Hotel Castle Garden

Hotel Castle Garden is a four-story, contemporary building set within the historical Buda side of the city. From the outside, guests are greeted with a neutral, sand-colored facade accented with natural-wood window frames that set the tone for the interior decor. The lobby has minimalist, mid-century decor with a warm touch. Leather couches, tile, and the marble-style reception are all variant tones of cream, while wood accents and tables are a soft maple shade. This same type of restrained yet stylish design is found throughout the hotel and in the rooms, and helps to create a calm and relaxing vibe. 

Riso Restaurant feels a bit more cozy thanks to rustic decor, plants, and a black ceiling. Colorful blue, red, and white tiles cover the walls and the bar, bringing in a nice pop of color and vibrant atmosphere. The hotel's garden courtyard follows suit with plants and dark wicker chairs and colorful cushions. Guests are primarily couples, though families and business travelers  still frequent the hotel.

Hotel Castle Garden has a prime hilltop location on the Buda side of the city in District II. This is an ideal spot for anyone looking to soak in the historical vibe of Buda or that wants a gorgeous (particularly at nighttime) view of Pest. This is a quiet area with state buildings, several restaurants, and residential properties around the hotel. Matthias Church and the popular viewpoint at Fisherman's Bastian are under 15 minutes by foot from the hotel, while the Castle itself is just over 20 minutes.

The closest public transport, buses 16 and 16A, are a four-minute walk from the hotel and will take guests around the Castle and over the bridge to Pest, ending at Deak Ter -- or travelers can walk the seven minutes to Szell Kalman Square and hop on the Red line metro or 24-hour number 2 or 6 tram. Other nearby sites include the historic Hospital in the Rock (10-minute walk); Mammut Shopping Mall, with a bowling center (10-minute walk); Kiraly Baths, Budapest's old thermal bath (17-minute walk). 

Hotel Castle Garden has 38 contemporary rooms with a somewhat minimalist design consisting of warm colors in the sienna pillows and bedrunners, birch-wood furniture and closets, ribbed beige carpet, and simple, framed flower artwork on the walls. Standard amenities include 28-inch LED TVs, air-conditioning, safes, minibars, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and an IKEA-style work desk. Straightforward bathrooms come with shower/tub combos, wall-mounted hairdryers, and toiletries. Rooms have city views and some come with furnished terraces. 

Budget Double Rooms may have a double bed that is actually two twins pushed together and some feel a bit more cramped than other rooms. Standard Rooms are a little tight but comfortable, while the Superior Rooms include an outdoor terrace and a bit more space inside. The top of the pack, the Panorama Room, has a spacious room featuring a sitting area and huge terrace with a table and modern wicker chairs. 

The hotel's adjacent Riso Restaurant is a favorite among guests (who get automatic discounts) and serves up a split menu of Italian and classic Hungarian dishes, both made from authentic, traditional ingredients and recipes, and served with Hungarian and Italian wines. Guests have superb views across historic Buda, including the Buda Castle and the Bonfini Garden. From the months of May through October, they open up Riso's grill terrace for breakfast through dinner, adding 70 outdoor garden seats to their capacity, grilled specialities to the menu, and live music to the entertainment. 

If you opt-in for the breakfast buffet of cold meats, cheese, cooked eggs, and other continental fare, expect an extra charge. The buffet has mixed reviews, though almost everyone appreciates the garden seating during summer. The reception area has free all-day snacks like peanuts and whole fruit. 

Hotel Castle Garden only gives guests staying two or more nights a free welcome drink. There's also a self-serve Lobby Bar open during the day with free tea, coffee, and water. The adjacent Italian-Hungarian Riso restaurant is open all day and has a pleasant seasonal terrace. For business travelers or events, there is a 14-person meeting room with natural light and panoramic views of the Buda hills and Pest side of the city. There is a secure underground parking garage with room for 30 cars, though the daily parking rate is a bit pricey. Wi-Fi is free throughout. 

Travelers wanting to bypass the cost and crowds of the public baths can use the hotel's mini-wellness area. It features a six-person whirlpool with chromotherapy, tiny infrared wooden sauna, adventure shower, and little tea and water station. It's housed in a small, windowless room that lacks a warm spa atmosphere, though most guests feel the marginal day rate is a good bargain for their buck.