Top 20 Cool and Unusual Hotels in Budapest 2023

Budapest is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after city breaks in Europe. With many a creative soul and artist taking advantage of the still very cheap rents, Budapest now has a very hip and trendy edge with eclectically styled ruin bars, famous rock festivals, fantastic bars, and coffee houses, a burgeoning gastronomic scene, and even night-time pool parties, complete with music, film and laser discos.

Juxtaposed with the Hungarian capital’s edgier side is the grand and elegant treasure trove of superb baroque, neoclassical, art nouveau architecture and their wonderful thermal spas which continue to draw visitors from all corners of Europe.

A trendy Budapest break needs an equally hip place to stay, so here is a collection of cool and unusual hotels in Budapest, Hungary (in no particular order)…

1. Baltazár Budapest – a hip, vibrant and very Instagrammable boutique hotel with a cool and fun urban vibe 

Featuring first-class 4-star accommodation, the 4-star exceptionally rated Baltazár Budapest has been owned by a family of leading restaurateurs for over 30 years.

Offering just 11 bedrooms, each one is uniquely designed and beautifully executed. Choose from a beautiful room with a feature wall depicting Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, or one with an open bathroom and shower cubicle overlooking the bedroom.

Whichever room you opt for, they are all as carefully crafted as the next. As you would expect from a family that specialises in the restaurant business, the onsite Hungarian Grill Restaurant and Wine Bar is superb and offers a finely crafted menu and extensive wine list in stripped-back, industrial-style surroundings.

The hip Budapest hotel is located in the Historic District of the city, close to the castle and other attractions.

• To book, check prices or availability for Baltazár Budapest

2. Aria House – a funky and fun upscale music-themed hotel perfect for partying Millenials and Gen Zs

One of the coolest and newest hotels in the city, the 5-star exceptionally rated Aria House is a music-themed hotel that sits in the shadow of St Stephen’s Basilica.

Beautifully designed and thoroughly embracing all things musical, the sassy and chic Budapest hotel offers a gorgeous garden courtyard complete with retro furniture and a space-age piano, as well as an underground spa and a swimming pool.

Bedrooms are cool and contemporary with an un-fussy design and open bathrooms, whilst some offer balconies that lead directly out onto a stunning interior courtyard.

The rooftop bar has unparalleled views across the Basilica, and the Stradivari restaurant has a soothing wall of water, violins hanging from the ceiling and an excellent menu.

• To book, check prices or availability for Aria House Budapest

3. Hotel Rum – a trendy and very Insta-worthy boutique hotel perfect for design-loving Millennials and Gen Zs

Housed in a traditional townhouse, the highly-rated Hotel Rum is a stunning boutique hotel located in a quiet residential square.

With quirky and fun interiors, visitors can expect to find a spiral stone staircase, as well as plenty of industrial and rustic touches to complement the age and style of the building.

Bedrooms at the stylishly quirky Budapest abode are all individually designed, with a focus on the industrial era and plenty of metal-framed furniture, whilst bathrooms feature black and white metro tiles and have freestanding rainforest showers.

The Urban Tiger restaurant serves imaginative Southeast-Asian cuisine, while breakfast is served on the rooftop bar with panoramic views of the city.

• To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Rum Budapest

4. Stories Boutique Hotel – a unique and wow-inducing boutique hotel that offers a distinctive and unforgettable experience

A quirky design hotel in the Terézváros district of Budapest, the Stories Boutique Hotel is near the Hungarian State Opera, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Hungarian National Museum, the Hungarian Parliament Building and pretty much everything downtown.

The bars and restaurants for which the city is famous are right on the doorstep.

Guests love the unique decor, comfortable rooms, kind staff and complimentary coffee, tea, pastries and hot chocolate offered 24/7 at the reception.

You can enjoy a complimentary breakfast in the Twenty Six neighbourhood café with its amazing indoor garden setting in a two-storied glass-roofed greenhouse. Room service includes all kinds of extras like chef-cooked dinners, yoga and even tattoos.

• To book, check prices or availability for Stories Boutique Hotel

5. Hard Rock – one of the coolest and most fun themed hotels to stay in Budapest perfect for all generations

If you’re a diehard rock music fan, this vision of modernist luxury in the heart of downtown Budapest is your kind of place.

Plush velvet furnishings in electric colours and rock music memorabilia are scattered throughout, The Sound of Your Stay curated playlists help you tune in and the Rock Shop has all the glam garb and accessories you need to get in style.

The rooms have music-themed decor and rockstar levels of luxury with Sleep Like a Rock bedding, and the luxury suites offer street views and balconies with jacuzzis.

Amenities include the Sessions restaurant, the Constant Grind coffee shop and bar, a Body Rock Fitness Center and Rock Om yoga in your room.

• To book, check prices or availability for Hard Rock

6. Hotel Clark Budapest – Adults Only – a sleek, sexy and hip hotel located in a swanky neighbourhood along the Danube River

Set in the historic Adam Clark Square near famous historic landmarks like the Chain Bridge and the Castle Tunnel, the new building also incorporates this past in its structure. The four stone lions from the bridge greet you at the entrance and carved stone pillars from an older building that stood at the site earlier have pride of place in the courtyard.

The merging of past, present and future inspires the design, with modern-meets-futuristic lines and incredible levels of comfort and style.

With stand-alone bathtubs with sweeping views of the curving river, private balconies, gilt-wire lighting and accents, leather and plush velvet seating, a sauna, and rooms overlooking the river, castle and city, you’ll be surrounded by luxury.

Guests can enjoy a rich buffet breakfast, and meals at the Leo Bistro. The rooftop bar has stunning city views and there’s a fitness centre for guests as well. The location in the Budavar district is within walking distance of all sights and destinations in the centre of the city.

• To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Clark Budapest – Adults Only

• To book, check prices or availability for PEST-BUDA Design Hotel by Zsidai Hotels at Buda Castle

7. Cortile Hotel – Adults Only – an ultra-chic and trendy adults-only boutique hotel that is the perfect choice for a unique urban escape

A calm, eco-friendly retreat amid the urban sparkle, the 4-star Cortile Hotel is centrally located close to all sights like St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Hungarian State Opera and Dohany Street Synagogue.

Rooms are designed in four earth-friendly styles and you can choose from FLORA, MOSS, SKY and TERRA, and they all come with in-room showers, fresh flowers and live plants, separate seating areas, and complimentary buffet breakfast. All rooms have large windows and some also have balconies looking out over the city lights.

There’s a spectacular indoor swimming pool with a glass ceiling, as well as a bar and terrace with a view.

• To book, check prices or availability for Cortile Hotel – Adults Only

8. Art’otel Budapest – a gorgeous, unique and contemporary riverside art hotel located on the banks of the Danube River

This 4-star hotel contains over 600 works by the American contemporary artist Donald Sultan, and its riverside location makes the Art’otel Budapest one of the most sought-after destinations in the city.

Housed in a 7-storey modern building close to Buda Castle Palace, some of the bedrooms offer great views out across the Chain Bridge and river itself, whilst all of them are well-appointed with plenty of luxury touches.

The cool and arty Budapest hotel’s bistro-style restaurant serves up both Hungarian and international dishes and the Baroque wing of the hotel (the original building) has a lounge for laid-back breakfasts or late evening drinks.

• To book, check prices or availability for Art’otel Budapest

9. Hotel Oktogon Haggenmacher – an elegant and sophisticated hotel that offers a very memorable and romantic experience

Experience classical luxury in the renovated neo-Renaissance 1880s palace on Andrássy Avenue, in a building which preserves original features like the central courtyard, hallways with painted arches, high ceilings and woodwork.

The location puts you in the heart of the tourist hub, close to all major attractions and the metro and bus stops for trips beyond.

The rooms have comfortable beds, coffee machines, fresh flowers and views of the city or the interior greenery-filled courtyard.

Amenities include a daily buffet breakfast, fresh fruit and wine in your room, the sophisticated Bar Room which serves drinks in the evenings, and a wellness centre with Technogym machines and a sauna.

• To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Oktogon Haggenmacher

10. Hotel Parlament – a unique, beautiful and creative Art Deco boutique hotel perfect for Instagram fans

As one of the very best boutique hotels in the city, The 4-star Hotel Parlament offers imaginative design features in sumptuous surroundings.

Close to the Parliament Buildings, the arty and creative Budapest abode has a central location that is excellent for exploring all the main attractions in the city.

Bedrooms have a distinctive Art Deco feel and come complete with wooden floors, feature walls and high-quality textiles, as well as modern bathrooms tucked away behind frosted glass partitions.

The breakfast area is housed in the lobby and there is always a wide variety of fresh fruit and local produce available, whilst the Sky Bar beneath the atrium’s glass roof serves up delicious cocktails, wines, beers and spirits.

• To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Parlament 

11. Bohem Art Hotel – a fun, funky and eclectic hotel that is part riverside hotel, part art gallery

A small, friendly mid-range hotel located on the banks of the Danube River, the 4-start exceptionally rated Bohem Art Hotel offers laid-back living in the heart of the city.

Bedrooms are all uniquely designed and feature artworks and one-off oversized prints created by local artists, while bathrooms are sleek and modern.

A real arty vibe is present in all areas of the cool and funky Budapest hotel, and the lobby areas are bold and comfortable, while the design-conscious coffee shop serves up first-class, American-style breakfast for hungry travellers. There is also a daily happy hour with free tea and coffee as well as snacks.

• To book, check prices or availability for Bohem Art Hotel

12. Palazzo Zichy – a former 19th-century palace turned chic boutique hotel located in the beautiful Palace District

The 4-star Palazzo Zichy offers refined accommodation at an affordable price. Housed in an elegant palace dating back to 1899, it is centrally located just inside the Great Boulevard.

The interiors are slick and modern but still manage to incorporate plenty of the original Rococo features including a huge chandelier at the entrance and the ornate black balustrade that runs up the staircase.

Bedrooms offer clean lines and contemporary furnishings as well as plenty of high-quality linens and clean modern bathrooms.

The unique contemporary Budapest hotel offers fresh and filling continental-style breakfasts in the atrium, and the lobby bar has an extensive drinks list as well as a charming ambience and plenty of soft, sumptuous sofas to relax in after a busy day exploring the city.

• To book, check prices or availability for Palazzo Zichy

13. Continental Hotel – decadent upscale luxury located in the heart of the popular Jewish Quarter

One of the classiest hotels in the city of Budapest, The 4-star exceptionally rated Continental Hotel offers supremely elegant accommodation close to the Great Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. Housed in a former public baths building, the hotel has a truly stylish interior hidden away behind its classical façade.

The lobby exudes spa-like calm with turquoise ceilings and a glass wall to the rear, whilst bedrooms are more romantic with chocolate tones and dark wood furniture.

The decadent and sophisticated Budapest hotel restaurant Araz serves up excellent French and Hungarian dishes in luxurious surroundings and there is also a sauna, spa and rooftop swimming pool for guests to enjoy during their stay.

• To book, check prices or availability for Continental Hotel Budapest

14. Casati Budapest – a fun, funky and creative art-filled boutique hotel located in the historic Terézváros District of Budapest

An artsy boutique hotel with a difference, the very highly rated Casati Budapest offers exposed brick walls blended with bold, contemporary design as well as pretty impressive eco-friendly credentials.

Offering recycled toilet rolls in every room, LED lighting and eco-friendly toiletries and detergents, the Casati is leading the way for other small city hotels.

Bedrooms at this trendsetting Budapest accommodation are bright and airy and designed to help you relax and feel energised during your stay.

The on-site Tuk Tuk Bar offers an extensive list of wine and beers, and also serves up light, healthy snacks that can also be eaten in the sunny, courtyard atrium or visitors can explore the cafes and bars of the nearby Liszt Ferenc tér.

• To book, check prices or availability for Casati Budapest

16. Boutique Hotel Budapest – a trendy retro-modern design hotel in a great central location close to the river

The delightful 4-star highly rated Boutique Hotel Budapest is just a 2-minute walk from the peaceful waters of the Danube River as well as the famous shopping district, Váci utca.

Stylishly decorated throughout and with a contemporary urban feel, the bedrooms offer plenty of high-spec kit for travellers looking to work (or play) during their stay.

You can expect to find complimentary WiFi and LCD TVs as standard in all rooms. The chic and trendy Budapest hotel also offers a continental breakfast spread in its canteen-style breakfast room, and its central location means you will never have to travel far to find excellent cafes, restaurants and bars for lunch and dinner.

• To book, check prices or availability for Boutique Hotel Budapest

17. Hotel Monuments – a chic and classy Budapest boutique hotel located on the iconic Andrassy Avenue

One of the most popular hotels in the city, the 4-star exceptionally rated Hotel Monuments is situated on the upscale Andrássy út, close to both St Stephen’s Basilica and the Opera House.

The interiors have been carefully crafted to complement the building’s 19th-century heritage and guests can expect to find bedrooms with opulent classical interiors and frosted glass doors etched with scenes from antiquity in the bathrooms.

The hotel restaurant, Bistro Fine, serves up Hungarian and European cuisine and features a bar that houses a pair of original train lights as a homage to the Metro Line that runs beneath it.

The trendsetting Budapest hotel also has a wellness and massage area as well as a small fitness centre.

• To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Monuments Budapest

18. Roombach Hotel – a bold, retro-chic mid-range hotel located in a highly sought-after neighbourhood in the city centre

This highly rated mid-range hotel is located in the neighbourhood of Király utca and Gozsdu udva, making it the perfect spot from which to explore the vibrant city streets and soak up the bohemian atmosphere.

The Roombach Hotel offers bold interiors with geometric elements to reflect the surrounding architecture and has bright airy bedrooms with flat-screen TVs, big beds and steaming hot showers in the bathrooms.

The hotel bar, baR14, is the social hub of the cool and hip Budapest hotel and offers funky music and a wide array of beverages for you to enjoy during your stay. With plenty of retro touches throughout, this modern hotel blends both the old and the new seamlessly.

• To book, check prices or availability for Roombach Hotel

19. PEST-BUDA Design Hotel by Zsidai Hotels at Buda Castle – a cute, cosy and charming place to stay perfect for a relaxed romantic break

It doesn’t get much more authentic than this design hotel which first opened in 1696 in the Castle district of Budapest.

Updated to meet the needs of contemporary technology and sustainability, the 10 unique rooms and suites have authentic artwork by 20th-century Hungarian artists, wood panelling and beams with an authentic appeal, and some have views of the cobbled courtyard.

Guests can opt for a Frenchy Breakfast with croissants, butter and homemade jam, coffee or tea, and orange juice which is included in the price of the room, or the á la carte bistro breakfast at the historic Pest-Buda Bistro which is one of the oldest and best restaurants in Hungary.

The seasonal Terrace serves coffee, drinks and traditional Hungarian dishes from the bistro, with Hess András Square with its chestnut trees as the backdrop.

The location in the Castle district is close to Mathias church, the Fishermen’s Bastion and other points of interest including the famous Pest-Buda Bistro which is one of the best restaurants in Hungary.