Baltazár Budapest ★★★★

Stepping inside, you are immediately met with stylish décor, bare-bricked walls and a treasure trove of retro items and furniture. First, the lobby bar is easily spotted from the vintage cinema-esque lighting set above the metallic counter, surrounded by red leather sofas. Rows of wine bottles are encased in one corner and around the other corner is the reception. We were given a warm greeting before being shown to our room.

The rooms continue with the eclectic décor, and vintage furniture, and artwork with designs and inspirations from artists including Andy Warhol. Our room came with all the fancy mod-cons such as mood adjusting lights, and a music player that connects to smartphones. It had a separate living corner with wallpaper with a printed bookshelf to add to the quirkiness of the design. Nevertheless, it was the limestone bathroom that was my favourite, especially with the addition of the rain shower, the perfect welcome home after a day in the city. Another fine welcome was the high quality linen, duvet and pillows which allowed me to fall straight to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, then wake up refreshed and raring to go.

Each morning involved an enjoyable French-style breakfast, that left us full, energised and ready for the day. While the The Baltazár breakfast goes down well, it does dinner even better. Dressed like a hipster café, the restaurant continues the mysterious and dream-like quality of the rest of the hotel. From the winged graffiti elephant above the rustic fireplace, to the metallic tables and other retro furnishings. But more importantly, the Baltazár have not only taken care with the design, but also with their high-quality cuisine. The menu incorporates a range of options whether you came for a gourmet meal or taste of famous Hungarian street food. The terrace lies out on a charming cobbled street that might trick you into thinking you’ve wondered into Paris, and sure enough it is as sophisticated and elegant yet it still has that modern Hungarian twist.