Best Wellness Hotels in 05. Belváros - Lipótváros

One of the grande dames of Budapest’s luxury hotels, The Four Seasons Gresham is a stunning Art Nouveau masterpiece right on the banks of the Danube on the eastern end of the famed Chain Bridge. The stained glass and mosaic lobby, thick carpets, columns, chandeliers and gold all more than hint at palatial luxury and rooms are spacious and elegant with bathrooms of black and cholate marble. Guests can be pampered in the beautifully appointed wellness centre which includes an infinity edge pool, full treatment spa, sauna, steam room, and relaxation room. Afternoon tea is served in the lobby and you can choose to dine in the contemporary brasserie or the bar set in the historic Peacock Passage.

Step back in time, to Budapest’s Belle Epoque era, at the Matild Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First commissioned by Her Royal Highness Maria Klotild as a playground for intellectuals and creatives, the riverside property boasted the city’s first-ever lift. In 2021 it received a full makeover, accentuating its vintage grandeur, but with modern and eclectic design touches. 130 bedrooms and the public spaces have been implanted with elements of Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Baroque design codes. Spago, by Wolfgang Puck, is found on the ground floor, with a sophisticated outdoor seating area. On the rooftop, is The Duchess bar and there’s a Matild Cafe and Cabaret.

A splendid blend of the elegance of a bygone era with modern service standards and hospitality marks this centrally-located luxury hotel which is said to be one of the finest in Budapest. Comprising 234 elegantly appointed rooms, including 52 suites, all accommodation options are contemporary with neutral colour schemes and there’s a “Hungaricum” showcasing various interests such as the Rubik’s Cube invented in the country in 1974. The grand 19th-century building houses a spa with a lovely pool, 24-hour fitness centre, sauna, steam room, thermal suites, Jacuzzi and a full menu of treatments. You can dine on fine Hungarian cuisines in the restaurant or less formally in the lounge, while the cocktail bar calls you in after a day sightseeing for a relaxing evening with live piano music. The hotel is conveniently located near to Budapest’s main attractions and retail areas making it the perfect base from which to explore the bustling city.

Centrally located for the classic tourist areas of Vörösmarty tér and Váci utca, the Kempinski Corvinus is a modern hotel of straight-lined stone and glass, very different to most of Budapest’s luxury hotels that are in converted 19th-century mansions. Rooms are comfortable, light, and spacious with some art Deco touches. Leisure, pleasure, and culture are high on the list of amenities. The modern setting includes a ground-floor promenade with shops, a café, a deli, and a small gallery featuring new and young artists. You can kick back in the Living Room in a comfy sofa with a book or catch one of the regular Saturday night concerts. The spa is fitted with a pool with jet streams, a Finnish sauna, steam baths, a gym, and offers a range of treatments. You can choose from various eateries in the hotel including a Nobu and the buzzy ÉS Bisztró or chill out in the Blue Fox cocktail bar.

Within 15 minutes of Váci utca and in the shadow of St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Aria is a luxury hotel with an excellent location and top-notch service. You might guess from the name that there’s a music theme to this top hotel and indeed, one of its key features is the space-age piano in the gorgeous garden courtyard. The entrance and lobby has a keyboard carpet, treble clefs and violins hanging from ceilings and light fittings, and each wing is themed to a different musical genre with each room is dedicated to a different artist from Liszt to Louis Armstrong. Guests can relax in the spa with a beautiful pool, steam room, sauna, gym, and range of treatments. Dining and drinking continue the music theme with the Stradivari Restaurant, Satchmo’s Bar and Library, and the music garden. The crowning glory is undoubtedly the rooftop High Note Sky Bar with its fabulous views of Budapest.