Hotel Parlament review: a colourful addition to the heart of Budapest

This recently renovated hotel brings some seriously bright hues to the heart of the Hungarian capital

Rich colours and fabric are a feature of the Hotel Parlament bar

Tucked in on an unassuming side street in Lipotvaros – the neighbourhood surrounding Budapest’s beautiful parliament building – Hotel Parlament’s biggest selling point is its location.

But the four-star establishment’s playful sophistication is a breath of fresh air for an area that’s dominated by businesses.

The hotel stands on a quiet side street

Unlike the centuries of history on the surrounding streets, every corner within the hotel’s walls feels modern. And they should – at the beginning of 2016, the building was closed to undergo a complete renovation for its 10th anniversary. Now it’s decked out in crisp whites and sharp greys, contrasted with bursts of colour. The rooms were refitted with brand new bathrooms. The lobby received an Art Deco-inspired makeover, and the lounge received hi-tech coffee machines, which guests can use free of charge until 5pm to brew macchiatos and lattes.

There is a bar on the first floor, plus a small Swedish sauna and Jacuzzi. A generous breakfast buffet, which is included for all guests, features standard international fare, plus a few enjoyable extras: fresh oranges and grapefruits allowing you to squeeze your own juice, an array of Hungarian meats and cheese, and champagne for anyone looking to start their day with a mimosa.

Even the breakfast buffet is colourful

Location

As the name suggests, Hotel Parlament’s proximity to the Gothic Revival structure is clearly part of the appeal. Less than a five-minute walk away, guests can be sure not only to beat the crowds for booking tours of the parliament, but can stroll over at any hour to take in both the building and the Danube beyond.

There’s more to the hotel than its neighbour, however. A handful of major tourist attractions, such as St Stephen’s Basilica and the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, are within a 20-minute walk. And anything else you might want to visit via public transport, is just as simple; the hotel is close to the metro and a variety of bus lines.

Often when hotels are so conveniently located, they can be too central – on busy high streets, amid so much hustle and bustle that you’re left longing for a bit of peace and quiet. But that’s perhaps Hotel Parlament’s greatest quality – although it’s right at the heart of the action, it’s actually on a quiet side street, so you have the best of both worlds.

Comfort

The hotel has 64 rooms, all of which are nearly identical, and one suite. Each of the 22-metre standard rooms follows the hotel’s chic, Art Deco-style motif: clean, white fabrics, wallpaper and tiles that are broken up with cheerful orange accents.

Rooms come with orange accents

With high ceilings and large windows, my room felt spacious and airy. The bathroom was a bit on the small side, with minimal counter space to unpack. And although my room had a shower/bath combo unit, some rooms have standing showers only.

Tight bathroom quarters aside, the details are what made the room come to life – a fresh fruit plate on arrival, and fun textures and patterns on nearly every surface.

The only tricky part was getting to the room itself. Each floor is served by just one lift, which requires you to unlock it with your keycard. At first I thought it was just me, but nearly every guest I encountered had a difficult time getting to their floor because the card reader was so fussy. The hotel’s enormously helpful and cheerful staff, however, easily alleviated this minor inconvenience.

Those ‘fussy’ lifts

Essentials

Hotel Parlament, Budapest, Kalman Imre u 19, 1054 Hungary (00 36 1 374 6000; parlament-hotel.hu). Doubles from €100 (£86) per night, B&B.

Wi-fi: free
Access: Two wheelchair-accessible rooms

Rooms: ****
Service: *****
Value: ***