There are hotel rooms…and then there are hotel rooms where you open the door and immediately think: I could live here.
Adina Apartment Hotel Budapest falls firmly into the second category.
My first impression was of space. Lots of it.
The apartment had a generous living room with a lounge, dining table, kitchen, TV, small work station and, best of all, a walk out balcony offering views across the rooftops of Budapest. Get up early enough and it is the perfect spot for a sunrise photo.
Dormer windows built into the roof space give the room an architecturally unusual character – it feels contemporary without becoming cold and a handwritten welcome note added a pleasingly personal touch.
The property has recently benefited from a nine-month refurbishment program, with 75 guest rooms and the hotel’s public spaces given a fresh new look.
The redesign uses earthy, calming tones, with olive coloured ceilings adding warmth and depth and subtle yellow accents providing a welcome splash of brightness.
“We’ve received great feedback from the guests, especially from our return guests who know us and who knew the previous design,” says Angéla Gergye, General Manager.
“Some guests mention that the dark ceiling is very modern but love it once they’re living in the space. The carpet, lamps, new built-in furniture and sofa beds give a homey feel that everyone constantly mentions.”
That sense of familiarity is important because Adina is obviously different from a conventional hotel, offering apartments rather than oversized hotel rooms.
“The kitchenette and the fully equipped kitchens give guests spaces to revolve around and an option to eat in, which they love,” adds Angela.
“Our one bedroom apartment is 50 to 70 sqm and the two bedroom apartments are 75 to 90 sqm, offering space to stretch out,” Angéla explains.
And stretch out you certainly can.
The kitchen is compact but practical, with a fridge freezer, cooker, microwave, dishwasher and the basic utensils needed to prepare a meal.
There is also a kettle and coffee maker, making it easy to dispense with the morning hunt for coffee if you prefer to have a lie in in your pj’s.
The bathroom is another example of the apartment’s generous proportions. There’s a huge bath, plenty of cupboard space and a washing machine cleverly concealed behind the cabinetry, along with a laundry basket.
The enormous bathroom mirror is another welcome touch, as are the conveniently positioned power sockets beside the hairdryer.
A kiosk-style shower adds a touch of retro charm, while a small rubber ball positioned on the floor in front of the toilet performs the wonderfully mundane but useful job of stopping the door from banging (it took me a while to work out what it was for!!).
The bedroom is equally generous, with plenty of room around an exceptionally comfortable bed. There’s oodles of cupboard space, a drying rack, ironing board and iron, plus charging points beside the bed – another detail that experienced travellers will appreciate.
With TV’s stationed in both the lounge and bedroom, nobody needs to fight over the remote.
Other facilities include a pleasant garden area leading towards the heated indoor pool, while there’s also a fitness room, Jacuzzi and sauna.
“Our four-star hotel services like breakfast, room service and 24 hour Front Desk assist our guests,” Angéla says.
The breakfast is certainly fresh and flavourful. Scrambled eggs, including a tasty onion, tomato and mushroom sauté, sit alongside cereals, cold meats, fresh fruit, yoghurt, pastries and particularly good bread.
There is also a generously sized tub of Nutella, which may be all the justification some Aussie guests need to linger over breakfast.
There is no conventional dinner restaurant operating at night, but room service is available until 2am through an outside provider, offering pizzas, burgers, pasta and a selection of other meals.
The hotel’s location is another big plus. It is within easy walking distance of the Danube, West End City Centre and Lehel tér market, while Margaret Island, with its famous thermal baths, is also nearby.
Finally, the staff are a genuine asset. David at reception was particularly helpful during my stay, organising taxis and helping book a dinner cruise on the Danube.
Add it all up and the combination of space, facilities and personal service is really what sets Adina apart.
“The Adina stands out from the hotels because of our apartment-style room and the living space they provide,” says Angéla.
She is also delighted to see more Australian travellers discovering Budapest.
“Compared with 2022, the number of guests is four times more,” she says. “It’s still a small proportion within the guest mix, but we are always happy to welcome them.”
For Australians making the long journey to Budapest, Adina makes a particularly good base.
The apartments provide considerably more room than a conventional hotel room, the kitchen facilities offer flexibility and the pool, sauna and fitness facilities provide welcome opportunities to unwind.
Most importantly, it feels like somewhere you can actually settle into rather than simply sleep in.
And after a busy day exploring one of Europe’s most atmospheric cities, having your own lounge, kitchen, bath and balcony can feel like a luxury.
Angéla’s Budapest Tips
See the city from the tram: Take tram line 2 for beautiful views of Budapest’s major attractions while travelling alongside the locals.
Go underground: Ride Metro Line 1, the Millennium Underground. It is historic, atmospheric and unlike most metro journeys.
Catch a concert: Angéla recommends a concert at the Palace of Arts as a Budapest must-do.
Step outside the city: Visit Statue Park, where monuments and statues from Hungary’s communist dictatorship have been collected.
