Hotel Rum Budapest

Hotel Rum Budapest, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its unique blend of contemporary design, exceptional rooftop dining, and prime central location. It stands out as a vibrant and stylish boutique hotel catering to modern urban explorers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Hotel Rum Budapest is overwhelmingly positive, with a strong "Very good" rating across various platforms. The MICHELIN Guide gives it an impressive 18.4 out of 20 for "Overall Experience", while Booking.com rates it 8.4 out of 10 based on over 1,400 reviews. Guests frequently describe their stays as "wonderful" and "great," highlighting its charm and cozy atmosphere.

2. Key Highlights

Guests are particularly fond of several key aspects of Hotel Rum Budapest:

• Design: The hotel boasts a unique and inspiring interior, blending modern post-industrial design with an ornate antique atmosphere, thanks to a team of local architects and designers. The aesthetic is often described as chic, edgy, and playful.
• Rooftop Bar & Breakfast: The SOLID Sky Bar (formerly TOPRUM) on the 7th floor is a major draw, offering an excellent à la carte breakfast with impressive panoramic views of the Budapest skyline. The retractable roof and glass walls allow for year-round enjoyment, creating an open-air experience in warmer months.
• Location: Its central position in the Inner City (Belváros) on the Pest side of the Danube is consistently praised as "super central," "great," and "perfect," providing easy walking access to major attractions.
• Fine Dining: The presence of SALT, a one Michelin Star and one Green Michelin Star restaurant on the ground floor, is a significant highlight, offering a refined modern Hungarian dining experience.

3. Room Quality

Hotel Rum Budapest features 40 individually furnished rooms, each with its own touch and style, meaning no two rooms are alike. Rooms are categorized by size (Light Rum, Spiced Rum, Gold Rum, Black Rum) and are described as cozy, compact yet stylish, and modern. They come equipped with amenities such as a minibar, safe, kettle, and flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Larger rooms also include Nespresso machines and rain showers. Guests appreciate the light, airy, and high-ceilinged spaces, avoiding any feeling of claustrophobia.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers two distinct dining experiences:

• SOLID (Sky & Bar): Located on the rooftop, this venue is renowned for its outstanding à la carte breakfast, often cited as "amazing" and "exceptional," accompanied by glorious cityscape panoramas. It also serves internationally inspired dishes, brunch, and an extensive selection of wine and spirits, transforming into a perfect spot for drinks with a view in the evenings.
• SALT (Michelin-Starred Restaurant): On the ground floor, Salt offers a fine dining experience focused on modern Hungarian cuisine. Chef Szilárd Tóth emphasizes Hungarian roots and flavors, utilizing meat from a family farm and hand-picked local herbs and wild plants. The restaurant provides a "secret 15-course menu," available in vegetarian and vegan versions, and offers Hungarian wine pairings. Salt is open from Wednesday to Saturday, 6 PM to 11 PM, and reservations are highly recommended.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Hotel Rum Budapest generally receives commendation for being "lovely and helpful," "friendly and professional," and "quick to answer any questions." Front desk staff, in particular, are frequently noted for their friendliness and helpfulness. Guests are often greeted with a welcome drink upon check-in and offered free basic snacks in the lobby.

6. Location & Accessibility

Situated in the Inner City (Belváros), Hotel Rum Budapest boasts an "ideal" and "super central" location in Budapest. It is a 5-minute walk from the Great Market Hall and within walking distance of attractions like the Dohány Street Synagogue and Gellért Thermal Baths. The hotel is located in a pedestrianized zone and is highly accessible via public transport, being a 5-minute walk from both Kálvin tér and Ferenciek tere metro stations (Line 3), and close to various bus lines, including the 100E airport bus. Taxis can drop guests off directly outside the hotel.

7. Value & Pricing

Hotel Rum Budapest offers a blend of quality design and prime location at a price point that appeals to a younger, modern audience. While prices can vary, KAYAK indicates rates starting from $88, with November and March generally being the cheapest months. The average price for a weeknight is around $129, and a weekend night around $174. Given its Michelin Key selection and the presence of a Michelin-starred restaurant, many guests consider it good value for the experience provided, scoring 8.3 out of 10 for value for money on Booking.com.

8. Common Complaints

Despite the generally positive feedback, some recurring criticisms have been noted:

• Bathroom Cleanliness: A few guests have expressed disappointment with the cleanliness of bathrooms.
• Breakfast Options/Portions: While many praise the breakfast, some reviews mention limited options or smaller portions compared to previous visits, and issues with breakfast reservation communication.
• Water Pressure: Low water pressure in showers has been a point of dissatisfaction for some.
• Rooftop Restaurant Staff: Isolated incidents of unhelpful or unfriendly staff at the rooftop restaurant have been reported, including perceived overcharging.
• Parking: The hotel does not offer dedicated parking, which can be an issue for guests arriving by car, requiring them to search for street parking nearby and carry their luggage.

Sources

1. michelin.com
2. lesboutiquehotels.com
3. mrglobetrotter.co.uk
4. booking.com
5. kayak.com
6. booking.com
7. thehotelguru.com
8. hotelrumbudapest.com
9. michelin.com
10. mrandmrssmith.com
11. youtube.com
12. booking.com
13. thebudapesthotels.com