Set along the quieter, more residential Buda side of the Danube, Kimpton BEM Budapest offers a refreshingly hip alternative to the city’s traditional palace hotels. Housed within a restored 19th-century mansion near the Castle District, the 127-room retreat eschews the expected Old World grandeur with an atmosphere filtered through the whimsical imagination of Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. His maximalist interiors draw on Hungarian folklore with mythic motifs, sculptural flourishes and nature-inspired, jewel-toned palettes, while guest rooms dial things back with a calm yet still vibrant aesthetic.
Public spaces are designed for socializing in classic Kimpton fashion, from the lively lobby bar to Mediterranean-Hungarian restaurant Agos, and a rooftop bar for sunset cocktails overlooking the city’s rooftops. With the Danube, historic thermal baths and many of the city’s major sights within easy reach, the hotel manages to feel both cosmopolitan and still pleasantly removed from the crowds.