Dorothea Hotel Budapest: modernity meets patrician panache

(Image credit: Tommaso Sartori)

published 1 April 2024

The new Dorothea Hotel in the heart of Budapest honours the legacy of Maria Dorothea of Württemberg, a 19th-century Archduchess of Austria and a pivotal figure in the city’s cultural history. Born from the fusion of three fabled structures (the neo-Renaissance Weber, art nouveau Mahart, and modernist Münnich buildings), the hotel now stands as a unified whole following a considerate redevelopment led by Lissoni & Partners.

Discover noble ambition at Dorothea Hotel, Budapest

Piero Lissoni, the Italian architect behind the transformation, likens the process to tailoring, preserving the buildings’ essence, yet breathing new life into them. ‘We approached the restoration with the utmost respect,’ notes Lissoni. ‘Preserving the façades was paramount, as was maintaining contextual harmony within the cityscape.’

chandelier at the Dorothea Hotel Budapest — A large glass chandelier hangs above the reception desk

A large glass chandelier hangs above the reception desk in the Dorothea Hotel Budapest — A large glass chandelier hangs above the reception desk

Part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, the hotel includes 216 guest rooms and suites divided into contemporary and heritage designs, along with private residences. At the heart of the project is a new top-floor level, offering panoramic vistas of Budapest’s historic landmarks, and the conversion of three small courtyards into a single expansive one with an all-season covered garden. The courtyard-facing façades boast mainly glass elements, complemented by wooden balconies and vertical features.

The interiors pay homage to Budapest’s cultural heritage while injecting playful, contemporary elements in the form of the traditional Zsolnay tiles adorning the staircase, a collaborative photographic project with local artist Zoltán Tombor, and the Hungarian sujtás motif used as a pattern on the hallway carpets.

The contemporary lounge and library in the former Weber building

Dining options currently include a bar and deli with blue shingles referencing the Danube, and the leafy Pavilion restaurant, which follows a farm-to-table concept.

marriott.com, lissoniandpartners.com

A version of this article appears in the April 2024 issue of Wallpaper*, available in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today

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Sofia de la Cruz is the Travel Editor at Wallpaper*. A self-declared flâneuse, she feels most inspired when taking the role of a cultural observer – chronicling the essence of cities and remote corners through their nuances, rituals, and people. Her work lives at the intersection of art, design, and culture, often shaped by conversations with the photographers who capture these worlds through their lens.