Kempinski Hotel Corvinus
Budapest
by Sarah Shuckburgh
The Kempinski Corvinus was Hungary's only five star hotel
when it opened in 1992, and today, with every room recently
refurbished, it still claims to be the most luxurious. The
9-floor modern building lacks charm, but the hotel is
efficiently run and it's in a convenient position, minutes
from Pest's financial centre and its pedestrian shopping
streets.
Although the architecture is stark, there are nods to
Budapest's rich cultural heritage. More than one thousand
contemporary Hungarian paintings and statues are permanently
on show, and the first-floor art gallery also mounts
changing exhibitions of local artists' work. The hotel's
name, 'Corvinus' - the raven - was the nickname of the 15th
century King Matthias, one of Hungary's greatest heroes. If
you are famous enough, you will be invited to add your
autograph to those of other recent celebrity guests
(including Brad Pitt, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Michael
Jackson and Eddie Murphy) in a crested replica of a medieval
volume from King Matthias's library.
The 24-hour concierge service is friendly and efficient -
our many requests ranged from a toothbrush to tickets for
the opera, and all were dealt with immediately and
successfully. Live chamber music wafts into the lobby from a
balcony each afternoon, and in the evenings a pianist plays
in the Corvinus bar. The hotel food is international : you
can dine on Italian specialities in the Ristorante Giardino,
or go for traditional Bavarian food and beer at the Kempi
Brauhaus. The Bistro Jardin serves some Hungarian dishes,
and you can enjoy coffee and a cream-filled torta (including
a Kempinski house special) in the lobby cafe. And there is
24-hour room service.
However, unlike some of its rivals, the Corvinus is set 100
yards back from the Danube, in leafy Elizabeth Square. The
river and the Buda hills on the other bank are out of sight
behind tall buildings. The Kempinski chain owns thirty
hotels world-wide, and the Corvinus feels less Hungarian
than international. The corridors are wide, and the rooms
are large and airy but it all feels a bit soulless, and the
hotel clearly relies heavily on corporate functions. Indeed,
as well as being a member of The Leading Hotels of the
World, the hotel has won many specialist awards for business
travel, including Business Traveller's "Best Hotel in Europe
2001". All rooms have a desk, and two telephone lines, with
ISDN, fax and PC connections. Corridors bristle with
security cameras, and there are ten conference rooms and a
business centre and internet corner. An arcade of luxury
shops confirms the tone, selling jewellery, antiques and the
famous Hungarian Herend porcelain.
First published by Travel Intelligence Ltd
©SarahShuckburgh |
