"Member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the Year"

We arrived in Budapest in the evening and because it was snowing heavily and we had no idea where we were going, we jumped into a taxi and gave the address of the hotel. After a relatively short and very picturesque drive, we arrived at the hotel which is situated on a wide tree lined avenue, Andrassy Ut. We later found out that this is the principal thoroughfare in Budapest and is known as the Champs Elysees of Hungary, situated as it is in the Embassy district, and close to major attractions.

These are always important, and as the taxi pulled up into the front area which was rather like a modern cobbled courtyard, these first impressions were excellent. The art deco building was building was built in the 1930s and was completely revamped in 2001, and is entered through large glass doors. What was immediately noticeable was the soft glow of the muted lighting shining through the large windows and the doors.

So, I plonked myself down whilst himself checked us in, which was done with minimum fuss, there being no sign of any other guests apart from ourselves. So, no queue, just heavily falling snow outside, soft lighting, and a feeling of having been transported back in time.

As we walked through the door, I noticed a full length window, leading out onto a balcony, which was great for sitting on for some snow bathing.

Best of all, complimentary (although probably included in the price) was a bottle of champagne, fresh fruit and mineral water- to tempt our appetites for the mini bar.

Just off the bedroom was the bathroom. The bath itself appeared sunken but that was because you had to climb a few steps and then lower yourself into it. In contrast to the bedroom and entrance lobby, this was all bright lighting, although still following an art deco theme, with blue and yellow walls and tasteful pictures even in the bathroom.
When I go to hotels, I always like the toiletries, and these were fab. They were small thin bottles of shampoo, conditioner, mouth wash, bath gel etc, all on a specially made wooden stand...nice.

Having got ready, we decided to have a little wander about to check out the hotel, and see what it was like (as you do!1)
The Zebrano restaurant is understated elegance, and when we were there seemed to be devoted entirely to the clerics.
It is situated just off the entrance area, partitioned off with a water feature and glass panels. Walk inside and there is a small bar seating about 10 people, and ideal for the odd cocktail or four...lovely cocktails they are too (and I am so not a cocktail drinker!).
The eating area itself seats 75 people and the menu suggested that it served a mix of asian and French cuisine, and is apparantly quite famous for its food. However, wanting a bit of local culture, we decided not to eat in the restaurant.

**Local Landmarks**

**Verdict**