With a privileged view of the Danube River the Hotel Gelért has always been a symbol of architectural splendor and pride in Budapest, in Hungary .
Since its inauguration in 1918, this milestone of the style Art Nouveau He received royalty members, artists and world leaders, consolidating his place in the history of a city that became one of Europe’s most impressive capitals before facing the decline imposed by decades of communism.
The Gellért witnessed all these turbulent periods – and inevitably felt the effects of time. After operating uninterruptedly for decades, closed the doors in 2019 with their wealth and the interiors visibly worn out.
In recent years, only the neighboring spa, albeit also with signs of wear, has continued to function as one of Budapest’s main thermal bathrooms. Already the hotel remained closed, with its previously moved lobby taken by old furniture, visible only through dusty windows.
Now, more than a century after its debut, the iconic hotel is experiencing a complete Renaissance. With reopening expected in 2027 under the renowned East Mandarin Network, the new Gellért promises to combine his rich history with contemporary sophistication.
High society
Designed by Hungarian architects Armin Hegedűs , Arturus sebestyén and Sterk the hotel was revolutionary for its time: it offered a telephone in the bedrooms, piped thermal water and even taps with carbonated water.
Guests could pay in their origin coins and had the first airport transfer service in Hungary – small details that set great standards in the early twentieth century hospitality.
To the Hotel Spa They became a huge attraction, attracting visitors closely and from afar.
In the 1930s, Gellért was already the epicenter of the Budapest High Society. Over the years, he has received figures such as Maharaja de Kapurthala – one of India’s last dynastic sovereigns – New York Mayor Jimmy Walker and Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran.
The former president Richard Nixon He stayed at Gellért, as did Hollywood stars like Jane Fonda, which sought discretion within his walls. Violinist Yehudi Menuhin found inspiration in the tranquility of the place. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton stayed at the hotel during filming in the city-and it is said that it was there that Burton gave him the famous Krupp diamond.
The fascination around Gelért arrived at the cinema: elements of the movie “The Grande Hotel Budapest”from WES ANDERSON they seem to have been inspired by their eccentric charm. Like the fictional hotel of the film, Gelért had his glamor of the period between overshadowed wars in the following years – in the actual case, for a cold Soviet -style functionality in the 1970s.
Happily, The real -life hotel is about to be reborn. Recognizing its cultural value, the Hungarian investment group BDPST acquired the property in 2022 and began, in October 2024, a ambitious restoration . Guided by rigid principles of heritage preservation, the project wants to return to Gellért its place of prestige in the city.
“We often think of historical buildings as part of our life – but in the case of Gellért, I see the opposite: we are the one who, for a brief moment, are part of his life,” says Zoltán Kecskemethy, director of BDPST Real Estate Development.
National treasure
For Kecskeméthy, Gelért is a true national treasure – witness to wars, revolutions and generations of Hungarian life. “It’s not just a hotel,” he says. “It’s a symbol.”
“We want international visitors to feel that they are going into a much larger story than them – and that the Hungarians will feel that this building is also theirs. If we do our work well, let’s deliver something even more significant than we find.”
The new version of the hotel will have 134 rooms including 34 suites, combining tradition and contemporary comfort. Emblematic spaces such as the lobby, the DANUE HALL and The Gobelin Room They are being restored based on old photographs and original plants.
The British Studio Alexander Waterworth Interior signs the interior design, while the Hungarian office Archikon Architects Take care of the architectural project.
Recent demolitions in the Gobelin room have revealed original elements long hidden. Under layers of green adhesive paint, decorative patterns resurfaced in red. An artesononated ceiling previously hidden by a lining it was a communist was carefully discovered, revealing the refinement of the original construction. These findings have been guiding the team in the mission to return to space the splendor of 1918.
Although the hotel’s foundations are historical, the future It’s in renewal center . “We believe innovation is part of Gellért’s DNA,” says Kecskemethy.
“In its golden age, The hotel has been pioneering in many ways : Some guests arrived from hydroavião coming from Vienna; All rooms had a phone – something rare at the time. Thermal water was channeled directly to the bathrooms, and there were even taps with gas with gas. All of this has become news worldwide. The spa wave pool was also extremely advanced for the time. ”
This visionary spirit is still alive. Among the news, there will be a sky bar on the terrace – a modern addition that dialogues with the boldness of the original design. “We want to rescue the spirit of progress that has always made Gellért something special. Respecting his history and tradition, we want him to be it again – with a look at the 21st century.”
Stage of history
The transformation goes beyond architecture. As observed Gábor Zsigmond director of the Hungarian National Museum, “Gellért has always been a symbol of Budapest-a central space of social and cultural life, synonymous with luxury, well-being and gastronomy.”
From glamorous balls in the period between wars to important diplomatic meetings, the hotel was the scene of Hungarian history. Architecturally, it is one of the most striking examples of Hungarian Art Nouveau, enriched by oriental and modern touches that make it unique in the city.
“In the past, it was known for its social events, luxury and illustrious guests,” says Zsigmond. “In the future, as part of the Eastern Mandarin Network, it should continue to highlight its historical and cultural legacy, now combined with the comfort of a high contemporary standard – which should also attract new generations.”
Restoration respects the peculiarities of the past. While the famous Gellért Spa, neighboring the hotel, remain under municipal administration, the new property spa will offer exclusive Mandarin Eastern experiences. Gastronomy will also unite tradition and innovation, with restaurants designed to please both local residents and visitors.
Kecskeméthy makes a point of highlighting the desire that the hotel will be relevant to the Hungarian. “We want our restaurants to be frequented by residents, as they were in the past. This hotel has been the center of Budapest’s social life. We want to relive that feeling.”
The partnership with East Mandarin is seen as essential for this goal. “They do not impose a standard. They work in collaboration to create something unique,” he says. “They care about culture, partners, the place – and this is especially important when it comes to developing a spa inside a hotel like this.”
Each decision, from treatments to design, is designed focused on durability. The team evaluates which experiences and aesthetic elements will be timeless in reopening and will remain relevant in the following years.
As the Gellért prepares to write a new chapter, his creators are proud to reimaginate this pillar from Budapest’s past – now ready to receive the world again with elegance, grandeur and a touch of boldness.
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Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
