Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest, part of Hyatt

The bar had great drinks, and the restaurant’s desserts were amazing. Our room was roomy and very clean, with housekeeping taking care of it regularly and thoughtfully. The staff were friendly and welcoming the whole time. Arriving at the hotel felt almost like stepping into a palace, or into a Harry Potter movie. It’s one of the most iconic hotels we’ve stayed in, and we’d love to come back.

We went to the Champagne bar for a nice drink, but both of us left disappointed. At $30 a cocktail, we expected much better. My partner said his was the worst drink he’d ever had, while mine was mostly foam with barely any alcohol. The photos show how little there was. For such a classy hotel, the cocktails really should be better. We felt we’d wasted 100 American dollars.

The hotel’s location made exploring easy, and we had a really lovely New Year’s stay. The lobby is amazing, the staff were helpful and friendly, and our bright, spacious room was clean and had all the amenities, even both types of USB ports by the bed. The gym is small but has what you need, and the included spa was a relaxing end to the day, especially the steam room and infrared. Breakfast had the usual buffet choices and was served in the lobby. We also ate at the cafe, where staying at the hotel meant we could skip the queue outside. The food was tasty, but we have nut allergies and the waitress said everything we ordered was fine. Two items actually had nuts in them. Thankfully nobody with allergies tried those. I’d recommend confirming directly with the kitchen and a senior staff member. The bar also has a good range of mocktails.

It’s a beautiful hotel, and there’s plenty of food and attractions within walking distance. Our room was well maintained, and having a Nespresso machine and kettle was nice. The staff and doorman were always smiling and welcoming. We did have one frustrating moment at the restaurant check-in desk: we waited 15 minutes to be acknowledged, despite open seats being visible. I had to ask at the front desk whether anyone was seating guests. Only then were we told the restaurant was fully booked and couldn’t seat us.