In central Budapest, near major attractions
Modern rooms with sleek furniture, wall murals, and balconies
Lobby bar and breakfast room
Free hot and cold breakfast buffet
Modern meeting rooms
Fitness center with sauna and rainfall showers
Free Wi-Fi
Busy area with some street noise
No full restaurant
No in-room coffeemakers
Fee for self-parking
The four-pearl Carat Boutique Hotel is a small, upscale property that ticks all the boxes for tourists looking for somewhere central, clean, and pleasant to stay in Budapest. The 50 rooms -- which are being updated throughout 2015 -- are decorated with clean-lined modern decor and photographic wall murals; some have small private balconies. There's no full restaurant, but ongoing renovations have improved the little things throughout the hotel, adding amenities to the breakfast room (with its free buffet) and rainfall showers to the small fitness room. Located down the street from Deák Ferenc Square, the city's largest transit hub, the Carat is convenient to public transportation and close to many tourist attractions, including the historic Jewish district. But street-facing rooms can suffer from the area's heavy traffic noise. For a quieter location, check the rates at the Boutique Hotel Victoria Budapest, located across the Danube.
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Scene
A historic baroque building updated with modern, black-and-white decor and contemporary photography
Some baroque elements remain in the early 19th-century building that now houses the Carat Boutique Hotel, especially in the facade that's still covered in Rococo-style panels. Once an asylum and, later, a private residence, the hotel has an elegant lobby with a vaulted ceiling that's been modernized with contemporary black-and-white decor and decorative wall stenciling. A winding staircase with a steel-cable railing leads to the upper floors, and contemporary photography is exhibited throughout the common spaces.
Location
Centrally located, near Deák Ferenc Square
The Carat Boutique Hotel is located on a busy street just a short walk from Deák Ferenc Square, Budapest’s major transit hub, with numerous options for public transportation. Just past the adjoining intersection (where five streets converge) is the attractive Erzsebet Ter park, and the Danube, Vigado Concert Hall, and a wide range of shops, cafes, and restaurants are all within a 10-minute walk. The iconic Chain Bridge is a 15-minute walk away, with attractions like Buda Castle and the Budapest History Museum just across the river. Budapest Airport is less than a 30-minute drive, or an hour by public transportation.
Rooms
Clean-lined modern rooms, some with balconies and architectural photography murals
The hotel has 50 rooms in either double or triple layouts; the latter are slightly larger, with sitting areas. Some top floor rooms have small balconies just big enough for a metal table and pair of chairs, as well as an ashtray. (The rooms and the rest of the hotel are strictly non-smoking.) The decor varies slightly between the rooms, but relies on a darker, modern palette of grays and browns, with boldly patterned carpets. Some have photographic wall murals while others have a mix of textured wall paper and metallic paint. Furniture consists of small desks and chairs, with jolts of color from upholstered pink and orange cube stools. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on the wall, and all rooms have minibars, but no coffeemakers. The tiled bathrooms have heated towel racks and shower/tub combos. It's worth noting that rooms are being renovated gradually throughout 2015.
Features
Lobby bar, free breakfast buffet, fitness room with sauna
The hotel's breakfast room is a bright, welcoming space, with a large skylight that spans nearly the entire length of the room. The free buffet includes continental standards like cereal, fresh fruit, cheese, croissants, and a variety of bread, as well as hot options like sausages and both scrambled and boiled eggs. Plentiful fruit juice and two espresso machines help cut down on the morning lines, and the full spread helps compensate for the lack of a full restaurant for other meals. Modern meeting rooms are wired for presentations and can be flexibly arranged to accommodate up to 60 people. There's also a small fitness room with just three cardio machines, but it has an attached sauna and showers, too.
