Bold design, 5-star comfort, relaxed vibes: Pullman Budapest

Looking for a 5-star hotel in Budapest that’s more than just an upmarket place to sleep? Pullman Budapest combines bold design with a welcoming vibe and premium comforts – it’s a hotel that invites you to unwind and feel at home while simultaneously being inspired. All just steps from Andrássy Avenue in the centre of the city.

The lobby, with its eye-catching art pieces, rich colours and friendly atmosphere is a space you’ll definitely want to spend time in. The bright design theme carries over to the stylish rooms and suites, where it perfectly complements Pullman’s discreet sophistication. There’s a restaurant serving delectable Hungarian fusion cuisine with a special focus on artisanal local produce. Oh, and did we mention the stunning weekend venue on the rooftop?

Whether it’s business, leisure or romance that brings you to Budapest, we think this is a hotel you’ll remember.

The hotel makes an impression before we even enter: just off Budapest’s elegant Andrássy Avenue in a street lined with beautifully restored Habsburg-era buildings, Pullman stands out for the intricate woven gold-coloured copper “crown” adorning its top, an ingenious (and award-winning) strategy by the Hungarian architectural team to expand the building upward, whilst still respecting its heritage-protected status.

This hint at bold design is confirmed upon entering the lobby: it’s buzzing with creativity and is much more than a place for just passing through. The first things that strike us are the dazzling artworks, like the circular gold installation behind the reception desk symbolising sound waves reaching outward – you’ve arrived at the centre of things. The friendly, quick check-in just enhances our sense of feeling welcomed.

There’s a delicate scent in the air, and the sounds of a tinkling piano… The bright yellow, limited-edition Steinway Spirio in the lobby plays itself, but pianists are more than welcome to share a tune, and the hotel regularly welcomes live players. And the quote from Katy Perry shining in red neon on the wall? “Cause baby you’re a firework,” is from her third album, and she shot the video at Buda Castle. The musical leitmotif is carried on in the huge, vibrantly colourful mural that adorns the lobby atrium from the roof right down to the ground floor.

The team has created a lively environment where you’ll want to stay a while just soaking up the vibe. Artworks by renowned Hungarian artist Anton Molnar are on display in the lobby, and we're told he's also created an exclusive commission hanging in the Presidential Suite. We can't resist sinking into the lobby's deep-blue sofas – and then notice Molnar's leather jacket in a glass case next to the reception! This is a Budapest hotel with a personality.

The hotel’s bright design theme is seamlessly sustained in the 136 rooms and suites: striking artworks on the walls are complemented by carpets and curtains in rich colours, while fittings and flooring in warm timber give you a sense of calm and tranquility. The rooms manage to be both coolly stylish and comfortable.

We love the glass in-room bath area, which expands the sense of space. Relaxing on the plush Pullman bed, covered in a feather-light quilt, is simply heaven after a day of self-pampering at Budapest’s gorgeous Széchenyi thermal baths.

Fancy going all-out? Several of the superb suites include a private balcony with an outdoor jacuzzi, discreetly hidden behind the hotel’s rooftop “crown” – we can’t think of anything more romantic for young (or young-at-heart) lovers on a Budapest escape. The spectacular Superior Suite offers a living area with soaring ceilings, while a winding staircase leads you to the upper-floor bedroom.

The restaurant and bar at Pullman Budapest transition smoothly from the lobby, and carry on the inspired interior design theme. The eye-catching tiles are a subtle nod to Budapest’s iconic thermal baths, as well as to the historic stations on the M1 metro line – continental Europe’s oldest.

Our day starts with the aromas of freshly ground coffee and just-baked bread at the generous breakfast buffet – and we can taste the hotel’s farm-to-table philosophy. From the succulent trout and our delicious eggs Benedict to the irresistible bread rolls and pastries, the story of every small local producer and supplier is told on cards at the buffet – it’s sustainably delectable!

The same local-to-global principle informs the menu at the buzzing restaurant. Meat and vegetables from local producers go into dishes that blend Hungarian traditions with creative international influences. After settling in on one of the comfy leather benches and sharing the scrumptious sun-dried tomato hummus and the beetroot carpaccio for starters, we tuck into the pan-fried duck breast (chef Kornél’s recommendation) and the tender, organically raised and perfectly cooked ribeye on the bone. A rich red from the Eger wine region of Hungary is the ideal accompaniment – you’ll find a selection of French drops on the menu too.

Views stretching beyond the Budapest Opera and the dome of St. Stephen’s Basilica to Buda Castle across the Danube: on weekends the rooftop Roxy venue serves up great drinks against a breathtaking backdrop. We heartily recommend settling into one of the terrace sofas nursing a cocktail above the city lights as a great way to savour the city's energetic vibe. One of our best Budapest moments!

During the week, the impressive rooftop space is a stunning setting for business and private events in Budapest.

Step out the door and you’re right in the heart of Budapest. Just around the corner is Andrássy Avenue, the city's most regal boulevard, lined with impressive structures including the opera house and the national ballet, as well as elegant 19th-century palaces home to upscale boutiques. Make sure to stop in at the marvellously ornate Művész Coffee House for coffee and strudel, and to take a ride in one of the cute carriages of continental Europe’s oldest metro line, the M1.

An easy stroll brings you to the shopping centre of the city along Váci Street, and then to the Danube. Wander across the beautiful Széchenyi Chain Bridge and up to the hilltop Buda Castle. We love the immense collection at the Hungarian National Gallery – and the view from the castle’s dome across the river and the city.

Budapest is renowned for its thermal baths, some of which date back to the Ottoman era, and alongside their healing properties, they’re architectural gems. At the Gellért baths beside the Danube, you’ll have a relaxing, therapeutic experience amid breathtaking art nouveau architecture, floating in thermal pools decorated with Zsolnay ceramics beneath a magnificent glass roof. Equally impressive are the Széchenyi baths, which is where we decide to head as it's only four metro stops from our hotel. After a massage and a session in the hammam, there’s nothing more blissful than sinking into our soft Pullman bed.

At Pullman Budapest, we’re also just a few streets from the city’s most buzzing district, the Jewish Quarter. A must-visit cultural attraction is the magnificent, domed Great Synagogue, and the neighbourhood’s street art-daubed thoroughfares are lined with hip boutiques, cool cafés and some of Budapest’s most creative eateries. It's also nightlife central: as well as countless clubs and cocktail bars, it’s home to several of the city’s unique ruin bars. Take a seat on the mismatched furniture, sip a craft beer (enjoyed responsibly, of course) and soak up the buzzing atmosphere in the Mad Max setting of Szimpla Kert, the "mother" of all ruin bars.

• Anyone who appreciates bold, colourful contemporary design
• Urban explorers who want a stylish 5-star base in the centre of the city
• Couples looking for a romantic nest in the heart of Budapest
• Business travellers who want more more than just a premium place to sleep
• Anyone who's after a perfect mix of personality, tranquility and hospitality

1. Learning all about the local artisans who deliver the ingredients for the delectable breakfast.
2. Reclining in the plush blue sofa as gentle piano melodies waft from the yellow Steinway Spirio.
3. Sipping an expertly concocted cocktail whilst gazing over the skyline at the rooftop venue. 
4. Sinking into our cloud-soft bed perfectly relaxed after an afternoon at Széchenyi thermal baths.
5. Returning to our welcoming room after an exciting night out in the Jewish Quarter.

Pullman Budapest Nagymezo u. 38
1065 BUDAPEST HUNGARY