, a Beauty Bar, and a central pool area with traditional tiles and ample lounging opportunities. During my stay the Spa are was quite crowded with children playing in the pool and no chance to really relax and unwind. Adjacent to the wellness area is the hotel's 24-hour fitness center, equipped with state-of-the-art TechnoGym machines, including treadmills, cross trainers, and elliptical trainers.

The W Budapest impresses with its distinctive design and well-appointed rooms and suites. However, the service and culinary offerings are somewhat average. Nonetheless, its prime location provides excellent access to the city's main attractions, making it an attractive option for...

What can I say about the W Budapest? This was my second time staying at this magnificent property in the heart of beautiful Budapest (seriously, the location of the hotel within the city can’t be topped) and it genuinely felt like leaving home at the end of a very pleasant 15 day stay. Not only because the room and hotel itself were exquisite but because many of the staff became friends over two weeks of daily interactions. Getting greeted every morning at breakfast (a very worthwhile add-on, by the way … starting your morning with delicious food/drink options prepared a la carte by talented chefs overlooking the historic Opera House is amazing) by the lovely Aliz who was the jolt of positivity and friendliness that you need to start your day off right made a huge impression on me. In the evenings, Chayenne was the same: friendly, helpful and keeping a watchful eye to make sure everything was running smoothly. These two were a huge part of the positive impact on the stay. Very grateful to them both!

The front desk staff went above and beyond to make the stay memorable as well. Andrian (Ian), Rose, Olivia, Istvan (Koko) and Mick take hospitality very seriously and take advantage of every opportunity available to them to do something special in the most personal way. Truly 5 star hospitality from this team, incredible is an understatement. What a staff! Thank you for all the surprises and for your thoughtfulness.

The rooms themselves are works of art, for people who appreciate design, you will be in for a treat. A very pleasing mix of colours, textures, patterns and shapes. I always looked forward to returning back to my room … not to mention the bed. One of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in.

The spa is incredible as well. Tucked underneath the main floor, it feels like a hidden, secret oasis. As with the rest of the hotel, the interior design is fabulous and very tranquil, creating a perfect setting to relax before dinner after a long day.

The patio/restaurant is also a lively, vibrant and hip place to get dinner or bites/drinks. The staff are super friendly and welcoming and the food/drink options are fabulous. Special shout out to a few of the waiters/servers who were incredible (missing a few so I apologize): Shada (who made breakfast service so fun every morning), Sophie, Benji, Kira, Maua and Frame all of whom were delightful, friendly and attentive. Bravo to you all and thank you for the outstanding service.

Also wanted to give a special shout out to the GM Igor who would come over several times during the stay to say hi, ask how the trip was going, and make sure that everything was as good as it could be. He really is an active GM around the hotel that makes sure his guests are enjoying their stay and that the operations are running smoothly and it shows.

All in all, I can’t say enough good things about this hotel. I was so thrilled when it opened because I think that the location and architecture/interior design is unmatched. It’s easily (and objectively) one of the prettiest hotels in Budapest (if not claiming the #1 spot which, in my humble opinion, it does) and I am so happy that the W utilized such a gem of a property in the old ballet school to transform it into a world-class hotel. 10/10 all around in my books and I will always stay here when returning to Budapest … I just (selfishly) hope that the rockstar team of staff that I got to know and befriend will never leave and will always be around as well because it really did feel like they were friends/extended family. Thank you, W Budapest, for such a positive experience. I hope whoever is reading this will have the opportunity to re-live all the amazing things...

This review was written by my wife, who traveled to the hotel solo. ||I was in Budapest for a week with my husband while he was there for a tournament. We stayed at an okay Airbnb a couple blocks away from the hotel. One day we walked past the beautiful W Hotel across from the Opera House, and I thought, “I should treat myself to a night there.” ||I have Platinum Elite Bonvoy status and was able to use my free night certificate to book a room. I was able to book only a Twin Room Street View due to points redemption, but the hotel nicely upgraded me to a King Street View room. A room with an Opera House view would be nice, but I was perfectly happy with my Street View room. ||I had a wonderful time during my stay. I walked over from my Airbnb at 12:30 PM and was able to get an early check-in. The woman who checked me in was welcoming, friendly, and professional, as were all of the staff throughout my stay.||My room was on the small side but was lovely and modern. I could tell that a lot of attention and detail had gone into the colors and styling of the room. Most importantly, my room was very quiet and comfortable. If my husband had been with me he would have wished for a less stylish and larger chair in the room. The bed was one of the most sumptuous and luxurious hotel beds I have ever slept in. I will remember that bed! The controls for the lights and AC were a bit confusing, but I mostly got the hang of them. ||I had an 80-minute massage scheduled for that afternoon. I was able to go directly down to the spa via the elevator in my robe. I was greeted by Audra (?) at the desk, who was very friendly and accommodating. My masseuse was Asri, who was very sweet and showed me the facilities and how to use the lockers. ||The spa area is immaculately clean. Towels and robes are supplied. I had a wonderful massage by Asri. She checked in on me regularly to make sure the pressure was to my liking. The room was the perfect temperature, and the sheets (more like towels) on the massage table were super soft. ||Afterward, I used the spa facilities: relaxing pool, steam bath, and sauna. There was only one other person using the facilities, so it was serene. There are multiple loungers around the pool area and plenty of extra towels. The steam and sauna are both small but top-notch and pristine. ||After I was dressed and had checked out, a manager asked me about my experience and if there was anything they could improve on. You can tell that this is a hotel that really strives for a great guest experience. ||I slept in and had a late breakfast (included as a Platinum Elite) on a busy Saturday morning. The food was excellent but the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed/inattentive. I was able to select from both the buffet and order off the menu. ||I was offered a late check-out of 4 PM due to my status. So I walked around the city and then came back to enjoy my room for a few more hours before checking out. ||I had a wonderful stay at the W Hotel and would happily return if I am back...