The indulgent spirit of Hungarian hospitality is rightfully legendary – many hotels here offer world-class accommodation and services with genuinely caring professionalism, often offered for remarkably friendly prices. In this instalment of our monthly Checking In series, we look around at the latest developments in Budapest’s hotel scene for the latest news, special promotions and unbelievable bargains for June.

New Hilton opens on company centenary

Almost exactly 100 years after Conrad Hilton went to Texas during the oil boom to buy a bank, a Hilton Garden Inn has just been unveiled in the heart of Budapest. In the century in between, Hilton created the world’s first global hotel company more than 5,700 strong, across 113 countries and territories – now including the Hilton Garden Inn on Lázár utca. Close to the luxury boutiques of Andrássy út and the Opera House, the new hotel features 214 guest rooms, a restaurant, bar and conference rooms. More details

Liszt Restaurant unveiled at the Aria Hotel

Near the Basilica, the music-themed Aria Hotel has just launched its new restaurant, Liszt. The restaurant takes you back to the the Golden Age of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Ingredients come from Hungary, Transylvania, Dalmatia and parts of modern-day Ukraine and Slovakia. Chef Gergely Kövér harmonises the flavours of yesteryear with modern kitchen technology, while sweet creations by pastry chef Zsuzsanna Karádi and the cocktail concoctions of Péter Gózon and Richárd Mihály put the icing on the cake. More details

Juhász Brothers winery sets up Smart Hotel

Following a growing trend, the Eger-based Juhász Brothers winery have opened a hotel in Budapest. The Smart Hotel is a boutique four-star on Lövölde tér, at the top of Király utca, a short stroll from Andrássy út and a couple of trolleybus stops from the Grand Boulevard. Within, a console system can control lighting, heating and other functions around the guest rooms. In the near future, this will be operated by voice control. Naturally, there’s a wine bar, with themed dinners planned for the autumn. More details

New restaurant opens at Danubius Health Spa Resort Margaret Island

Just unveiled, the Platán Restaurant at the Danubius Health Spa Resort Margaret Island completes another phase of renovations at Budapest’s largest spa hotel. Over the last three years, guest rooms, public spaces, conference rooms and the reception area of the spa have all been transformed. With capacity for 270 diners, the Platán sports the same vivid colours as seen elsewhere around the revamped hotel. In line with the general health-conscious approach here, the restaurant offers dishes low in sugar and fat, all prepared in an open kitchen. More details

Gin month at the Deák St. Kitchen

At the Ritz-Carlton Budapest in the heart of town, for the month of June the Deák St. Kitchen is theming special cocktails around the Catalan spirit Gin Mare. Created in Vilanova near Barcelona, Gin Mare features rosemary, thyme, olives and basil, allowing the Deák St. mixologists to conjure up summery concoctions such as the Mediterranean Martini, with home-made vanilla syrup and kapia pepper. Other mixes combine with 1724 tonic sourced 1,724 metres high along the mythical Inca trail. The cocktail offer (2,000-4,400 HUF) runs until 30 June. More details