Expert reviews
“The brightest star of the local hotel scene is W Budapest, which opened in 2023. Located inside Drechsler Palace, a former ballet school directly across from the Opera on upscale Andrássy avenue, it offers 151 gorgeously appointed rooms and suites.”
“Taking over the UNESCO-listed Drechsler Palace, this is a design-lover’s dream stay. Original neo-renaissance features such as the huge arched doorways and stained glass windows have been restored or faithfully recreated, but despite its history, there’s a thoroughly modern buzz about the place.”
“Known for its seductive aesthetics and noteworthy nightlife, W Hotels made a splashy debut with W Budapest, its first Eastern European address. Opened in summer 2023, W Budapest breathes new life into the historic Drechsler Palace, all while keeping the building’s gorgeous neo-Gothic architecture intact.”
“W Hotels’ first foray into Eastern Europe has been a long time coming, but securing the Neo-Gothic Drechsler Palace, former home of the Institute of Ballet, was worth the wait. This dramatic building has been given a playful, contemporary and considered renovation, providing an excellent base from which to explore Budapest.”
What guests liked
- Central location
- Friendly staff
- Comfortable beds
- Swimming pool
- Delicious breakfast
All you need to know
W Budapest is seriously cool. They turned the old Drechsler Palace (yep, that historic, glam building) into this bold, design-forward hotel that plays on Budapest’s two sides: Buda and Pest.
The interiors are a bit of a visual delight, with soft layers, metal mesh, and touches of French Renaissance flair. And there are fun nods to chess (think tiled floors and lamps shaped like chess pieces) and ballet, so it’s not just a place to crash, it’s an experience.
On top of that, the hotel offers a kind of hidden wellness world: the AWAY® Spa feels like a secret escape with mirrors, water features, and thermal-bath-inspired design to calm your senses.
There’s also a slick WET pool, relaxing steam rooms, and a 24/7 gym. Perfect if you want to recharge after exploring the city.
Meanwhile, food and drink are on point, with a lounge that shifts from daytime café to nighttime hangout, plus an imaginative restaurant and bar program that really captures Budapest’s spirit.
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Location
Recent guest reviews
17 March 2025
The staff made the place 👏
Staff made the place very welcoming, particularly Miklos the concierge made our short trip seamless.
Nothing, all good
14 March 2025
It was a very nice stay.
I liked the room clean and fancy. And also the location is fantastic.
I did not like the bar excpecting more lively place.
26 February 2025
Outstanding.
The location was perfect, central to all the sights. The hotel was spectacular, clean and staff were helpful and very friendly.
23 January 2025
Exceptional
Best hotel!
14 January 2025
One of the best stays we have had. Awesome hotel
Excellent location, vary spacious room and friendly staff
Everything was fantastic
11 January 2025
Exceptional
Beautiful building, the room is modern and great
The air conditioning wasn’t easy to use, and for some reason during the night the temperature got hotter
2 January 2025
Great facilities, wonderful staff
Facilities, cleaning, restaurants and spa - all were great as expected. But the most impressive part was the hotel staff . Each and everyone were just perfectly kind, we were on a vacation with a 4 months old baby, and the staff did everything to ensure we were having a comfortable time. Absolutely adorable!
16 December 2024
Excellent, friendly stuff, great quality!
Staff was absolutely amazing! Very helpful and kind. They allowed us to stay until 6PM in our room so our baby could sleep in comfortable conditions. We didn't expect such a nich experience.
25 November 2024
Highly recommend
Beautiful old palace, great design, comfortable rooms and great service
Only criticism is that the breakfast orders were slow to arrive, both days of our stay.
20 November 2024
Such a fancy, but trendy hotel. Very comfortable with amazing staff. Would rebook in a heartbeat!
A beautiful hotel, rooms were very comfortable, breakfast was delicious. Staff are amazing, couldnt so enough for us. I would recommend and I would book again in a heartbeat.
19 November 2024
Excellent hôtel in Budapest
Amazing beds !!!! Super quality linen and impeccable service
Loud music that was annoying in the bar
18 November 2024
Amazing staff, very very friendly, respectful, helpful.
Selection of the breakfast was good.
14 November 2024
Remarkable
Ohh this hotel was fabulous, location was just perfect , Rooms are very clean , comfy room, breakfast was delicious stafff are super nice very helpful . I would highly recommend it .. thank you for the management and staff for this remarkable hospitality
13 November 2024
Exceptional
Amazing location, lovely & helpful staff, loved the rooms
The swimming pool is actually a splash pool, one definitely can't swim in it
11 November 2024
Perfect for a weekend getaway!
Staff at the hotel was amazing. We have to thank our concierge Bella for making our stay unforgettable. Breakfast a la carte was also superb, best eggs royale we ever had! Spa was small but clean and new.
Some small details could be improved (coathangers missing in the room) but overall only small things.
8 November 2024
Wonderful stay Budapest
Beautiful building and stylish decor inside and outside hotel. Rooms and beds spotlessly clean. Staff very professional and helpful 👏 the location of hotel was excellent and everywhere was easy to reach. Food delicious everyday for breakfast !
Lights in bedroom all seemed to come on together hard to isolate an area.loved 2 side by side washand basins
3 November 2024
To short
Perfect stay in a really really nice place!
Nothing
23 October 2024
pleasant stay
well located and pleasant modern facilities
expensive breakfast
22 October 2024
Brilliant stay!
Everything!
Nothing
18 October 2024
Thank staff is friendly and kind
Very w and the location very good
Perfect
22 September 2024
Amazing
The building and its facilities are fantastic.
They could make a better cappuccino.
22 September 2024
Very nice hotel, on great location, needs to work with work forces
Fantastic building, completely restored, great location
Breakfast service last day. To many very young waiters running around, and forgeting the orders. We waited espresso 15 minutes and ordered it from three different waiters 🤦♂️. And it took them half an hour to bring ordered dishes
22 September 2024
Great vacations, beautiful building
Nice room, not big.wonderful bed,
Expensive amenities
22 September 2024
A lovely location with great service friendly staff looking forward to coming back in the future.
The location was great. Building architect was superb. Staff was friendly and helpful.
Like it all.
21 September 2024
Perfect end for a two week stay in Ukraine.
Wonderful breakfast. Location was great for walking to the river. Staff was exceptional. Really enjoyed talking to Coco!!
20 September 2024
Elegant hotel 10/10
Excellent location : stuff were amazing and super professional special thanks to the reception spa manger and also the house keepers all 10/10
8 September 2024
Great stay for business trip
I had a very nice stay in Budapest. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly. I want to emphasize that the beds were exceptionally comfortable, contributing to a great stay. The venue itself is newly renovated and of very high quality.
In my opinion, the breakfast could have been better with a wider variety of food choices
20 August 2024
Comfortable Stay, But Comes with a Hefty Price Tag
+ The hotel’s neo-Renaissance architecture is not only a stunning landmark but also offers a visually captivating place to stay, with a tastefully curated interior that perfectly complements its historic charm. + Located directly across from the Hungarian State Opera, it’s incredibly practical for those looking to watch the opera, or explore the cultural heart of Budapest (e.g., St. Stephen’s Basilica). + Rooms are clean, and guest requests are handled promptly and professionally. + Beds are extremely comfortable!
- The location isn't the most convenient for visiting the Hungarian Parliament Building or the Buda Castle District, with the former requiring 20 minutes and the latter 30 minutes on foot. - The hotel is on the pricey side, and the value for money is debatable, depending on your budget and expectations. - The all-day dining venue is unfortunately run by staff who lack hospitality skills, which diminishes the dining experience. - The concierge desk is OK but it does not meet the high standards one might expect from such a prestigious establishment.
16 August 2024
Great experience
Super comfortable bed, beautifully designed room and bathroom, and multiple options for dining within the hotel. Laptop-friendly hotel restaurant as well, which was great for getting some work done during our stay.
Nothing to note!
15 August 2024
Stunning city centre hotel - perfect for a blend of relaxation and fun!
The hotel building itself is beautiful and occupies a fantastic location opposite the Opera house with easy access to the subway and walking distance to all the main attractions. The hotel is extremely comfortable (one of the best beds we’ve ever slept in!!) and the spa facilities are great for a central city location. The staff are all very friendly and we had great service throughout our stay.
No complaints! We would love to stay again.
13 August 2024
Well Done
Nice hotel & all the staff are very friendly, Nice location.Because of check in time delay so they upgrade the room to us also. I very love the breakfast as well
Nil
12 August 2024
It was like we were in a Wes Anderson movie set.
The Buffet breakfast and a la carte choices were delicious. The dining area is beautifully designed like the rest of the hotel. Overall, high end and very classy experience.
Flies seem to be an issue. It would be great to prevent flies from buzzing around the uncovered food.
12 August 2024
Exceptional
Amazing historical building, very chic and comfortable rooms, good quality toiletery and best towels, good breakfast and a calming spa!
10 August 2024
A hotel in a good location that's a little different.
Impressive looking hotel on a central main street, so excellent for seeing the city. Hotel room had some personality to it, making it a memorable stay. One of the best showers I've ever experienced in a hotel room - powerful and roomy!
There was music playing in the corridors throughout the day and this was loud enough to be heard in the room. We did mention this to the staff but I don't think they understood what we meant (English was limited) - they seemed to think we were talking about a live band elsewhere in the hotel.
29 July 2024
A very special place.
We had an absolutely amazing stay. The hotel is spectacularly beautiful, and so fun to spend time in. Every member of the staff was welcoming and helpful. We adored our room – everything was so lovely and comfortable. We had great service and food at the restaurant for dinner one night and drinks on the terrace another night. The spa is extraordinary. One of the most gorgeous spaces we’ve ever experienced, and the service from the spa staff was exceptional. This was truly one of our best stays ever.
The power outlets are hard to find - located behind heavy drapes. We wish the hotel staff had pointed them out to us when they brought us to the room.
21 June 2024
Pleasant stay
Lovely staff.. very nice rooms.. very good location..
No food at night..
19 June 2024
Exceptional
Everything. It’s a proper 5* experience!
Nothing!
10 June 2024
Beautiful hotel, perfect location, super comfortable bed
Beautiful beautiful hotel. Luxurious but with heart. Staff was very accommodating. Spa was great. Breakfast was good. Bed was super comfortable. Smart room. You don’t need to get up, if you forgot to pull the curtains, you press the button, dim the lights, etc. perfect for relaxing and also great if you are here for work. Super location. And it was not noisy
I read the reviews about breakfast, how it could be better. I would say that they make great eggs for breakfast but there is not a big variety in buffet, I saw some hotels have huge amount of options for breakfast, but still there is everything you would usually have for breakfast.
3 June 2024
Beautiful hotel in a perfect location. Hidden spa perfect for relaxing. Family friendly but adults only vibe.
Everything. New, clean, stylish, beautiful. Great location, suoer friendly staff. Amazing spa and pool facilities.
-
19 May 2024
Amazing experience
Amazing experience a truly 5 star hotel !
Nothing.
2 May 2024
Excellent stay, I would definitely go back to the W in Budapest!
Perfect location. Brand new hotel. Great facilities, especially the spa. Large and beautiful rooms. Professional, friendly, and very helpful staff!!!
Breakfast must be upgraded, not good enough for a W hotel, and also expensive. We had to go out and look for alternatives which is unfortunate because it would have been easier for us to eat in the hotel.
1 May 2024
An amazing hotel, highly recommendable.
Perfect location, amazing property, beautiful room with a magic view.
Not so great breakfast :(
16 April 2024
Exceptional
Amazing building, location and helpful staff
Everything was perfect
11 April 2024
All in all, it was a great stay and we would love to come back again.
It is a beautiful hotel in the very heart of Budapest. Our room was excellent and very comfy. The hotel staff did their utmost to satisfy our needs.
The breakfast still needs to improve. Unfortunately, the quality and the presentation of the food was not reaching our expectations.
10 April 2024
Excellent stay in a beautiful hotel with great staff in a wonderful location.
Breakfast was excellent except for 2 days when they werr overwhelmed by 2 events going on simultaneously
It would have been nice to have somewhere to sit in the sun (maybe be the terrace gets it later in the year?)
5 April 2024
Amazing decor and outstanding staff!
Everything! The W must be for Wow! Spotlessly clean and all the staff are super friendly and helpful. The decor is amazing, it’s like being on a film set everywhere you look. We didn’t have breakfast but we did eat in the hotel Nightingale restaurant and it was beautiful. This stay was a treat and a little bit of luxury for us and I hope to return in the future.
Loved absolutely everything! If I was being very picky I would say the lighting in the bedroom wasn’t great for getting ready.
3 April 2024
Fantastic place to unwind
Absolutely fantastic hotel - we stayed in the wonderful room and it was beautiful, great amount of space, comfy (massive) bed, everything is tech-integrated too so really simple. Lots of nice touches like motion sensors lights on night mode, electronic do not disturb buttons. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the spa area is beautiful with a good sized warm pool and steam room. Breakfast was good too, lots of good options on buffet and then you can order from a menu (all included if you have breakfast option) for fresh & hot as well. Location is great walking distance. Would definitely stay again!
Loved everything!
3 April 2024
Wunderbar!
It was very new and modern.
I think there should be an age limit for the spa.
29 March 2024
A "must stay" place in Budapest
Absolutely gorgeous place. The hotel building, which at one point in its long and colorful history, housed the Hungarian Ballet Academy, was in a terrible state for nearly two decades. Grimy and braced by wooden scaffolding, for as far back as I can remember, this forgotten pearl looked like its fate might be the wrecking ball. Fortunately, it was rescued and fully restored to its former glory. Unbelievably beautiful. The rooms are tastefully decorated, comfortable, and immaculate. The staff was professional, helpful, and, in every way, welcoming. All of the extra touches were there to make for a memorable stay. This one is a true gem on every level.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Barber/beauty shop
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Shuttle service (additional charge)
- - Airport shuttle (additional charge)
- - Shared lounge/TV area
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Tour desk
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Sauna
- - Fitness centre
- - Spa and wellness centre
- - Massage (additional charge)
- - Hot tub/Jacuzzi (additional charge)
- - Indoor pool
- - Indoor pool (all year)
- - Nightclub/DJ
- - Evening entertainment
- - Beauty Services
- - Facial treatments
- - Manicure
- - Pedicure
- - Body treatments
- - Body scrub
- - Spa facilities
- - Steam room
- - Spa lounge/relaxation area
- - Spa/wellness packages
- - Back massage
- - Neck massage
- - Foot massage
- - Couples massage
- - Head massage
- - Hand massage
- - Full body massage
- - Fitness
- - Yoga classes
- - Fitness/spa locker rooms
Outdoors
- - Terrace
- - Sun terrace
- - Outdoor furniture
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Transport
- - Airport pick up (additional charge)
- - Airport drop off (additional charge)
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
Pool and wellness
- - Swimming pool

More photos

23 March 2025
Amazing hotel