Matild Palace in Budapest Celebrates Its 1st Anniversary

  • 27 Jun 2022 6:22 PM
Matild Palace in Budapest Celebrates Its 1st Anniversary
The iconic building of Budapest has been reborn as the new social epicenter of the downtown since its debut in 2021 and has won numerous local and international awards

After a 5-year detailed renovation, Matild Palace, built in the Belle Époque era, made its debut for the guests a year ago.

Steeped in history, Matild Palace was built 120 years ago during the Belle Époque era and was developed under the patronage of Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to serve as the social epicenter of the city.

In the summer of 2021, the reborn palace introduced Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest as part of The Luxury Collection portfolio of Marriott International and featured brand-new culinary concepts like the first European Spago by Wolfgang Puck, The Duchess rooftop bar and Matild Café & Cabaret – a reimagination of the renowned “Belvárosi Kávéház” - all under the culinary supervision of Wolfgang Puck.

After the summer, the historic venue will also feature cabaret shows on the café’s hydraulic stage, completing the experiences offered by Matild Palace.

Since its debut, the palace has been reborn as the new social and cultural epicenter of the downtown and has won numerous local and international awards over the past year.

On the occasion of the anniversary, the iconic venue will surprise the guests with some special treats during the celebration on June 28th.



On 28th June 2022, the Matild Palace in Ferenciek tere will celebrate the 1st anniversary of its opening with special gastronomic offers and surprises. Guests can spend up to a full day in the iconic building of the Belle Époque era, as the 3 special gastronomic venues of the palace have very rich and varied offers.

Guests can take a gastronomic journey to discover classic Spago dishes, have a refreshing cocktail at The Duchess rooftop bar, or even explore a special selection of cakes at the recently opened Matild Café & Cabaret in a historic place.

The palace, considered one of the most impressive buildings in Budapest, was built between 1899 and 1902 on behalf of Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to serve as the social epicenter of the city.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace made its debut for international travelers and local explorers in summer 2021 after a meticulous five-year transformation.

In all its elements, the renovated palace reflects the charm of the Hungarian heritage, and the interior design pays homage to the rich history of the famous building. The architectural plans were dreamed up by architects Péter Dajka and Antal Puhl in Budapest, and the breathtaking interiors were designed by the award-winning interior designer Maria Vafiadis, the founder of MKV Design.



The Matild Palace not only conveys royal luxury, and remarkable historical and cultural heritage but also offers its guests unparalleled services and gastronomic experiences.

After the 130-room Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest, belonging to The Luxury Collection portfolio of Marriott International, made its debut in the iconic building of Budapest in summer 2021, the first European Spago restaurant, the secret rooftop bar, The Duchess, and in May 2022 the reimagination of the former “Belvárosi Kávéház”, the Matild Café & Cabaret has also opened under the culinary supervision of world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck.

To the delight of guests, the café will also feature cabaret shows after the summer, completing the palace’s experiences.



Reborn as the new social and cultural epicenter of Budapest's downtown, the palace has won numerous local and international awards since its opening. In 2021, Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest has been awarded "Best Hotel Luxury" and "Best Guestroom Luxury" in the prestigious 'Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design' competition and has won the category of "Hungary's Leading Hotel 2021' in the world travel industry's most prestigious awards program, the World Travel Awards (the Oscar of the tourism industry), furthermore it has been selected among the best new hotels in the world on the international travel lists.

Wolfgang Puck's Spago Budapest restaurant was added to the list of the Michelin guide's Budapest restaurant selection, while Spago's head chef, István Szántó had the great opportunity to present Hungarian classics, such as Chicken paprikash, Vadas, Somlói dumplings and Eszterházy cake, for the Hollywood stars at the Oscar gala as the first Hungarian chef in Oscar history.



The gastronomic concept of the palace's three dining venues, Spago Budapest, The Duchess, and the Matild Café & Cabaret, was dreamed up by the legendary chef Wolfgang Puck. The culinary team consists of a selection of talented Hungarian and international chefs, and the varied menus also feature Hungarian and international dishes.



Maintaining its leading position as one of the pioneers of the gastronomy world, setting trends in culinary arts, service, and style, Spago caters to a brand-new gastronomic culture in the Budapest by blending the chef’s iconic Californian cuisine, the talented local chefs’ culinary skills, Hungarian traditions and choice of local products.

Spago Budapest offers specialties from the legendary chef, like the special lemon cake, smoked salmon pizza with osetra caviar, or the classic wiener schnitzel with fingerling potatoes. The legendary restaurant awaits its guests with contemporary design, a stunning lounge, and a terrace located at Duna street.



Besides the Spago, Wolfgang Puck's cuisine offers a variety of gastronomic experiences for café lovers as well. The gastronomic offer of the former „Belvárosi Kávéház” - today called Matild Café & Cabaret, - which was often visited by the famous Hungarian writer Gyula Krúdy, includes Hungarian beef stew with homemade spaetzle or the homemade Krúdy-style sausages and a variety of salads, starters such as a house-smoked salmon plate.

The café's cake repertoire features the popular sweets of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, including Eszterházy and Dobos cakes, and guests can also discover the iconic Matild cake, created in honor of the great ancestors of the long-established venue.

The signature cake is made with peanut liqueur, recalling a drink that was fashionable in the past of local coffee house culture. In addition to coffee, you can also taste special lemonades and cocktails on-site. The Szindbád or Krúdy úr cocktail evokes the world of the bohemian Belle Époque era.



For the lovers of Budapest's lavish panorama and cocktails, the secret rooftop liquor library The Duchess offers lasting experiences. The renewed liquor library, inspired by the Archduchess Maria Klotild, which once served as a rendezvous retreat for the Decadence Movement offers a year-round covered rooftop terrace, lavish views, special cocktails, and bar food dreamed up by legendary chef Wolfgang Puck for its guests at the Matild Palace.

Food and beverages are accompanied by chill tunes of the DJs, occasionally spectacular fireworks to light up the night, a 360-degree view of Budapest, and all above the vibrant Danube River view with boats passing beneath Elisabeth Bridge.



It is a great honor for us, the team of Matild Palace, to be able to enrich the Hungarian capital not only with a reborn historical building in the past year but also to further enhance the gastronomic offer of Budapest through the 3 outstanding venues of the palace. We look to the future with great excitement, as the first cabaret performances on the hydraulic stage of the café will also start from autumn. We look forward to introducing many new experiences in the coming months,” said Selim Ölmez, General Manager.

Matild Café & Cabaret: matildcafe.com
The Duchess: theduchessbudapest.com
Spago by Wolfgang Puck Budapest: spagobudapest.com


About Matild Palace

Matild Palace, the celebrated iconic building of the Belle Époque era, was a vision of Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild (wife of Archduke Joseph Carl) and was constructed between 1899 – 1902.

The palace has been restored to its former glory to serve its local and international guests as of early summer 2021 as the long-awaited Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest.

The palace, set to be the new social epicenter of Budapest, is introducing brand-new culinary concepts like Spago by Wolfgang Puck, The Duchess rooftop bar and Matild Café & Cabaret – a reimagination of the renowned “Belvárosi Kávéház” - all under the culinary supervision of Wolfgang Puck.

For more information, please visit www.matildpalace.com

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