Sofitel Budapest, Budapest

The Cranley Report®: Sofitel Budapest

Sofitel Budapest, Budapest

Hotel Address

Roosevelt ter 2
1051
Budapest
Hungary

Cranley Rating

Sofitel Budapest

Photo 1 of 18. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category	Hotel
Awards Won	Green Hotel Title by Hotel Association of Hungary Best 5 Star Hotel 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Budapest Week Hungary Tourism Quality Award by the National Tourism Board The Paris Budapest Cafe is a recommended restaurant in the 2007 Michelin Guide

Hotel Opened	1982
Refurbishment	2005

Cranley Summary

Set in the heart of Budapest on the banks of the Danube, the Sofitel Budapest is a sophisticated city centre business hotel. Its beautiful location ensures breathtaking views of the Danube, the Chain Bridge and the Royal Castle. The hotel is twenty-two kilometres from Ferihegy International Airport and three kilometres from the main railway stations. It was awarded Best 5 Star Hotel in 2004/5 and 2005/6 by Budapest Week. This modern, glass-fronted eight-storey hotel features a huge inner atrium. It has three hundred and fifty rooms including fifty-four suites, rooms for guests with limited mobility, non-smoking floors and an Executive Floor. Dining experiences include the Paris-Budapest Cafe (a recommended restaurant in the 2007 Michelin Guide), Terrasse Restaurant and Bibliotek Lounge. With a Fitness Centre, indoor pool, Business Centre, Ballroom and sixteen other conference rooms, it has facilities to meet most business and leisure needs. For entertainment the Las Vegas Casino is open twenty-four hours a day.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Sofitel Budapest is located in the heart of the city (Pest side), in the fifth district, Budapest's main business and entertainment area. The hotel is twenty-two kilometres from Ferihegy International Airport and three kilometres from the main railway stations. Underground stations are a few minutes walk away and tram/bus services are immediately adjacent to the hotel. The Sofitel Budapest benefits from superb views over the River Danube, the Chain Bridge and Royal Castle. Additionally, historical sights such as the Royal Castle, the Parliament building and major entertainment venues are all nearby. The hotel is within five minutes walk of Vaci Street, one of Budapest's premier shopping areas.

Airports
Distance	22 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi transfers

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

Layout Description

This modern, glass-fronted eight-storey property features a huge atrium with a spectacular full size model of a bi-plane suspended from the roof. The hotel is square shaped with the bedrooms on three sides of the atrium with hotel services utilising the fourth side. The Executive Lounge is on the eighth floor. The Bibliotek Lounge and Terrasse Restaurant are both visible from the lobby and the Paris-Budapest Cafe is on the ground floor at the opposite end from the reception desks. The Fitness Centre and indoor pool are on the first floor level. All the meeting and conference rooms are on the mezzanine level or lower ground floors.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	Twenty-four hours.
Languages Spoken	Hungarian, English, German, Russian, French and Italian.
Payment Methods	All major credit cards including Amex, Diners, Visa, EuroCard and JCB.
Foreign Exchange	Most major currencies can be exchanged at reception.
Taxis Arranged	Hotel taxis. Street taxis. A taxi rank is adjacent to the hotel.
Tours Arranged	Boat and coach tours of Budapest's main attractions can be arranged by the Concierge.

Guest Relations	Standard services.
Concierge Services	Standard services
Medical Facilities	A doctor can be requested by the hotel. Call out times are approximately twenty minutes, according to the hotel.
Parking	Valet parking. Private indoor parking for seventy cars.

Cranley Comment

The huge atrium lobby greets guests and six reception desks are located to the left hand side of the lobby. The modern French design of the lobby including parquet flooring, wood panelling, leather sofas and chairs contrasts with the colourful paintings of Hungarian artist Sonia Delaunay. The Swarovski lighting in the reception area and the "fountain of pearls" curtain in the centre of the lobby add a touch of glamour and are reminiscent of the "Belle Epoque" era. Both the Bibliotek Lounge and the Paris-Budapest Cafe are on the lobby level. The Business Centre is at the back of the hotel on the ground floor and the Fitness Centre can be found on the first floor level.

Shops & Amenities

Description

The Sofitel Budapest's beauty and hairdressing salon is located on the first floor within the Fitness Centre. It is open from 07:30 to 20:00 on weekdays, 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays.

Newspapers and souvenirs can be purchased from the Business Centre on the lobby level which is open from 06:00 to 22:00 daily.

Cranley Comment

The Sofitel Budapest is five minutes walk from Vaci Street, one of Budapest's premier shopping areas. 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	8
Total Rooms	350
Elevators	3
Rooms per Elevator	117
Total Staff	300
Staff per Room	0.9

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Late check out on arrangement with reception.
Smoking Rooms	Dedicated non-smoking rooms available and four floors are smoke-free.
Room Service	A full menu of hot and cold dishes is available twenty-four hours a day.
Laundry Service	Laundry service is available daily from 07:00 to 17:00 except Saturdays (07:00 to 12:00) and is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Items received after 09:00 will be returned the next day. Items received after 09:00 or on Saturday and returned same day are subject to a 50% surcharge.

Club or Executive Facilities

The Executive Lounge is on the eighth floor executive level with private check in/check out from 07:00 to 21:00 in the executive lounge. Executive guests also receive complimentary continental breakfast, all day tea, coffee and soft drinks and newspapers. In the afternoons, hors d'oeuvres, sandwiches, fruit salad, snacks and desserts are available with a selection of wines, beers and champagne. Executive Lounge guests can also enjoy a free half hour massage upon every stay.

Cranley Comment

Guests can take one of three glass fronted lifts to rooms, passing along a wide corridor open to the atrium lobby and enter the rooms via a bright red painted door. The hotel has a wide choice of rooms from Superior, Deluxe and Executive to four types of spacious suites - Junior, Superior, Deluxe and Presidential. All guest rooms feature deep carpeting, muted pastel decor and contemporary furnishings incorporating traditional artwork. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi and high-speed Internet access and satellite television with video and music on demand.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Superior Room	162	City	Tea and coffee making facilities Iron and ironing board Air-conditioning Safe deposit box Minibar Satellite flat screen television with video and music on demand Two telephones Voicemail Wireless Internet access High speed transmission line Armchair Desk and chair Twin or double bed Choice of pillows Bathroom amenities Hair dryer and vanity mirror in the bathroom Radio and telephone in bathroom Bath, shower and WC	2 Adults	27

Cranley Comment

Guests enter the Superior Room via a long corridor with the bathroom to one side and bedroom with feature window at the far end. With deep red striped carpeting, Superior Rooms have a muted pastel decor and contemporary furnishings incorporating traditional artwork. Modern polished wood units house the flat screen television, minibar and tea and coffee making facility. The bedroom has either a king or queen-size bed or twin beds. The bathroom has marble flooring and surfaces, a large mirror and separate vanity mirror, its own telephone and radio and a bath, shower and wc.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe Room	143	River	As per Superior Room with the added benefit of: River view	2 Adults	27 - 36

Cranley Comment

Deluxe Rooms offer views of the Chain Bridge and the Royal Castle. The rooms have a small corridor with a wardrobe as you enter with the bathroom to one side and the bedroom with a feature window at the far end. With deep carpeting, Deluxe rooms have a muted pastel decor and contemporary furnishings incorporating traditional artwork. Modern polished wood units house the LCD television, minibar and tea and coffee making facility. The bedroom has either a king or queen-size bed or twin beds. The bathroom has marble flooring and surfaces, a large mirror and separate vanity mirror, its own telephone and radio, wc and separate bath and shower.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Junior Suite	26	City	As per Superior Room with the added benefit of: Lounge area with sofabed Large desk and chairs. Additional LCD television	4 Adults	36

Cranley Comment

Guests enter the Junior Suites directly into the bedroom area. The bathroom is to the side and the lounge to the rear of the suite, divided from the bedroom by a pillar and chest of drawers. Junior Suites have a muted pastel decor and contemporary furnishings incorporating traditional artwork. Modern polished wood units house the flat screen television, minibar and tea and coffee making facility. The bedroom has a king-size bed or twin beds. The bathroom has marble flooring and surfaces, a large mirror and separate vanity mirror, its own telephone and radio wc and separate bath and shower. The lounge area has a sofabed, second LCD television, desk and two chairs.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Superior Suite	12	River	As per Junior Suite with the added benefit of: Separate lounge River views. Additional sqm	4 adults	49

Cranley Comment

Guests enter the Superior Suites directly into the bedroom area. The bathroom is to the side and the separate lounge is opposite the bathroom with river views, divided from the bedroom by a pillar and chest of drawers. Superior Suites have a muted pastel decor and contemporary furnishings incorporating traditional artwork. Modern polished wood units house the flat screen television, minibar and tea and coffee making facility. The bedroom has a king or queen-size bed. The bathroom has marble flooring and surfaces, a large mirror and separate vanity mirror, its own telephone and radio, wc and separate bath and shower. The lounge area has a sofabed, additional LCD television, desk and two chairs.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe Suite	13	River	As per Superior Suite with the added benefit of: Separate shower and bath	4 Adults	49

Cranley Comment

Deluxe Suites are all in corner positions with stunning panoramic views of the Danube and Roosevelt Square. Guests enter directly into the lounge area with sofabed, desk and chairs and from this area a wide corridor links the lounge to the bedroom and bathroom. Deluxe Suites have a muted pastel decor and contemporary furnishings incorporating traditional artwork. The bedroom has a king-size bed, large wardrobe, desk, chair and armchair with large flat screen television. The bathroom has marble flooring and surfaces, a large mirror and separate vanity mirror, its own telephone and radio, wc and separate bath and shower.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Presidential Suite	2	River	As per Deluxe Suite with the added benefit of: Large separate dining area with dining table and eight chairs Second minibar and coffee making machine.	4 Adults	96

Cranley Comment

There are two Presidential Suites in the Sofitel Budapest - one on the seventh and the other on the eighth floor. The Presidential Suites are beautifully furnished and have a muted pastel decor and contemporary furnishings incorporating traditional artwork. A private corridor leads guests directly into a dining room with a table and eight chairs. A separate guest wc and lounge with additional television links the dining area to the bedroom which has a king-size bed and two wardrobes. The bathroom has marble flooring and surfaces, a large mirror and separate vanity mirror, its own telephone and radio, wc, bidet and separate bath and shower. In one of these suites the bathtub is located against the window providing a direct views to the river Danube.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Terrasse Restaurant

Restaurant Type	International
Restaurant Capacity	Total 130
Opening Times	06:30 to 23:00 daily
Dress Codes	Smart casual.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking areas.
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available. Children's menus.
Breakfast Options	Buffet breakfast.

Cranley Comment

The Terrasse Restaurant is located on the mezzanine level reached via the lifts or stairs through the Bibliotek Lounge. With dark parquet flooring, deep red or brown armchairs and dark wood panelling it has a contemporary design augmented by large trees in pots. The buffet breakfast has a full range of hot and cold dishes and an omelette station. The Terrasse Restaurant can be reserved for lunch and dinner but only for groups attending conferences and seminars.

Paris-Budapest Cafe

Restaurant Type	French and Hungarian
Restaurant Capacity	Total 132 (of which 92 inside and 40 outside)
Opening Times	12.00 to 23.00
Dress Codes	Smart casual.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking area.
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available. Children's menus.

Cranley Comment

The Paris-Budapest Cafe is located to the right of the lobby area on the ground floor and offers a fusion of French and Hungarian cuisines prepared in a show kitchen "theatre". It has an excellent wine cellar featuring an exceptional selection of fine Hungarian and French wines as well as a modern bar. The restaurant can be seen from the lobby through the glass walls of the wine cellar. In fine weather, cafe guests can use the outside terrace. The works of art in the cafe are photographs linking the two cities, Paris and Budapest.

Bars