Eye-catcher in Budapest

W Budapest

A W Hotel has recently moved into a historic building on Budapest's prestigious Andrássy Avenue, impressively juggling the duality of Hungarian history and modern lifestyle.

" Text: Simone Dressler"

Wow! The larger-than-life letter "W" made of shimmering gold-colored metal structure, which is emblazoned in front of the venerable Drechsler Palace opposite the Hungarian State Opera, is an eye-catcher in itself, as is the neoclassical building with neo-Gothic elements, which appears almost sacred to the viewer from the outside. Inside, you first enter a bright, glass-roofed inner courtyard, which contrasts the historical atmosphere with moss green velvet-covered lounge furniture, stucco work, stained glass windows and a centrally positioned, no-frills gold fountain. The historical legacy of the palazzo, built in 1883 by Ödon Lechner, has been lovingly restored down to the smallest detail by interior designers Bowler James Brindley from London and Bánáti + Hartvig from Hungary and complemented with modern accents such as gold-colored metal mesh, which can be found in public areas and also in the rooms. These translucent "second skin" metal screens inside the Palais Drechsler blend in naturally with the historic building fabric and have a highly aesthetic effect.

With 151 rooms and suites on five floors, the new hotel does not necessarily belong to the boutique hotel class, and yet the interior exudes a great intimacy that is reminiscent of a boudoir in the rooms. In addition to the W Lounge in the inner courtyard, the central meeting place is the Nightingale by Beefbar restaurant, which opens onto a terrace in front of Andrássy Boulevard with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a view of the Hungarian State Opera opposite. The Leaf, Beef and Reef dishes on offer in the restaurant - inspired by Asian cuisine and served tapas-style or beef specialties of typical Beefbar quality with an Italian twist - are in themselves an eclectic experience that literally melts in the mouth. No wonder that the Nightingale also attracts large numbers of Budapest locals who want to indulge in yakiniku steak from Uruguay, tataki tagliata from Australian Wagyu beef and yellowtail sashimi with yuzu truffle sauce or first-class Hungarian wines and creative cocktails in a fabulous location and very harmonious ambience. You can learn from Gabor, who was a ballet student here and has now returned to his former place of training in the role of concierge, that the Drechsler Palace also housed a ballet institute before it stood empty for 15 long years. In perfect German, he tells his guests that the round lampshades in the Nightingale restaurant, which sometimes curve downwards and sometimes upwards, are reminiscent of the swaying tutu of a ballerina.


Mirror, play and Hollywood


Allusions to the rich Hungarian culture can also be found in the rooms, where black and white tiled walls pay homage to the country's popular tradition of chess and playful bathroom mirrors and lamps pay homage to Hungarian Hollywood screen legend Zsa Zsa Gabor. The impressive all-black EWOW suite and all-white WOW suite are designed to evoke the white and black swans from the ballet Swan Lake. Of course, you don't need to know this to feel at home in one of the two spacious suites with high-quality furnishings, a balcony and a view of the opera on 122 square meters and 198 square meters respectively, but the stringent design narrative of the W Budapest is simply fun. Especially in the impressive AWAY® Spa in the basement, which leads through a labyrinth of mirrored walls and doors to the treatment rooms, which are almost impossible to find. Only the WET® pool in the middle of the vault offers a clear view: a visit, even if only for a short treatment from the "Quick Fix" spa menu for night owls, is highly recommended. The fact that this playful wellness oasis is inspired by the world-famous Hungarian illusionist Harry Houdini may not immediately occur to spa guests, but the bartender at the "Illusionist" cocktail in the "Society25" speakeasy bar next door will tell you that Houdini served as a source of inspiration for both the bar team and the architects. History, stories, design and cultural narratives permeate many details of this impressive W Hotel, which is set to usher in a new era at "W". If you weren't a fan of the Marriott lifestyle brand before, you could definitely become a W fan here.

www.whotels.com,www.marriott.com