The Budapest hotel that's hosted some of the world's greatest musicians

Times

18 hours ago

The Aria is in the middle of the tourist district in Pest, with St Stephen's Basilica a few steps away. The hotel nails its musical colours to the mast from the outset, the lobby's marble flooring adorned with a stylised keyboard motif that snakes towards a gold-plated sculpture of a guitar. Over the years, a star-studded cast of performers has stayed in the large and boldly furnished guest rooms, from Sting to Placido Domingo. There's a superb restaurant, a characterful spa, a programme of musical performances and staff who provide service that really is a cut above. This is a hotel that hits all the top notes.
This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue
Score 9/10There are only 49 guest rooms, each of them taking a famous musician or opera for its muse, and including a flamboyant caricature on the wall by Czech artist Josef Blecha. Appropriately enough, the Romeo and Juliet suite has a balcony facing the street on the third floor, but if you don't fancy that one you can request a room devoted to Frank Sinatra or BB King. While each room has its different musical theme, they are all generously sized, with a large TV — with Chromecast — set into a feature fireplace, stripped-brick ceilings and marble bathrooms containing both shower and bath (some rooms have a standalone tub in the bedroom).
The in-room facilities are snazzy too, with blackout window shutters you raise and lower at the push of a button, and speakers in the bathroom so the music can follow you into every corner. These are rooms that are not only playfully funky but well-equipped. While this isn't a specifically family-focused hotel, you'll often find families staying and the staff welcome them impeccably. Young children are provided with colouring books, animal-themed shower gels and the like; kids are allowed in the pool; and there are several adjoining rooms.
Score 9/10 The hotel's café-bar restaurant — named after the great 19th-century Hungarian composer, Franz Liszt — serves international dishes. Recommendations? The excellent lamb loin with harissa and potato rösti, or grilled duck with parsley root purée, sugar pea ragout and horseradish. If you want something slightly less weighty, you'll also find choices like Caesar salad and salmon fillet. There are several areas in which to dine, from the airy central atrium to a more intimate space with a brick fireplace, wood panelling and shelves of books that has the feel of a snug. The Mirror Room is so called because of the reflective tiles that decorate the walls, each signed by a musician who has visited; among them, you'll find the scrawls of Sting, Placido Domingo and Sam Smith, who played the piano in the lobby. The café serves four speciality macarons, among them the Frank Sinatra (with a flavour of blueberry cheesecake) and the Pavarotti (which has coffee notes).
Breakfast in the Music Garden atrium certainly won't let you down: a wide spread of buffet options and freshly prepared dishes of eggs, pancakes and more. For cocktails and superb views, head up to the High Note Skybar on the roof of the hotel, which has become a slick evening favourite for locals and hotel guests alike. The service across all these eating and drinking spots is absolutely faultless.
• Best hotels in Budapest• Discover our full guide to Budapest
Score 8/10The Harmony Spa is in the basement and has a softly lit swimming pool as well as steam room, sauna and fitness suite. Its treatment rooms use Eminence products. Beyond that, it's perhaps no surprise that music is at the heart of the extras on offer at the hotel. Every second weekend during winter months, there's a screening of a Covent Garden opera or ballet after breakfast in the Teatro Aria at the back of the lobby; performances have included The Wedding of Figaro, The Nutcracker and Cinderella (tickets cost about £12).
Score 8/10The location is right in the thick of Budapest, on the street immediately off St Stephen's Square with its looming basilica. You're within the shortest of strolls of cafés, bars, restaurants and many of the prime sites of the tourist district, and the hotel's position means there are good views of much of this from the rooftop bar (although not from the guest rooms themselves).
Price B&B doubles from £275Restaurant mains from £20Family-friendly YAccessible Y
Adrian Phillips was a guest of Aria Hotel Budapest (ariahotelbudapest.com)
• Best things to do in Budapest• Best ruin bars in Budapest for an atmospheric drink