W Hotels has made its debut in Hungary with the opening of W Budapest. Housed in the historic Drechsler Palace, once the home of the Institute of Ballet, W Budapest is part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio, comprising 31 different brands.
W Budapest is located on Andrássy Avenue, which was recognised for its spectacular Neo-renaissance buildings and designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2002. Featuring 151 stylish guestrooms and suites and three different dining concepts, the new hotel
is influenced by the city’s rich history, creativity and diversity.
“The debut of W Hotels in Budapest marks a monumental milestone and signals a new era of design ethos for our iconic brand,” vice president and global brand leader for W Hotels, George Fleck, commented. “We look forward to connecting our guests to this timeless and inspiring city through inviting yet unexpected design, imaginative dining and unparalleled guest programming.”
In creating W Budapest, Drechsler Palace has been restored and reimagined by interior designers Bowler James Brindley and Bánáti + Hartvig. They have drawn inspiration from the cultural history of the building and its multiple identities as a café, social hub and Hungarian State Ballet Academy. Alongside the palace’s history, the hotel’s design story is also drawn from the two sides of the city, Buda and Pest, with a playful juxtaposition. There is soft layering alongside metallic meshing, creating different textures and points of interest throughout the hotel’s public spaces and guestrooms.
Throughout the city, a French Renaissance architectural aesthetic is evident, which has been reflected in the W Budapest through a colour palette of greens, corals and deep blues, paired with contemporary Zsolnay-inspired tiles, stained glass features and jewelled light fittings. Subtle nods to the city’s love of chess and deep-rooted connection to ballet are visible in the form of bespoke chess-piece lamps and monochrome tiled marble flooring or soft pink hues, curved lines and lighting inspired by the graceful fluidity of the dance form. 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.
W Budapest opens with three new dining concepts. Under the helm of restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi, the hotel’s destination restaurant, Nightingale by Beefbar, is the gastronomic heart of the hotel. It offers an approachable introduction to Asian cuisine, pairing fresh traditional Asian flavours with a selection of Beefbar’s signature meat dishes. Spearheading the Nightingale by Beefbar kitchen is Fabio Polidori, who has curated a sociable menu of small plates designed to be shared with friends. Signature dishes include crispy carpaccio drizzled in a piquant chipotle dressing, yellowtail sashimi with yuzu truffle sauce and the playfully named Miss Bao, which invites diners to dip caramelised banana into a dark chocolate sauce. The bar at Nightingale by Beefbar offers signature cocktails, from bourbon-based Nightingale Boulevardier to the gin and sweet wine-based cocktail Budapest Calling.
Society25 is the hotel’s speakeasy located in the basement. Alongside what you’d expect to find, the cocktail bar, overseen by Head Bartender Stefano Ripiccini, offers eight bespoke cocktails paying homage to the great eras, people and buildings within the city. 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 Geranium, inspired by Drechsler Palace itself.
W Lounge is located on the ground floor, nestled beside the Nightingale restaurant. From business meetings and light lunches to late-night revelry, W Lounge can host it all, serving sharing plates and signature cocktails to a backdrop of DJ performances into the early hours.
If it’s a calm, relaxed space you’re looking for to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, head for the spa. Here mirrors and water features create a feeling of space and serenity. Inspired by the thermal baths that Budapest is famed for, the pool takes centre stage, offering an oasis embellished with traditional tiles and gold mesh paired with calming earthy tones. The spa has five treatment rooms offering a range of 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 nightlife.
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