Boscolo Budapest

Budapest

Budapest, the “Pearl of the Danube” and capital of Hungary continues to surprise and enchant its nearly 20 million annual visitors by its charm and its number of interesting sites. From the banks of the Danube, recognized as world heritages by UNESCO, to the historical quarter around the palace, Budapest reveals its unique architectural wealth with a blend of Baroque, classical and art nouveau influences. The city has conserved a great many vestiges of its customs and traditions, beginning with the cafés, meeting points for the Hungarian and European intelligentsia. In the words of writer, Dezso Kostolànyi, “You had to be there because whatever was happening on Earth was happening there.” The Belle Epoque period continues to hover over these sites, where music, chandeliers and the famous Hungarian dessert, somloi galuska, invoke the memory of the time when the Hapsburgs weighed heavily on the political and cultural life of the capital. Lively and romantic, the city can be viewed from the vantage point of the fishermen’s bastion, perched on the hill of old Buda, offering a different look at the Queen of the Danube.

Plunged in the universe of an enlightened Budapest

The mythical Boscolo Budapest hotel is worthy of its reputation. A masterpiece of neo-classical architecture, it was originally built to accommodate the branch of the American New York Life Insurance Company. It opened as a hotel in 1895, embodying the bourgeois and literary spirit of Budapest, exemplified by the animated discussions at the legendary New York Café on the ground floor of the building, at the beginning of the 20^th century. Although modern tourists have replaced the literary circle, the café itself has remained unchanged, faithful to the Baroque atmosphere of the site. Totally renovated under the guidance of Italian architect, Adam Tihani, the decoration plays with conventions and dares to mix different genres. Contemporary design furniture, curved lines and a glass roof exist side by side with gilded finishes, marble, and rococo frescoes. This original combination of styles has restored the nobility and prestigious past of this historic establishment.

Located on the Nagyköut Boulevard in the center of the capital, the hotel offers privileged access to the monuments and the key activities of the “Pearl of the Danube” as Budapest is often called. It’s a truly elegant address.

At the moment the New York Café opened, the Hungarian dramatist, Ferenc Molnar and his writer friends threw the keys into the Danube to insure that the café would be open all day and all night.