Hungary
ith a rich cultural history, beautiful architecture and a unique spa scene Budapest is a truly fascinating city. On a recent trip to Hungary’s capital we were played host to by the superb hospitality at the Aria Hotel.
Located in the Lipótváros (District V) area of the city centre and only footsteps from the Basilica and the river Danube, the musically themed Aria Hotel is a fairly recent addition to Budapest’s luxury hotel scene. Prior to a massive renovation project to create the Aria in 2015, the building had been previously used as a bank before being allowed to fall in to a state of disrepair, all that has changed now! The exterior façade has been restored to its original state, to better match the Budapest street scene and as you step inside you’ll find a spacious inner courtyard “the music garden” complete with a stunning glass roof and piano key pathway leading through.
The Aria is divided into four wings (accessed in the corners of the building), all of which represent different musical genres: classical, opera, jazz, and contemporary. All of the rooms have balconies that overlook the glass roof of the music garden.
One of the Aria’s main attractions has to be the High Note Sky Bar, an ultra-sophisticated a roof top bar with close up views of the Basilica and stunning 360 panorama of the city, the cocktails on offer aren’t bad either!
Roof terrace lounge at the Aria
Stairway to the roof terrace
The “Harmony Spa” located in the basement level of the hotel is also a real delight. Featuring a 35-foot heated Pool, Jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, Aromatic Steam Room, & Infrared Sauna (noted for its anti-aging health benefits) it is a great place to come and relax after a busy day sightseeing!
Harmony Spa / Pool area at the Aria
Harmony Spa / Pool area at the Aria
We stayed a total of 3 nights at the Aria and left wanting more! The check in process was really easy, we arrived just after mid-night (after catching the late flight from London Heathrow) and were given a brief overview of the hotels amenities before being shown to our room (Michael Jackson) on the second floor of the Contemporary wing of the building. The rooms in the contemporary wing have a free-standing bath in the bedroom which is very cool! All of the rooms at the Aria come equipped with an in room iPad, interactive multimedia entertainment system, smartphone docking / charging station (iPhone / Android) and a Nespresso coffee and tea machine (pods are replenished daily).
Michael Jackson Room - The Contemporary Wing
Michael Jackson Room - The Contemporary Wing
On our first morning we enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast with hot drinks and juice and a freshly cooked breakfast option as well – this is included in the rate for all rooms at the Aria. The weekend manager Victor came over to introduce himself after we had finished breakfast and gave us a introduction to the hotel and we also arranged a time to explore the hotel in more detail and see some of rooms in a different wing of the hotel.
Standard Double - The Classical Music Wing
Suite - Opera Wing
Suite - Opera Wing
One of our favourite things about the Aria was the complimentary afternoon wine and cheese reception which they run daily from 4pm until 6pm. This is a real treat where you can enjoy live music played by talented musicians while tasting some lovely Hungarian red, white and rose wines.
Our verdict – if you have a budget of 200-300 EUR per night then look no further, the Aria is actually phenomenal value for money for what is a luxurious and truly unique experience. We can’t wait to come back!
Disclaimer: All opinions conatined in this article/review are our own. All photographic work is our own unless otherwise stated.
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