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On 15 September, a new chapter in the city’s hospitality began with the official opening of the Leon Hotel & Lounge, located at the foot of the Chain Bridge in Buda. This unique hotel blends historical heritage with contemporary design and AI.
The Leon brand was born in the peaceful setting of the beautifully renovated Chain Bridge, just a few steps from its “big brother”, the five-star Hotel Clark Budapest, which is popular with both domestic and international guests. Set to debut in 2025, the Leon brand will not only offer a new hotel, but also a café and an authentic Italian osteria, providing guests with a comprehensive experience.
Leon Hotel & Lounge is located in an area of the city that has always been at the heart of Budapest, close to Buda Castle, Gellért Hill and the Danube. This location has been a meeting point for centuries, from Roman remains and a medieval royal centre to the construction of the 19th century Chain Bridge. The historical layers of the city have all contributed to shaping the character of Buda. Leon Hotel & Lounge continues this rich heritage into the 21st century.
In the footsteps of the Széchenyi family
The row of palaces that once stood on the Buda side of the Danube has long since disappeared, but the palace of Béla Széchenyi at 8–10 Lánchíd Street and the stables located opposite it at 19 – the site of today’s Leon Hotel & Lounge – serve as a reminder of the heyday of the Hungarian aristocracy. Between 1871 and 1873, Count Béla Széchenyi, son of the “Greatest Hungarian”, István Széchenyi, had his imposing palace built on this section of Lánchíd Street. Construction was overseen by the renowned architect Miklós Ybl, who also designed the three-storey palace in the French Late Renaissance style. Opposite the palace, at number 19, was the Count’s stable, the only building in the row to survive World War II. Although the palace and stable no longer stand, they remain a defining element of Hungary’s architectural and aristocratic heritage. This area faithfully reflects the city’s rich cultural traditions, and the Danube bank here offers one of the most magnificent panoramas of Budapest.
Clean design, stunning panorama
Leon Hotel & Lounge's 48 rooms are spread over seven floors and feature interiors with clean lines, warm tones and natural materials. Bathed in natural light, the rooms' main feature is the view: different aspects of the city unfold through the windows. From the Hillside View rooms, you can see Buda Castle and the hillside, while the Riverside View rooms offer a direct view of the Danube.
On the seventh floor, the top floor of the hotel, you can find the three Leon Top Floor Studios. These rooms have a huge private terrace, an open, airy atmosphere, and a special bathroom where the freestanding bathtub almost becomes part of the view. All the rooms exude understated elegance and homely comfort, with attention paid to every detail, creating a relaxed atmosphere that makes a city stay a real experience.
The spacious, sunny conference room on the ground floor is characterised by sophisticated interior design solutions and offers an inspiring atmosphere for business or private events, meetings and workshops.
Its special feature is its direct connection to the cosy inner garden, which provides a unique backdrop and a natural transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.
On the border of imagination and reality
The interior spaces of the Leon Hotel & Lounge are brought to life by the visual artworks of David Szauder, a Hungarian AI artist based in Berlin. Created with the help of artificial intelligence, his images are surreal, dreamlike compositions in which the delicate forms of female figures intertwine with the characteristic architectural features of Buda and the iconic style of the Buda Castle buildings. The result is deeply localised yet floating emotional images that are not just decorative elements, but experiences that initiate a contemporary dialogue between the past and the future. Guests are embraced by this unique visual world, which is like time travel, where a modern, experimental artistic dimension weaves reality and dreams into the historical environment.
Leon Café: brunch, coffee and cocktails in style
Located on the ground floor of the hotel, the Leon Café is a vibrant meeting place where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast or a relaxed brunch to start your day. Fresh, quality ingredients such as classic Eggs Benedict, light salads and pastries create the perfect atmosphere for city mornings. You can stop by quickly at any time of the day for coffees, juices, healthy salads and sandwiches to go, whether you're on your way to work or walking the dog.
The café's standout feature is JADE Matcha, a pioneering Japanese matcha concept that transforms the traditional ritual into a contemporary experience. Gourmets can enjoy locally made ceremonial matcha drinks from Japan in a truly unique, art-inspired space.
In the afternoon and evening, the café transforms, offering cocktails and speciality drinks to complement the atmosphere of friendly conversation in a relaxed, speakeasy-style setting where there is always a buzz of activity. Leon Café thus becomes a lively centre of urban social life at any time of day.
Leon Osteria – a slice of Italy in the heart of Budapest
The Leon brand has opened a new chapter on Budapest's gastronomic map with the opening of Leon Osteria. This new addition to the Leon brand brought traditional Italian flavours to Lánchíd Street in May this year, a few steps from the Leon Hotel & Lounge, combining them with the street's friendly yet lively atmosphere. Hidden at the foot of Buda Castle, the restaurant is both elegant and informal – an ideal location for those seeking quality without excessive formality.
The menu stays true to the core values of Italian cuisine: freshly made pasta, homemade ragù, seafood and classic desserts capture the essence of the Italian 'osteria' – simplicity, passion and refined flavours.
Leon Osteria is so much more than just a place to eat dinner: it is also an inspiring, intimate venue for all kinds of meetings, whether you're looking for a long lunch, an evening wine tasting or a light, informal meal. It is a place where the moment counts and food becomes a real experience.
"For us, the Leon Hotel & Lounge is more than just a hotel; it is a bridge between the past and the future, connecting people in an inspiring way and creating a valuable community." The proximity of the Chain Bridge is symbolic in this respect, connecting historical heritage with contemporary creativity. We believe that the hotel will provide new impetus and lasting value in the domestic hotel market”. – said András Lakézi, the hotel manager.
You can find the hotel here:
Leon Hotel & Lounge
1013 Budapest, Lánchíd utca 19.
leonhotelbudapest.hu
