Neo-Renaissance palace playground
A glass-roofed courtyard lounge hums with evening DJ sets beneath restored neo-Renaissance arches and optical mirror installations.
“Cleverly designed spaces from the minds of London-based Bowler James Brindley and Hungarian firm Bánáti + Hartvig pay homage to Budapest’s storied past...”
Where it shines
Remarkable
Second-skin architectural insertions introduce optical illusions, chessboard tiling, and gold mesh partitions.
Remarkable
Ödön Lechner's 1886 palace blends French Renaissance architecture with Hungarian ballet history.
What they say
One Michelin Key
Michelin
Forbes Four-Star
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
UK Readers' Choice Awards – Rest of Europe
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
Also in Wallpaper* and AFAR.
Budapest’s Drechsler Palace is an opulent jewel in an expressive French Renaissance style — an unusual choice of venue for the W Budapest, but one that results a truly memorable hotel.
“The rooms become rooms within rooms, as they designed clever ‘second skins’ – design elements sparking their presence without having to have altered the structure of the palace itself.”
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Set along tree-lined Andrássy Avenue, the hotel looks directly onto the Hungarian State Opera House with historic Jewish Quarter lanes nearby.
The rooms
Saturated turquoise walls frame floating beds wrapped in gold mesh, with monochrome checkerboard tiles and theatre-style mirrors in the bathrooms.
The indoor pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Beneath the palace, the heated pool sits under illuminated mesh vaults and mirrored ceiling recesses.
The spa
Subterranean treatment rooms feature soaking tubs and mirror-clad walls inspired by traditional Hungarian bathhouses and Harry Houdini.
The gym
The fitness studio holds TechnoGym cardiovascular and strength equipment beneath warm, arched ceiling lights.
Dogs stay too.
At the table
Nightingale serves Asian small plates alongside Beefbar meats, and speakeasy bar Society25 pours cocktails in emerald-lit basement vaults.
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.
How it began
The 1886 Drechsler Palace housed a bustling grand cafe and the Hungarian State Ballet Academy before standing vacant for fifteen years.
“W Budapest, which transformed the long-vacant Drechsler Palace (formerly home to the Hungarian State Ballet Academy) into one of the city’s most coveted luxury stays.”
Good to know
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W Budapest
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Budapest
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.