2018 marked the beginning of my journey in getting lost with my own website, and discovering new places at which I’d never stayed or eaten before. An opportunity that came up was one which I was highly excited to report on. The Pest-Buda Hotel is a landmark in the castle district of Budapest and is the oldest hotel in Hungary, originally opening in 1696.
The Luxury Apartment
I had the privilege to not only eat at the hotel’s famous bistro, but also stay in one of their stunning luxury apartments that they offer. A 2-level apartment, which feels more like a condominium or small townhome – it has all the modern amenities that the 1600s would never have been able to even dream of, let alone offer to guests.
With 2 bathrooms, one located on the entry level of the apartment, and upstairs, there is another which is an en suite to the master bedroom. A long staircase elegantly flows from the bedroom loft area, down to the spacious living room which can fit up to 2 dozen people easily.
The view from the bay windows is that of the castle district’s center, and floor to ceiling paintings grace the walls of the living room. The kitchen is fully stocked, and one that I would personally love to have on a daily basis, not just on a weekend getaway. It does allow the guest to feel at home, yet just a little fancy with all the resources available.
The bathrooms are stocked with high-end soaps and shampoos, and the master bedroom boasts a large double sized bed with an incredibly soft mattress, bedsheets and comforter.
Your stay here is not complete, however, without at least one trip to their bistro, which is located just down the street from the apartment.
The Pest-Buda Bistro
I would like to start off by stating that I lived in Hungary for 15 years, traveled extensively from different towns, villages and cities throughout the country. I think it’s fair to say that I’m an expert at knowing what is good Hungarian food, and what is not. If this didn’t add to my credentials of being a good Hungarian food critic, I also grew up with Hungarian food, given that I am ethnically of their stock.
The fact of the matter is, I know my paprikás…fill in the blank. And Pest-Buda Bistro might have had the best servings of a couple of my favorite Hungarian dishes.
While Pest-Buda Bistro sits in one of the most touristy and therefore most expensive areas of not just Budapest, but in all of Hungary, the food is most definitely not going to be for those looking for budget-friendly food on the go. Having said that, compared to other western European countries, you’re still going to be spending less than you would on lunch in Vienna or Paris.
The Pest-Buda Bistro offers some of Hungary’s most classic dishes, including Paprikás Csirke (Chicken Paprikas), Hortobágyi Palacsinta, and (dessert) Édes Palacsinta.
The atmosphere is Parisian-like with similar outdoor patio furniture, the waiters in butler-like attire, and the indoor and outdoor ambiance is idyllic.
For me, the experience overall was worth whatever high ticket it might cost. The two nights spent in the luxury apartment were just as good as the lunch I had at the historically famous hotel’s bistro. So make sure that you include at least one of these on your list of places to hit while you’re in the beautiful capital city of Hungary.
Just make sure that after you check in, you let them know that Lisa sent you!
Get Lost with Lisa 