Brody House

Housed in a neoclassical town house built in 1896, Brody House was originally the private residence of a prominent doctor. Many years later, it became an artists' residence and gathering place. It takes its name from the street it sits on, which was named to honor Hungarian writer Sandor Brody. In 2009, the heritage building was transformed into a boutique hotel, channeling the spirit of its bohemian history in 11 individually decorated rooms named after different artists, many of whom used them as their studios. 

Decor throughout is artsy, upscale-shabby chic, pairing historic architecture with contemporary art and up-cycled accents. Paint-stripped walls pair with parquet floors in one of the lounge areas, and a high ceiling is finished with a modern desk-lamp chandelier. A wood stove sits against one wall, while a cozy patchwork quilt decorates another. Large, contemporary paintings adorn the walls, and furniture is an eclectic mix of found and reused items, such as an old wood trunk and weathered-wood honesty bar with glass window shelves. The ambience evokes intentional faded grandeur -- it's more like a private residence rather than a hotel. There's a large, attractive wrought-iron staircase, but as a heritage property, the hotel has no elevator. The hotel draws mainly tourists who are happy to trade features for a striking atmosphere. 

The Brody House is situated on a quiet cobblestone street in Pest's Palace District. A green square, which is home to the Hungarian National Museum, is directly across the street, and restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions are within walking distance. The edge of Belvaros (Inner City), the historic old town of Pest, is a five-minute walk and Deak Ferenc Square, the Jewish Quarter, are in walking distance. For sights farther away, the hotel is about a five-minute walk to several metro and tram lines.

• Five-minute walk to Astoria Transit Stop (Metro line 2, Trams 47 and 49, and several buses)
• Six-minute walk to Kalvin ter Transit Stop (Metro lines 3 and 4)
• Eight-minute walk to Dohány Street Synagogue in Jewish Quarter
• 15-minute walk to Deak Ferenc Square
• 18-minute walk to the State Opera and Andrassy Avenue
• 20-minute walk to St. Stephen's Basilica
• 23-minute walk to Chain Bridge (20 minutes via public transportation)
• 13 minutes to the Parliament Building via public transportation
• 15 minutes to the Budapest-Nyugati Railway Terminal via public transportation
• 25 minutes to Castle Hill via public transportation
• 30-minute drive to the airport

Brody House's 11 rooms, named after various artists who once occupied the house, vary vastly in size and decor, but all are artsy with vintage, shabby-chic touches and boho style. Most feature parquet floors and paint-stripped walls adorned with contemporary paintings. In the Yeresko Room, headboards and footboards are made of reclaimed wood doors. The bedroom is small, but it opens into a spacious bathroom with a luxurious bathtub. Interesting touches in other rooms include magazine and newspaper wallpapering, a chair chandelier, a wall made of reclaimed doors, and plenty of imaginative decorative accents. 

Not all rooms have TVs, minibars, and coffeemakers (though coffee is available for free in one of the common areas), but they do have air-conditioning, hairdryers, toiletries, and free Wi-Fi. Suites include extras like kitchens and sofa beds. The smallest room, Eszter's Shoe Box, is a mere 129 square feet, but most of the other rooms measure at least 300 square feet. The hotel's largest room, the Print Suite, has more than 800 square feet of space.

The standout feature here is the ambience -- this tiny boutique property lacks the frills and extras of larger hotels -- there's no restaurant, gym, or spa, and it's more home than hotel. There are three lounge spaces (which double as breakfast areas in the morning), including a study, a drawing room, and a well-stocked honesty bar. There are plenty of chairs and couches where guests can relax.

Breakfast, which comes with a fee, includes such standards as croissants, cheese, cereal, and yogurt. Coffee, tea, and water are available throughout the day at no extra charge. The front desk doesn't operate 24 hours, but staff will arrange for such services as massages, transportation, tours, and tickets. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Guests are also welcome at Brody Studios, an artsy private club that holds frequent events, but it's a bit of a trek -- about a 20-minute trip on public transportation -- from Brody House.