Review: Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest

Published Nov 24 2024, 11:12 AM, Updated Nov 24 2024, 1:54 PMPictures do not do the exquisite Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest, justice. Its historic architecture and refined interior design exude elegance and grace, creating a setting that feels perfectly suited for a Vogue fashion shoot.

Location

Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest overlooks the Danube and the Elisabeth Bridge and is set on the other side of the river from a forested hill topped by a historic citadel.

Interestingly, the Mandarin Oriental Budapest will be opening in the Matild Palace’s sister building just across the road from the Mathild in an equally historic building. We expect this to be an equally amazing hotel.

The Matild Palace’s best rooms offer views across all these sights. It is situated to one end of the main shopping street and is brilliantly located for riverside walks and easy access to the Riverboat pontoons, which are just a few minute’s walk away.

It is less than a five minute walk from the riverfront Budapest Marriott and is around a ten minute walk from the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Budapest which sit at the other end of the main shopping precinct.

Style & Character

Matild Palace, embraces the soul of Budapest, and it’s necessary to understand some of the history of its structure to get a feel of how special this hotel is.

Matild Palace was built in the Belle Époque era, inspired by the vision of Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her dream materialized as two magnificent structures, known as the Klotild Palaces, mirror each other. This historical gem was designed to be the city’s social hub, where people gather and revel in the era’s opulence.

The Duchess’s vision was realized by renowned architects Kálmán Giergl and Flóris Korb, who crafted two breathtaking English Baroque palaces on either side of the road. These palaces served as a grand gateway to those entering the ‘Pest’ side of the city, greeting them with their awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur.

The legendary Belvárosi Kávéház cafe, nestled within the palace, was a beacon of creativity during the Belle Époque era. Writers, artists, and thinkers flocked to the café, immersing themselves in the vibrant ‘café culture’ Among them was Gyula Krúdy, one of Hungary’s most renowned writers, who found the perfect setting to create his notable work featuring the symbolically reimagined figure, Sindbad.

Even after the devastation of the First World War, the coffee house life within Matild Palace continued to flourish, with the Belvárosi Kávéház busier than ever. This iconic café was a haven for the literary or artistic elite and a democratic meeting point for all.

After the devastation of the 2nd World War and the siege of Budapest, hope was in short supply. But amidst the rubble and ruins, a beacon of light shone through in the form of Matild Palace’s café. It was the very first business in the capital to reopen its doors to the public, sending a strong message of resilience and perseverance to the city’s people.

In 2017, the grand building underwent an ambitious restoration and preservation effort, culminating in a breathtaking rebirth as the Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest. The restoration process was meticulous, with great care taken to preserve the building’s historical significance and grandeur.

I can’t think of a hotel that has been more stylishly or sympathetically refurbished. In the foyer, the entrance hall remains incredibly ornate and historic, but once you enter the reception and sitting area, you will be blown away by the mix of modernity, typified by sparkling modern chandeliers, gloriously luxurious deep turquoise furnishings, and Willy Wonker-style glass lifts with doors finished in gold that whisk you up to your room.

The ceilings in this communal area are immensely high, and yet the room is broken into lots of indulgent and dark nooks and crannies where you can find a luxurious sofa to relax on and absorb your surroundings and the latest news on your phone.

Upstairs, the corridors comprise a balcony-type structure that overlooks the foyer and the internal courtyard. They are decorated with a deep, luxurious carpet, and they are lit by mini chandeliers that are shaped like crowns, reminding guests of the regal and palatial building they are inhabiting.

Service & Facilities

The Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, does not have a pool, but it has a very stylish spa and Hammam, which is reached via a second set of extremely old and ornate lifts.

The hotel’s spa offers a sanctuary of relaxation, featuring traditional Hungarian thermal treatments and a range of modern therapies. The wellness area includes a sauna, steam room, and relaxation lounges. Additionally, there’s a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Rooms

The rooms at the Matild Palace are as trendy as the rest of the hotel. The bedrooms have walls that are painted a share of white with wooden floors and a luxurious natural-colored carpet. Deep turquoise tiles in the bathroom and a similarly colored sofa in the bedroom punctuate the relaxing palette, giving the room vibrancy and energy.

A hilarious tasseled yellow standard lamp is plonked in the corner, and the TV is hidden behind mottled mirrors. A cushion and the motive on the headboard represent Budapest’s history, and the turquoise links the rooms to the historic spa waters, which have attracted visitors to Budapest for many years.

The tiny turquoise and gold tiles in the bathroom make it a lovely place to spend time, and the modern golden taps and bucket-style sinks are super cool! The shower in our bathroom was huge, and there was a frightening Japanese toilet that promised to wash and fan dry your behind after use should you wish. You could equally turn it off if you find it’s welcome upsetting (it opened each time you entered the bathroom).

Toiletries were deliciously scented by “Byredo Le Chemin.” I’ve never encountered this brand before, but I’m sold – the smell was almost edible.

One particular feature I liked about the room was that the lighting had three brightness levels: bright, dimmed, and dimmer. It made it easy to leave the bathroom in the most dimmed mode at night. I also loved the brilliantly glazed windows. We could not hear any street noise when both panes were closed, yet you could open the windows if you wanted fresh air. The final highlights included a hugely comfortable bed and blackout curtains, perfect for a good night’s sleep.

Food & Drink

The old cafe that romanced writers and coffee lovers over the last 100 years is now an event space, and Wolfgang Puck’s Spago is instead the crown jewel for eating in the hotel and one of the best places to eat in the whole of Budapest.

Located to the far side of the reception is Spago by Wolfgang Puck. This fashionable restaurant offers an effervescent bar area leading to an interior restaurant and a jungle-filled air-conditioned conservatory area that spills into the street.

This restaurant is super stylish and is hugely popular with locals. It’s also where you can have an excellent hotel breakfast in the morning. Wolfgang oversees his kitchen with regular trips to the hotel (yes, he stays in the Mathild on these trips, so you might spot him).

The breakfast was of excellent quality, with a buffet and a la carte menu containing plenty of dishes, including a French omelet, eggs benedict, blueberry pancakes, and oatmeal. The generous buffet is laid out on a long counter with bread, pastries, muffins, salads, fruit, and juices. There were also nuts, cheeses and hams set out. You will get breakfast for two for free if you book via our luxury travel concierge, as well as hotel credit and room upgrades (subject to availability)

There is also an over-18s rooftop bar, The Duchess, which gets booked up in advance and has wonderful views over Budapest and the Danube. This secret bar offers handcrafted cocktails and panoramic views of the city.

Conclusion

Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest, is magnificent, historic, and graceful. If you want to immerse yourself in a mix of deeply historic and ultra-luxurious modern styling in the heart of Budapest, we were blown away by this chic hotel.

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