Piano patterned marble floors, first-class Hungarian hospitality, exquisite musician-themed rooms, complimentary wine hour and a glass ceiling that gives guests a prime view of Budapest’s glittering night sky…these are just a few of the reasons I fell in love with Aria Hotel Budapest. It’s a paradise for music lovers which I recommend all my readers visit when passing through the heart of central Europe.
Last week I was invited by this dreamy escape (part of the Library Hotel Collection) for a magical two-night stay in their stunning music-themed hotel. Fact: it was just voted #1 hotel in the world by Trip Advisor and from the moment the incredibly kind doormen escorted me inside (carefully under an umbrella, given Budapest’s frosty and rainy winter weather), it was easy to see why…
Situated in the historic heart of Pest — the eastern side of Budapest — the Aria’s location couldn’t be more prime to soaking up all the enchanting personalities of this golden European city. From a short five-minute walk to the iconic Chain Bridge to magical views of the Danube and being the direct neighbor to stunning St. Stephen’s Basilica (best view from the High Note SkyBar), there is a new Hungarian fairytale waiting to be discovered every time you step foot outside this Aria’s door.
The level of detail that goes into every moment of guest experience here is unrivaled by any other hotel I’ve been to in Europe. Each and every of the Aria’s 49 rooms is dedicated to a musician — mine was the jazz master Miles Davis. In addition to being greeted by a plateful of fresh fruit, soothing jazz music and a room that would give my exposed brick walls in Brooklyn blush from being so basic, there was a gorgeous portrait of Miles along with several biographies to read during my stay (like I said, no detail overlooked here). Each quarter of the hotel is dedicated to a different genre of music…so for those who weren’t bunking with me in the jazz section of the hotel, there are also musical adventures to be found in the opera, classical and contemporary wings.
Whenever I visit a new hotel, I immediately scope out my quiet places to work and soak up the most hospitality. My favorite spot in the Aria was a cozy corner at the High Note SkyBar where I would admire the Budapest skyline, the silhouette of the basilica while working my social media channels. In the evenings, there is no better retreat than the central lobby which rests entirely under a glass ceiling. The lovely pitter-patter of rain combined with endless tastings of Hungarian wine and cheese made my writing time beyond perfect. Speaking of writing: I’m a huge (nerdy, ridiculous, absurd) fan of Dan Brown and once I heard he was a regular guest, I may have spent an hour just daydreaming of all the Budapest-based plots already in the works.
The Aria was a million levels of cozy, dazzling and grand, in fact, that I hardly wanted to leave amidst the snowy weather and the endless traffic jam caused by Vladimir Putin’s visit. I had a lengthy plan for my 48 hours in Budapest…but much of those plans were derailed by inaccessibility to attractions…but between room service and the incredible spa (with music-themed massages), I was perfectly fine with cutting down on my exploration time for extra RnR time in this 5-star musical wonderland.
This post is sponsored by the Aria Hotel in Budapest and the Library Hotel Collection
