Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, Budapest

The Cranley Report®: Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal

Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, Budapest

Hotel Address

Erzsébet körút 43-49
H-1073
Budapest
Hungary

Cranley Rating

Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal

Photo 1 of 27. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category	Hotel
Awards Won	The Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal was voted the "Best Five Star Hotel in Hungary for 2003", has won the prestigious title "Best Hotel Architecture in Europe" in 2004 and was awarded "Best Five Star Hotel", "Best Hotel Conference Facilities", and its Rickshaw Restaurant and Sushi Bar awarded "Best East-Asian Restaurant" in the city of Budapest in 2004.

Hotel Opened	1896
Refurbishment	The whole building, excluding the street frontage, was refurbished in 2003.

Cranley Summary

The Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal is an impressive landmark building with an imposing Neo-classical façade and soaring glass atrium. Situated on the busy Erzsébet Boulevard in the heart of Budapest's VII district, it is within easy walking distance of the Opera House, major theatres and attractions and close to the main business districts and shopping area, only eighteen kilometres from Budapest Airport. Amongst the many awards it has won is the prestigious "Best Hotel Architecture in Europe" in 2004. Guests have a wide choice of room options including Superior and Executive, four different suites and three types of apartments in the Residence. Dining experiences range from Eastern cuisine at the Rickshaw Restaurant, Hungarian and Mediterranean specialities at Bock Bistro and an international menu at the Brasserie Royale, not forgetting snacks, cakes and specialist confectionary at the patisserie. The hotel has a VIK (Very Important Kids) Club for children on Sundays and children can use the pool and spa facilities at the nearby Corinthia Aquincum Hotel. For business travellers there is a well equipped Business Centre, fourteen meeting rooms and a ballroom catering for up to four hundred people. The Royal Spa is a major attraction with pool, jacuzzis, sauna and steam room plus a wide range of different treatments.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Corinthia Grand Royal Hotel is a historic building in the Pest side of the Danube on the busy Erzsébet Avenue in the heart of one of Budapest's premier business and shopping districts. The hotel is within easy walking distance of the Opera House, major theatres and attractions and only thirty minutes (twenty kilometres) by car from Budapest Airport (Ferihegy).

Airports
Distance	20 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi transfers.

Cities and Sights
Distance	0 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi transfers. Bus/tram services.

Layout Description

The Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal is a beautifully restored 19th Century building which is E-shaped with guest wings divided by internal glass atriums. On entering the hotel from the street, guests take a few stairs to the main lobby where the reception desks are to the left. At the left hand end of the lobby are the Brasserie and Rickshaw Restaurants, the Lobby Bar is in the middle and the arcade of shops to the right. The Bock Bistro and Royal Spa can be reached from the left side of the main entrance.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	Twenty-four hours.
Languages Spoken	English, German, Italian, French, Russian and Hungarian.
Payment Methods	Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and JCB.
Foreign Exchange	Most major currencies exchanged.
Taxis Arranged	Private hotel taxis. Street taxis.
Tours Arranged	Coach and boat tours can be arranged through the concierge. Private taxi tours are available using hotel taxis.

Guest Relations	Standard services.
Concierge Services	Standard services.
Medical Facilities	A doctor can be called out from the nearby hospital. Call out times are approximately twenty minutes according to the hotel.
Parking	Parking is available in the hotel garage for two hundred and ten cars with free parking for guests staying at the Residence.

Cranley Comment

On entering the hotel lobby guests are met by a soaring central atrium that rises six floors to a glass roof. At its base, a huge decorative mosaic leads to a grand staircase flanked by gold statues that reflect the art nouveau period. To the left are the reception desks and the Concierge desk and souvenir shop are to the right. At the far end of the lobby is the Lobby Bar. To the right of the lobby is a second atrium with an arcade of boutiques and specialist shops. At the front of this arcade the Royal Kávéház and Szamos Marcipan Cukraszda Cafe offers the perfect place to relax and watch the world go by. To the lobby's left is another atrium which is home to the Brasserie and Rickshaw Restaurants. At the rear of the building are the ballroom and other meeting rooms and from here guests cross a footbridge to the Residence. In a separate building accessed from the street or by taking a passageway from near the entrance the Royal Spa and the Bock Bistro can be found.

Shops & Amenities

Description

The following shops are located in the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal's atrium:

Germain de Capuccine (ladies hairdresser) open 08:00 to 20:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 17:00 Saturdays
Virag Ajandeh (flower shop)
Porcelain and Crystal Shop

The Souvenir Shop is located in the lobby and is open daily from 08:00 to 19:00 for travel essentials (eg shampoo, toothpaste and deodorants) , snacks, drinks and specialist Hungarian liqueurs.

Cranley Comment

The hotel’s glass atrium situated to the right of the main entrance has an arcade of shops, which are open to both the public and guests of the hotel. These include a hairdresser, flower shop, crystal and fine porcelain shop and a patisserie. The hotel also has its own souvenir shop on the lobby floor. The hotel is well situated for guests to take advantage of Budapest's many shopping malls and famous department stores such as Corvin Aruház, Fontana and Luxus. The shops of Andrassy Avenue are located within a few minutes walk and the more traditional shops of the pedestrian Vaci Street are approximately fifteen minutes walk away. It was the first street in Budapest to be pedestrianised, but it was one of the best places for shopping long before this change. The street was built in the 18th century but most houses date back to the 19th and early 20th century. Today it has a wide range of well known international stores as well as many specialist Hungarian shops.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	6
Total Rooms	440
Elevators	6
Rooms per Elevator	73
Total Staff	250
Staff per Room	0.6

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	On request at reception.
Smoking Rooms	Four floors are designated non-smoking floors.
Room Service	Twenty-four hour room service with a full menu available.
Laundry Service	Laundry collected by 09:00 will be returned by 18:00 on the same day. An Express service for the same day return of laundry collected after 09:00 is available at a supplement.
Unique Features	All guests have free access to the Royal Spa pool, sauna and gymnasium. There is also an in-room service for cosmetics and spa products by Algotherm, whereby a selection of Algotherm products can be delivered to guest rooms for a charge.

Club or Executive Facilities

The Executive Club is on the mezzanine level just above reception and is open daily from 06:30 to 22:30. Its four hundred square metre lounge offers complimentary breakfast, coffee and pastries, all day refreshments and snacks, a cocktail hour, library with books and newspapers, private check-in and check-out, concierge services and a business centre with three PC workstations.

Cranley Comment

The Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal has a wide range of rooms in the hotel and the Residence, including two suites adapted for guests with special needs. Rooms are adorned with white or dark wood panelling, patterned carpets and modern prints. Depending on the room type, guests enjoy views of the Atrium, Harsfa Street or the Boulevard. All rooms have a television with pay movies, minibar, sofa or armchairs, coffee table, desk with telephone and high-speed Internet connection. Complimentary bathrobes, slippers and toiletries are provided. All guests have complimentary access to the Royal Spa pool, sauna and gymnasium.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Superior Room	285	138 Atrium 147 Harsfa Street	Complimentary high speed Internet access Telephone Cable, satellite television with pay movies Air conditioning Minibar Desk and chair In-room safe Bathrobes and slippers Complimentary toiletries Hair dryer Vanity mirror Bathroom scales Shower, bath and wc	2 Adults	30

Cranley Comment

Wide corridors with green patterned carpets and gold wall coverings lead to the white wooden doors of the Superior Rooms. Guests enter directly into a corridor which contains a white wardrobe concealing the safe. The bedroom is decorated in pastel shades and contains a queen-size or twin beds, sofa (twin rooms have an armchair), coffee table, desk with telephone and high-speed Internet connection. The bathroom has a tiled floor and is equipped with a bath, shower and wc. Complimentary bathrobes, slippers and toiletries are provided.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive Room	98	58 Atrium 40 Boulevard	As for Superior rooms with the added benefit of: Complimentary use of the Executive Lounge	2 Adults	50

Cranley Comment

Wide corridors with green patterned carpets and gold wall coverings lead to the dark wooden doors of the Executive Rooms. Guests enter directly into a corridor with two large mahogany wardrobes, separated by a vanity mirror. The room is tastefully decorated in muted shades of red, green and gold with modern art adorning the walls. Bedrooms contain queen-size or twin beds with leather headboards and all overlook the internal glass Atrium. Executive Rooms have a seating area with desk and telephone/high-speed Internet connection, sofa, coffee table and armchairs. The bathroom has a marble floor and sink top and a separate bath, shower and wc. Complimentary bathrobes, slippers and toiletries are provided. Guests have complimentary access to the first floor Executive Lounge.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Junior Suite	6	Harsfa Street	As per Executive Rooms with the added benefit of: Lounge with sofa and two chairs, television and minibar Second bathroom.	3 Adults	63

Cranley Comment

Wide corridors with green patterned carpets and gold wall coverings lead to the Junior Suites. Guests enter a lounge area containing a sofa, chairs, minibar and television. It is tastefully decorated in light colours with modern art adorning the walls. The bedroom is through a connecting door and contains a queen-size or twin beds with leather headboards and all overlook Harsfa Street. The bathrooms both have marble floors and sink tops and a separate bath, shower and wc. Guests have complimentary access to the first floor Executive Lounge.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe Suite	22	Boulevard	As per Junior Suites with the added benefit of: Larger lounge with sofa, two chairs, television and minibar Second bathroom	3 Adults	100

Cranley Comment

Wide corridors with green patterned carpets and gold wall coverings lead to the Deluxe Suites. Guests enter a twenty-four square metre lounge with sofa, chairs, minibar and television, decorated in muted shades of red, green and gold with modern art adorning the walls. The bedroom is through a connecting door and contains a queen-size or twin beds with leather headboards and all overlook the Atrium. The bathrooms both have marble floors and sink tops and a separate bath, shower and wc. Guests have complimentary access to the first floor Executive Lounge.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Ambassador Suite	2	Boulevard	As per Junior Suites with the added benefit of: An eighty square metre lounge with library A forty square metre dining room King-size bed Hydro bath Massage shower Fitted kitchenette	3 Adults	140

Cranley Comment

The wide corridors of the fifth floor lead to the two Ambassador Suites. The entrance to each suite is up a marbled step leading into a hallway with dark wood flooring and mahogany pillars. The lounge is accessed from the hallway and contains a sofa, chairs, minibar, DVD player and television. It is tastefully decorated in deep red, black and gold colours adorned with modern art and a library along one wall. The bedroom is through a connecting door and has a separate changing area and contains a king-size bed. The adjoining master bathroom has a hydrobath, massage shower, bidet and wc. At the other end of the lounge is the dining room with a table and ten chairs, with a corridor leading back to the second entrance/exit door with a wc and small fitted kitchenette.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Royal Suite	1	Boulevard	As for Ambassador Suite with the added benefit of: Second bedroom	4 Adults	240

Cranley Comment

The pinnacle of luxury can be experienced on the fifth floor, where the Royal Suite’s seven bay windows enjoy an excellent view of the Boulevard. The Royal Suite has two bedrooms with king-size beds, sumptuously decorated in dark red, black and gold colours with mahogany pillars and panelling. The Royal Suite has a separate living room with a large working desk, a dining room and a kitchen.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Royal Residence Studio	2		Twenty-four hour security guard Air conditioning High speed Internet access Safe Satellite television DVD player Telephone Free parking for one vehicle per apartment Fully fitted kitchen with: Oven Microwave Coffee machine Toaster Fridge/freezer Kettle	2 Adults	57

Cranley Comment

The Residences are located on Harsfa Street and reached via a pedestrian bridge and set around a landscaped garden. The decor is of contemporary style with deep red colours and mahogany wood panelling. Studios have a foyer, a twenty-eight square metre living room, a bedroom with queen-size bed, kitchen and a bathroom with shower and wc. Guests have complimentary access to the hotel's Executive Lounge.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Royal Residence Two Bedroom Apartment	22		As per Royal Residence Studio with the added benefit of: Second bathroom with shower and washing machine Second bedroom Small office area Some two bedroom apartments have a small internal terrace	4 Adults	86

Cranley Comment

The Residences are located on Harsfa Street and reached via a pedestrian bridge and set around a landscaped garden. The decor is of contemporary style with deep red colours and mahogany wood panelling. These two bedroom apartments have a foyer, a thirty-two square metre living room, two bedrooms each with a queen-size bed, fully fitted kitchen and two bathrooms one with bath, shower and wc, and the second with shower, wc and washing machine. Guests have complimentary access to the hotel's Executive Lounge.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Royal Residence Three Bedroom Apartment	2		As for the Royal Residence Two bedroom apartment with added benefit of: Third bedroom Terrace	5 Adults	134

Cranley Comment

The Residences are located on Harsfa Street and reached via a pedestrian bridge and set around a landscaped garden. The decor is of contemporary style with deep red colours and mahogany wood panelling. The three bedroom apartments have a foyer, a thirty-two square metre living room, three bedrooms each with a queen-size bed, fully fitted kitchen and two bathrooms, one with bath, shower and wc, and the second with shower, wc and washing machine. Guests have complimentary access to the hotel's Executive Lounge.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal has an enviable choice of restaurants for guests to choose from. To the far left of the lobby are the international cuisine and themed events of the Brasserie Royale and Atrium Restaurant, the award winning Rickshaw Restaurant and Sushi Bar for Eastern cuisine and Mediterranean gourmet cuisine created by Executive Chef Lajos Bíró at Bock Bistro where the famous wine shop has over two hundred types of wine. To the right of the lobby, the mouth watering snacks, pastries, marzipan and chocolates of the Royal Kávéház and Szamos Marcipán Cukrászda can be found.

Brasserie Royale and Atrium Restaurant

Restaurant Type

Local and international dishes.