Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced a new benchmark in luxury hospitality in one of Europe’s most culturally-rich cities, following the renovation and rebranding of the former Gellért Hotel in Budapest. The renamed Mandarin Oriental Gellert, Budapest is expected to open in 2027 as a reimagined Art Nouveau architectural gem with a focus on wellness.
The landmark property, which is owned by BDPST Group, first opened in 1918 as one of the Hungarian capital’s most iconic purpose-built grand hotels, located on the Buda side of the city and just a short walk to the Liberty Bridge, connecting Buda with Pest.
The all-encompassing restoration of the Gellért Hotel builds upon Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s successful track record of redeveloping landmark properties with historic significance including Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid, Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich and Mandarin Oriental Palace, Lucerne.
Laurent Kleitman, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Chief Executive, explained: “We will take the same meticulous approach in Budapest as we have with our other historic properties, ensuring that we honour and respect local artisanal craftsmanship and Hungarian cultural heritage, while incorporating the finest luxury, contemporary comfort and sustainability standards for which Mandarin Oriental is renowned.
“We are excited to be bringing Mandarin Oriental to Hungary for the first time, and to witness this true legend of European hospitality rise again, enabling future generations of discerning travellers to craft their own stories and experiences from within its famous walls. Mandarin Oriental Gellert, Budapest, together with our property in Prague and our recently announced project in Vienna, will form a compelling trinity of destinations for our fans in central Europe.”
“The Gellért Hotel is perhaps the most iconic building in Budapest, one that is close to the hearts of most Hungarian people. While we view it as an exciting real estate development project, we also bear tremendous responsibility towards both the building and its history, as well as the residents of Budapest. That’s why it was particularly important for us to entrust the operation of this historic building to a company of such caliber. The Mandarin Oriental, a luxury hotel brand with over 60 years of experience, meticulously combines this expertise with the culture of the respective country, highlighting unique design elements while respecting the heritage and Hungarian roots of the Gellért Hotel,” said István Tiborcz, owner and President of the BDPST Group.
“Value preservation and creation have always been of paramount importance to the group, so our goal is to restore the former glory of the Gellért Hotel, passing it on to future generations,” he added.
Mandarin Oriental Gellert, Budapest will become the city’s most luxurious leisure destination, with a focus on wellness, driven by the city’s well known thermal bathing culture which dates back to Roman times. With its strong reputation for wellness experiences around the world, Mandarin Oriental will revive this feature and craft a new spa destination for its fans.
London based interior design studio, Alexander Waterworth, will oversee the timeless and elegant transformation of the 143 guestrooms and suites, wellness areas and public spaces. Amongst the studio’s most recent projects is Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Gellert, Budapest will feature seven experiential areas offering contemporary wellness and aesthetic treatments. These include exclusive bathing experiences which will mix the Group’s signature Asian therapies with Eastern European spa and beauty treatments that celebrate Hungary’s historic bathing and spa culture.
Mandarin Oriental Gellert, Budapest will also offer a Fitness and Movement Studio as well as an indoor pool on the top floor, positioned under a retractable glass ceiling with a vitality tub, sauna, cold plunge pool and outdoor relaxation area. It adjoins a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the Pest side of the city and the famed Danube River.
Large open areas on the hotel’s ground and first floors are set to accommodate an indoor-outdoor speciality restaurant, again featuring scenic city and Danube views. Building on Budapest’s famed baking heritage, a patisserie and café will serve as a gathering spot for both locals and visitors, while a spacious, fully restored Art Nouveau ballroom will become a sought after venue for events.
