Aria Hotel Budapest

Pest, Budapest, Hungary
Book from GBP Book from £265 per night

A fun, fiendishly cool hotel with a rooftop bar and excellent spa, taking luxury accommodation to a whole new level

A fun, fiendishly cool hotel with a rooftop bar and excellent spa, taking luxury accommodation to a whole new level

Pest never fails to capture the hearts of travellers with its beguiling blend of old-age grandeur and cool, sub-radar energy. One moment you’re browsing the high-end stores along Andrássy Avenue, or admiring the historic Opera House and Széchenyi Chain Bridge, then you’re getting lost in the maze of cobbled lanes that lead to buzzing wine bars, acclaimed restaurants and bustling plazas. In amongst it all, tucked beside the domes and spires of St Stephen’s Basilica, Aria Hotel awaits with playful promise. 

From the 49 beautifully designed rooms and suites to the ravishing, glass-ceilinged conservatory, the quirky decor pays homage to the power of music and genre-defining greats. But this is so much more than a meeting place for music buffs. Dine in style at the Cafe Liszt, drink cocktails in the spectacular rooftop High Note Sky Bar, or luxuriate in the subterranean spa, with its arresting neon-blue lightscape. Add to that a superb fleet of staff who deliver flawless service every time, and it’s clear that this music-themed hideaway hits all the right notes. 

Highs

    • A plum, central location; walk to all the main sights
    • Arguably the best rooftop bar in Budapest: excellent cocktails and unbeatable citywide views
    • Staff are unfailingly helpful; you’ll not want for anything
    • Imaginative dining in Cafe Liszt, and a complimentary cheese and wine reception every afternoon with live piano music
    • The spa is just the ticket after a day of urban exploring

Lows

    • Expensive for Budapest (and rates don't include tax), but utterly unique
    • The eccentric style won't be to everyone's taste, but the service and amenities are universally popular
    • In some rooms, bathtubs are located in the bedroom - not great for friends - and the Opera Suites only have showers
    • Breakfast tables are small, so get easily cluttered

Best time to go

Budapest is a great city to visit any time of year, though is prone to extremes in the weather; summers can be oppressively warm, and winters brutally cold, but late spring and early autumn are ideal times to come.

Our top tips

Catch a performance at the sumptuous State Opera House or the revamped Budapest Operetta Theatre. Elsewhere, take in a classical concert at the acoustically outstanding Liszt Music Academy, or the well-regarded Budapest Jazz Club over in the 2nd district.

Great for...

City Style
Family
Foodie
Romantic
Spa
  • Boutique Hotel
  • 49 rooms
  • Restaurant and bars open daily
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Indoor Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
Room:

Rooms

The interior design draws inspiration from opera, jazz, classical and contemporary music, and each individual room is dedicated to a different artist/group. You'll find brilliant, Blecha-inspired caricatures of them on one wall, alongside books about their lives and works - John, Paul, George and Ringo saw me off to sleep.

Art Nouveau, neo-Baroque and pop-art furnishings are complemented by custom-made etched carpets and musically themed ornaments. Beds can be customised to your comfort, and there's lots of handy gadgetry to play with, including electric blinds and automatic light dimmers, state-of-the-art sound systems (of course) and TVs discreetly recessed within a marble fireplace mantle. 

Bathrooms, with generous showers, are more soberly designed, though in some rooms, the bathtub and sink are located in the bedroom. Molton Brown toiletries round things off nicely. For added drama, most rooms have a balcony overlooking the internal Music Garden.

Features include:

  • Air conditioning
  • Coffee / tea making
  • Hairdryer
  • Safe box
  • Toiletries
  • TV
  • WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is one to linger over: seasonal fruit and creamy yoghurts, a selection of beautifully cured meats, smoked salmon, grilled sausages, and eggs cooked to order. There are also artisan honeys, homemade jams and freshly baked pastries and breads.

At 4pm each day, the Music Garden plays host to a complimentary cheese and wine reception, with accompanying live music. It's a perfect introduction to Hungary’s unheralded but spectacularly good wines.

All meals are served in first-rate Cafe Liszt, a bar, lounge and terrace affair where violins and treble clefs hang from the ceiling. The creditable farm-to-table concept gives rise to an imaginative modern European menu. 

Both bar food and an extensive wine list are available in the High Note Sky Bar, though really this is the place to come and savour a sundowner whilst taking in the marvellous 360-degree views; you get a front row seat to St Stephen's Basilica.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurants nearby
  • Room service
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

  • Relax in the basement Harmony Spa, with its sauna, steam room and heated pool. Musically inspired treatments are accompanied by your choice of classical, jazz, operatic or contemporary playlists
  • Join a rooftop yoga session
  • St Stephen’s Basilica is a few paces away; visit on Thursday evenings to hear an organ recital
  • Just wander, admiring the city's historic architecture. Budapest is bisected by the Danube river; one side is Buda, the other Pest. Take a night cruise to admire the embankments fully; both are Heritage sites
  • Swim in thermal waters at one of the city’s elegant 16th-century baths, such as Rudas, Lukács or Szechenyi
  • Go flipping crazy at The Pinball Museum, Budapest’s coolest attraction – there are 130 to try
  • Back at Aria, check out the vast multi-media library with the help of super-knowledgeable in-house curator, Kornel Magyar. He also organises occasional video performances in the little Teatro Aria: ballets, concerts, opera and musicals

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Boat trips
  • Gym
  • Historical sites
  • Hot tub
  • Museums / galleries
  • Nightlife
  • Private guided tours
  • Sauna
  • Shopping / markets
  • Spa treatments
  • Theatre
  • Well being
  • Wine tasting

Kids

Although the hotel has a very grown-up feel, and facilities are not particularly geared up for children, families are very welcome.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

There are flexible options for families. All rooms can fit a baby cot; Aria Signature Rooms with City View and the Opera Suites can fit 2 baby cots or have their pull-out sofas converted into a bed for 2 children aged 2-12 (free of charge). The Two-Bedroom Opera Suite is ideal, as it has a living room. A Family Duet can be created by booking a Luxury Room with an Aria Signature Music Garden View Room. Note, all rooms except the Opera Suites have a bath.

Kids Activities nearby:

  • Matinees at the Opera House

  • Zoo

  • Children's Railway in Buda (a 7km railway operated by children aged 10-14)

  • Minipolis (large interactive toy and game store)

  • Explore the Castle District

  • Buda Hill Funicular

Distances:

  • Airport: 30 minutes (by car)
  • Hospital: 12 minutes (by car)
  • Shops: 3 minutes
Kid Friendly:

Location

Aria is discreetly tucked away in the smart 5th district on the Pest side of the Danube, a few steps from St Stephen’s Basilica.

By Air:
Fly into Ferenc Liszt airport (aka Ferihegy), which is 20km away. Click on the links below for a list of airlines. From here it's a 20-minute drive to the hotel; best to ask for a transfer or jump in a taxi as you won't need a car in Budapest.


By Car:


If you do want to hire a car see our car rental recommendations. You can drive up to the hotel and your car will be parked in a nearby garage.


Detailed directions will be provided once your booking is confirmed through i-escape.

Airports:

  • Budapest Ferenc Liszt (aka Ferihegy) 20.0 km BUD

Other:

  • Beach 500.0 km
  • Shops 0.2 km
  • Restaurant 0.2 km

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