nantara New York Palace is a luxury 5-star hotel in the centre of Budapest. It is located on the Pest side of the Danube, on the elegant Erzsébet Körút Boulevard. It is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
The hotel is housed in a palace with a rich history. It was built in 1894 by New York Life, one of the world’s largest insurance companies. They located their European headquarters here. It was designed by architect Alajos Hauszmann, and is a stunning medley of Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau influences. It was significantly damaged during World War II, after which the structure fell into disrepair.
It was purchased by the Boscolo Hotel Group in 2001, who meticulously restored the palace and invested €80 million into its refurbishment. The restoration preserved its interiors, including frescoes, Venetian chandeliers and gilded stuccos. They also modernised its décor. It was reopened as a luxury hotel in 2007, and in 2020 it was acquired by Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas.
Anantara New York Palace is in a prime location, which makes it easy to explore all of Budapest’s cultural landmarks. It is a 30-minute drive from Budapest Airport (BUD), with a taxi fare of approx. 10,000 HUF (€25). The hotel has very good access to the metro, tram and bus networks, which makes the whole city very easily accessible.
On arrival, we were greeted warmly by the doormen, who were also quick to assist us with our luggage. Check-in was seamless and the reception staff were friendly and efficient.
The hotel itself is stunning, with its beautiful architecture and décor, combining old-world elegance with modern luxury.
Black and white marble floors, chandeliers and arches are common themes throughout the hotel. During the day, the roof’s glass pyramid floods the lobby with natural light making it bright and airy.
There are 185 rooms and suites, spread over six floors. They offer Premium and Deluxe rooms, as well as Junior, Executive and Presidential Suites – each of which combines both classic and modern elements. All the rooms are exquisitely decorated with gold and rich brown tones.
We were staying in a Junior Suite. It was incredibly spacious, and beautifully appointed with an extra-large and very comfortable bed. The bedroom also had a generous seating area, and on arrival, the hotel had very thoughtfully placed a selection of delicious cakes here as a welcome gift, adding a lovely personal touch to our stay. In the ‘entrance hallway’ there was a dressing room and wardrobes with plenty of storage space.
All required amenities were provided, including an iron and an ironing board. Each of the rooms has a mini bar, a Nespresso coffee machine, as well as a kettle.
Our room was located on the side of the hotel away from the busy main road. Apart from the sound of the tram passing by the front of the hotel, it was pleasantly peaceful.
Every corner of the hotel is impeccably clean and well maintained. From the spotless rooms to the pristine lobby and corridors, it is evident that great care goes into ensuring a comfortable and pleasant stay for all the guests. Before our arrival, the hotel enquired what time we would prefer room service and turndown to be arranged. This was a very efficient system, as it was tailored to our personal schedule and preferences.
There is a QR code on the room key cards, which links you to the hotel’s directory. This includes a link to the e-concierge, access to PressReader (a wide variety of e-newspapers and e-magazines are available), room service and a list of additional amenities that are available on request, such as extra coffee, towels, toiletries, etc.
There is a range of dining options available in the hotel, which include the iconic New York Café, the White Salon, the Atrium and the Poet Bar.
The New York Café first opened in 1894, and was a gathering place for artists, politicians and journalists. It is known as ‘the most beautiful café in the world’, and it is renowned for its 24-carat-gold coffee and Valrhona chocolate desserts. No photo will do this place justice, it must be seen to be believed! The live classical music adds to the elegant ambiance. Each day, there are queues of people outside. It is genuinely breathtaking.
For guests of the Anantara, breakfast is served daily from 7AM until 10.30AM (11AM on Saturday & Sunday) in the Deep-Water Breakfast Room. This is located in the downstairs area of the New York Café. The buffet breakfast includes a selection of breads, pastries, cold cuts, cheeses, fruit and eggs. An à la carte menu is also available, offering a wide selection including eggs benedict, porridge, pancakes and French toast. One morning, I opted for the porridge which was delicious!
I would recommend choosing a table close to the buffet area. There is an overflow area at the rear of the room which is not ideal. There was a strong smell of cooking in this area and it also lacked atmosphere. The breakfast itself was excellent, and the ambiance added greatly to our experience. The service and staff were very good.
The White Salon offers elegant dining with a modern take on traditional Hungarian classics, such as goulash and mangalica pork. Situated above the New York Café, this restaurant is beautifully decorated with white and gold details and velvet seating. We dined here right before we departed the hotel for the airport. The burger came highly recommended, so I had to try it. It didn’t disappoint! Again, the live classical music adds to the atmosphere.
Afternoon tea and light bites are available in the Atrium.
The Poet Bar serves a selection of fine wines and signature cocktails, as well as snacks. It is the perfect place for a pre-dinner drink or a night cap, and the service was excellent.
The Anantara Spa has a 15-metre heated pool, as well as a Finnish sauna, aromatherapy steam room and a relaxation area with hammocks and refreshments. The pool was fantastic, albeit more like an oversized jacuzzi with seating along the side.
There are five treatment rooms, with a wide range of treatments available to book, including massages and facials.
Children under the age of 2 are not permitted in the Spa. Children aged 2-14 years are allowed to use the Spa facilities between 11AM-3PM, provided they are accompanied by a parent or an adult guardian.
The hotel has a state-of-the-art gym, which is open 24 hours a day. It is equipped with an extensive variety of machinery and weights.
Pet-friendly rooms are also available. Dogs and cats are allowed, with maximum weight of 25kg per pet. Pet mats/beds are provided, as well as bowls for water and food. €50 per pet/per night is charged.
The hotel offers many experiences which can be arranged with the concierge. These include a VW Campervan Guided City tour, a romantic boat cruise on the Danube, a Matyó Craft Workshop, a mixology masterclass and a visit to the Agardi Pálinka Distillery.
After a long day of exploring all of what Budapest has to offer, it is certainly a luxury to come back to a hotel like the Anantara New York Palace. A truly memorable experience!
For more information, visit https://www.anantara.com/en/new-york-palace-budapest/.
