art’otel budapest

For a two building hotel -- one of which is from the 18th century, the art’otel budapest has a colorful, modern interior. Guests enter a playful lobby decorated with contemporary, bright green velour couches and chairs set on a gray printed carpet in front of the reception desk. There’s another seating area of orange leather armchairs on a printed dominos carpet. As the name suggests, this hotel has an artistic decor; it presents 579 original works throughout the property by American artist Donald Sultan. The hotel even provides an art tour of the exhibit. The restaurant is chic and trendy with black-and-white checkered floors, raw wooden tables, and cream and black contemporary chairs. Arches throughout the dining areas speaks to the historic charm of the building, as does the courtyard with its weathered bricks and small patio complemented by a luscious garden and a few tables and chairs. The hotel is suited to tourists, primarily couples, due to its central location and decent prices, though with the conference facilities, business travelers are often guests too. 

This property has an excellent location for travelers looking to explore some of Budapest’s most popular attractions. It sits right next to the Danube River (on the Buda side) and is within walking distance to many sights such as the Royal Palace, a 13-minute walk away, or Chain Bridge, a seven-minute walk. Matthias Church takes 15 minutes to reach on foot, while Fisherman’s Bastion takes 10 minutes. Some places require public transportation, however, such as the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, which takes about 30 minutes to reach. There’s a bus and a tram stop that’s a minute's walk from the hotel and a metro that’s five minutes away. A number of restaurants are found on surrounding streets. It’s a 26-minute drive to Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport. 

Rooms range in color palette, but all feature an artistic decor with a touch of whimsical sophistication. Patterned carpet with a looping line print and modern art pieces hanging on the walls provide a graphic backdrop. Furniture varies, but most have a sleek and streamlined look. Some rooms have unique features like side tables set upon stacked bowling balls. All rooms include coffee and tea service, minibars, and flat-screen TVs. There’s free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning, but the Wi-Fi can be spotty, and past guests report that the air-conditioning doesn’t always hold up to the heat. Suites feature separate living rooms and a free bottle of water. Views vary, though rooms with views of the Danube River are lovely, especially from rooms with balconies. The black-and-white bathrooms have plenty of counter space, Elemis toiletries, hairdryers, and shower/tub combos. Some guests have complained about cleanliness issues. 

The art'otel budapest has well-rounded features for an urban hotel with low rates. A breakfast buffet (for a fee) is offered in the Drawing Room in the mornings, or can be had in guests’ rooms with room service. Note that room service has limited hours. There’s also art’bistro bar, a snazzy restaurant and bar that serves Hungarian dishes. Guests can make use of the fitness center, but it's very small with only a few machines and a sauna. Business amenities include nine fully equipped meeting rooms and a business center with a few computers and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and there’s on-site valet parking, though it incurs a daily fee.