PEST-BUDA in Budapest - Hotel Review with Photos

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Updated: May 31, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Fortuna u., close to Matthias Church.
• Hotel website: pest-buda.com
• Hotel phone: +36 1 800 9213
• Check prices for Pest-Buda Hotel

Hungary’s oldest hotel, Pest-Buda, is located in the Castle District.

Pest-Buda Hotel – A mix of antiques and retro-modern design creates eleven beautiful rooms in the heart of the romantic Castle District.

Welcome to the oldest hotel in Hungary, where through the modern-industrial and retro-chic touches, you’ll get glimpses of its history – from exposed brickwork to the original baroque roof. The rooms themselves are supremely well-done with artistic touches throughout, comfy beds, L’Occitane bath products, and everything right where you need it to be. The location, amidst centuries-old lanes and buildings and a stone’s throw from the majestic Matthias Church, is incredibly romantic (and quiet at night), although it does get filled with tourists throughout the day.

Pest-Buda Hotel – Location

Address: Fortuna u. 3 1014, Budapest.
Nearest Metro/Subway: Betthanyi ter (0.5 mile).
Area: Right in the middle of the Castle District amid cobblestone lanes and fairytale architecture, and only a few minutes’ walk to many of the major sights in the area, including the Fisherman’s Bastion (150m).
How to Get There: Affordable door-to-door airport shuttles run about every 20 minutes, and take around 40 minutes (15 miles). Alternately, taxis are widely available, and the hotel can arrange pick-up and drop-off.
Private Transfer: We use and recommend Welcome Pickups car service. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more than a taxi – about €30 from the airport – but can be worth it to avoid the long taxi queue and for the convenience of paying ahead.
Handy to: Castle Hill, Fisherman’s Bastion, Royal Palace.

Pest-Buda Hotel – The Basics

Ages: The hotel attracts mostly couples and solo travelers over 40. Families are welcome, although there are no special services for them.
View: Some rooms look over the very romantic Fortuna Street while others have courtyard views.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: There are no private pools or jacuzzis.
Extras: The excellent ground floor restaurant and the incredible location.
When to Book: Reserve at least 3 months in advance for April through June and September through October, and during the Christmas holidays. A month or two in advance is usually good for other months from April through October, and you’ll have no trouble finding a last-minute room from January through March.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +36 1 800 9213
Email: ello@pest-buda.com
Website: pest-buda.com

Pest-Buda – Amenities

Pool: No pool.
Spa: No spa.
Fitness Center: No fitness center.
For Disabled Guests: There are no facilities for disabled guests.
For Families: Families are welcome, there are 2 rooms that can connect, and free baby cots are available, but the hotel isn’t specifically family-oriented.

Pest-Buda – Food and Drink

Restaurant: The ground floor space at the hotel has been a restaurant for several centuries and the current Pest-Buda Terasz Café and Bistro oozes warmth like a Hungarian grandma’s house. Think wooden tables, red and white checkered napkins, and dated wallpaper. The food fits right into the casual setting with hearty, local comfort dishes from beef goulash to chicken paprikash, plus a good breakfast and dessert menu. Open 7:30 am-11 pm. $$-$$$.
Lounge/Bar: You can grab a drink and settle in as long as you like at the bistro which serves Hungarian and international beer, wine, cocktails, and a selection of Pálinka, Hungarian fruit brandies. The full bar is open all day.
Breakfast: Optional but excellent, so you probably don’t want to miss it. Served in the ground floor bistro. The ‘Frenchie’ breakfast is what’s usually included in the room rate and includes pastries, fresh juice, and a hot beverage. You can upgrade to order a la carte.
Room Service: Available from the bistro.

Pest-Buda Hotel – Rooms

Room Types: Suite • Atelier Suite • Deluxe Room • Courtyard Room • Duplex • Residential Studio • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: Pest-Buda Hotel is 100% smoke-free.
Best Room: The Atelier Suites are both very spacious and have attic-style windows, original timber beams, and leather furniture, but the best of the 2 has a fantastic private terrace with views over the historic rooftops of the Castle District, making it even more special.
For Families: Two adjacent rooms can connect (via a private and closed-off hallway), making them the best choice for families. Baby cots are also available and free of charge.

Pest-Buda Hotel – Local Transport

Walking: This is prime walking territory, with lanes that look like something out of a storybook right out the door. Some major sights like the Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthais Church are only a few minutes away, while the Royal Palace is 20 minutes, and the Hungarian Parliament building across the river is around 30 minutes. Note: this area is atop a hill, so leaving the main area means lots of walking up and down on gorgeous little paths and stone stairways. The famous Chain Bridge is the nearest bridge (0.8 mile) that leads over the Danube River.
Subway and Bus: The nearest Metro station, Betthanyi ter is a 13-minute walk down the hill, but regular buses stop only a few minutes away and are generally a more convenient option.
Taxis, Uber, Lyft: Uber and Lyft do not operate in Budapest, but taxis are plentiful and generally reliable.

Pest-Buda Hotel – What’s Nearby?

Recommended Nearby Tours

Absolute Walking Tours – Excellent walking tour of the Castle District, including lively tales of Hungarian royalty. Start location: 20-minute drive (3 miles).

Best Nearby Restaurants

Pierrot – The fanciest restaurant in the vicinity does not disappoint, serving modernized Austro-Hungarian specialties in a building that hails from the Middle Ages. (0.1 mile).
21 Hungarian Kitchen – This mid-range bistro-café style restaurant serves Hungarian dishes with flair, and many locals consider it to be the best food in the area. (0.1 mile).
Baltazár Grill – Grilled meats all sourced to be the best of the best, from Wagyu steaks to Styrian pork. It’s served in this upscale, bistro-style place alongside Hungarian specialties and a few vegetarian mains as well. There’s also an excellent wine bar. (0.2 mile).
Budavári Rétesvár – A tiny temple of strudel, including sweet and savory varieties, not to be missed. (0.2 mile).
Ildikó Konyhája – Simple, cute, and pocket-friendly Hungarian canteen (out of the tourist zone) with red checkered table cloths and comforts like stews and goulashes. (0.5 mile).
Kacsa Restaurant – Old fashioned in the best sense, come here for elegant yet traditional Hungarian fare. (1 mile).

Best Nearby Bar

Faust Wine Cellar – Taste Hungarian wines and Palínka (fruit brandies) in an ancient cellar – it’s best to call and reserve ahead. (75m).

Best Nearby Cafes

Walzer Café – Quiet courtyard café in a 700-year-old building with good coffee, light meals, a children’s corner with books and toys, plus warm service. (0.1 mile).
Ruszwurm – Incredibly good cakes at this little cafe are so popular that there’s often a wait for a table. (0.2 mile).

Nearby Shopping & Cool Shops

Herend – Renowned, fine Hungarian ceramics. (0.1 mile).
Mester Porta – Fun shop with Hungarian music and instruments. (0.4 mile).

Nearby Attractions

Fisherman’s Bastion – Turrets and viewing areas make this white, neo-Gothic structure with outstanding views over the Danube River and the Hungarian Parliament building, one of the best photo ops in Budapest. (150m).
Matthias Church – Neo-Gothic masterpiece with spires and a colorful tiled roof. (0.1 mile).
Music History Museum – An 18th-century palace holds this charming museum on the city’s musical history. (0.2 mile).
Golden Eagle Pharmacy – Small, quiet, but fun museum, made to look like a 17th-century pharmacy. (0.2 mile).
Military History Museum – Firearms, medals, flags, and uniforms are just some of the items on display at this museum which focuses mostly on the period from the mid-1800s to mid-1900s. (0.3 mile).
Hospital in the Rock – Hospital in the Castle Hill cave network that was used in WWII and is now a museum about the cold war era. (0.3 mile).
Royal Palace – This massive palace holds the Hungarian National Gallery (4 floors of exceptional art and antiquities), the Castle Museum (a journey through Budapest’s history), and the National Széchenyi Library (huge and beautiful library to peruse), and takes at least a day to explore. (1 mile).
Kiraly Thermal Baths – One of the less touristy thermal bathhouses in the city. Quite rustic, but is slated for a makeover. (1 mile).

Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores

Príma – Small convenience store. (0.2 mile).

Pest-Buda Hotel – The Hotel

The hotel entrance is next to the bistro.

The entrance to Pest-Buda Hotel is on the ground floor next to the bistro.

The full bar in the bistro is open all day till 11 pm.

Some of the cozy rooms offer views of the Castle District.

Rooms are delightfully cozy and some have views over the ancient rooftops of the Castle District.

The original and historic decor is splendid.

The mix of items, from original timber beams to pen and ink-style wallpaper works very, very well here.

The room design is function and decorative.

Comforts like reading lights are blended into the décor so that they seem as decorative as they are functional.

Even the wallpaper tells a story.

The interior stairway leading to the rooms has the same old-with-new architectural flair as the rooms.

Timber wardrobes offer ample place to hang clothes.

Old movie lights here and there make you feel like a star from another era.

Grab a book at the bistro and stay awhile.

The wallpaper hints “grandma’s house”, but the bright colors say otherwise.

Atelier Suites feature attic-style windows.

The slanted attic-style windows in the Atelier Suites let in the perfect amount of light.

Extra wide flat screen TVs make watching a movie in bed special.

Rooms feature body pillows and leather armchairs.

Body pillows are on offer, and the leather armchairs are great for reading or working.

Old dressmakers’ dummies make surprising décor, but they’re also great if you have a special outfit to hang up.

The marble bathrooms are decorated with potted plants.

Bathrooms incorporate lots of fine marble plus homey touches like potted plants.

Splashes of bright color liven up the rooms without losing the calming effect of the otherwise neutral color scheme.

Multiple shower heads and lots of space make the walk-in showers extra luxurious.

Or soak in a free-standing tub.

Hardwood floors and details keep everything feeling warm and inviting.

21 Hungarian Kitchen is easily one of the best restaurants in town.

Baltazar nearby specializes in meat dishes.

Baltazar is a meat-lover’s heaven.

Pierrot is an excellent fine dining restaurant.

Very, very good fine dining at Pierrot is literally a hop, skip, and a jump from the hotel’s doorstep.

Fisherman’s Bastion is great early in the morning or at sunset.

Staying in this area means you can visit the Fisherman’s Bastion when there are hardly any tourists – come here early mornings or at sunset to get amazing photos.

Ruszwurm is extremely popular for its cakes and tea.

Getting a table at Ruszwurm for cakes and tea is a little like winning the lottery – luckily, it’s close to the hotel, so you can easily check for times when there are less people.

Herend sells excellent Hungarian ceramics.

Herend is a great place to shop for fine Hungarian ceramics, and you’re unlikely to break your purchases during the quick stroll back to the hotel.

The Royal Palace is excellent for a day trip.

It’s a short walk to the Royal Palace area, but is well worth it since you’ll want to spend a day here.

The Golden Eagle Pharmacy museum is close by.

The Golden Eagle Pharmacy museum can be empty on the busiest tourist days, and makes for a quiet getaway into the 18th century.

Matthias Church is just a few minutes' walking from the hotel.

You can see the stunning Matthias Church from the doorstep of the hotel.

The friendly Walzer Café serves good coffee.

Walzer Café is only a a couple of minutes from the hotel, and is a great place to relax over coffee in a friendly atmosphere; it’s kid-friendly too.

Ildikó Konyhája serves inexpensive and hearty meals.

Staying in a touristy area can be pricey, so it is worth walking to the inexpensive, local, and hearty little Ildikó Konyhája for a meal.

Kiraly Thermal Baths nearby is less touristy than others.

Going to a bathhouse is a quintessential experience in Budapest, and the little Kiraly Thermal Baths is less touristy than many others.

Kacsa Restaurant offers affordable Hungarian fine dining.

For some real old school Hungarian fine dining without a big price tag, it’s worth walking to Kacsa Restaurant at the bottom of the hill. Check rates and availability: Pest-Buda Hotel.

Pest-Buda Hotel in Budapest, Hungary

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