Dorothea Hotel in Budapest fuses contemporary elements with patrician panache
Renovated by Lissoni & Partners, Dorothea Hotel occupies a trio of historic buildings in the Hungarian capital

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
The new hotel is partially located in the art nouveau Mahart building, the former HQ of the Hungarian River and Sea Shipping Company, which dates from 1913
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.’
A large glass chandelier hangs above the reception desk
A large glass chandelier hangs above the reception desk
Indoor architecture at Dorothea Hotel
The Conference Room at Dorothea Hotel
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.
Rooms at Dorothea Hotel
Rooms at Dorothea Hotel
Rooms at Dorothea Hotel
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.
Lobby at Dorothea Hotel
Corridors at Dorothea Hotel
The pavilion at Dorothea Hotel
The contemporary lounge and library in the former Weber building
The Spa at Dorothea Hotel
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.
Anton Bar Deli
Anton Bar Deli
Anton Bar Deli
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
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
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.
-
Watch dance, music and film collide at a unique event at Abbey Road Studios
In this exclusive film, watch Abbey Road’s first Artist in Residence, Jordan Rakei, collaborate with industry-leading creatives to produce a dance performance in the hallowed Studio One
By Anna Solomon
-
Frances Elkins gets her dues at Christie's this June
You can soon take home a piece of the legendary American designer’s legacy…including a $3 million Alberto Giacometti sculpture.
By Anna Fixsen
-
The new Phone 2 Pro from CMF combines generous scale with true affordability
We explore the ins and outs of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, the newest device from the Nothing sub-brand that focuses on bold design and carefully honed value engineering
By Jonathan Bell
-
2025 getaways: where Wallpaper* editors will be travelling to this year
From the Japanese art islands of Naoshima and Teshima to the Malaysian tropical paradise of Langkawi, here’s where Wallpaper* editors plan to travel to in 2025
By Sofia de la Cruz
-
Modern Hungarian folklore awaits at the Marcel Wanders-designed Kimpton BEM hotel in Budapest
Kimpton BEM Budapest, a 19th-century mansion turned luxury hotel, begins an exuberant new chapter in the capital’s old town
By Alia Akkam
-
10 colourful hotels to inspire your 2024 escapes
10 colourful hotels to discover in 2024, from dream-like mountain retreats to design-led city escapes, selected by Wallpaper* travel editor Sofia de la Cruz
By Sofia de la Cruz
-
W Budapest opens on the city’s sumptuous UNESCO World Heritage site
W Budapest offers an eclectic mix of neo-Renaissance architecture, diverse gastronomy and Hungarian heritage
By Daniel Scheffler
-
Piero Lissoni delivers a brooding hangout with The Middle House
By Daven Wu
-
The David Citadel — Jerusalem, Israel
By Lauren Ho
-
Deak St. Kitchen and Kupola Lounge — Budapest, Hungary
By Daven Wu
-
Spiler — Budapest, Hungary
By Lauren Ho