BEST LEVEL IN HUNGARY
LOCATION
Balatonfüred is, without a shred of a doubt, the heart of tourism on the northern part of Lake Balaton. It is Balaton’s largest resort outpost by leaps and bounds, with charming lake promenades, numerous hotels, chic restaurants, bars and imposing villas. In July 2023, a new hotel opened its doors, adjoining the main road leading to the lakefront promenade. Although somewhat distanced from the lake, the hotel squats on a spacious, green hilltop leading to the coast. Its higher ground is a competitive advantage, making lake views even more picturesque. The architecture of the hotel ensures scenic views from almost every room. The large premises also enabled the investors to create an elongated hotel. The hotel is a full-fledged resort, and thanks to its diverse offering, guests can opt for prolonged stays here. Another advantage of the location is the proximity to the local landmarks, including the impressive Tagore promenade, only a stone’s throw away. Not least, the hotel’s location is perfect for venturing out into the northern part of the “Hungarian Sea” or visiting Veszprem, one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2023.
ACCESSIBILITY
Should you drive towards the hotel by motorway M7 from the southern side of Balaton Lake, you can shorten your trip by boarding a ferry that will carry you across from Szántód to Tihani. Alternatively, if you travel to the hotel directly from Budapest, you will need around an hour and a half for the 120-kilometre journey, depending on the season. Most guests come to the hotel by car, as we deduced from the jam-packed parking lot. When we visited, the licence plates were from various countries across Central Europe. We must point out that the parking is free of charge, well-managed and boasts enough parking spots (110). Hungarian motorways and local roads are in great shape, making journeys across Hungary straightforward and uncomplicated. An alternative way to reach the hotel is by train, whisking you away from the centre of Budapest to Balatonfüred in under two hours. For guests opting to fly, the central airport in Budapest is ideal, as the closest airport, Kesztehly, mainly caters to charter flights. We must commend the hotel for offering bike rental. Guests can thus choose between classic or electric bicycles to pedal around the lake and its surroundings.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
From a bird’s-eye view, the hotel connects three facilities through the central atrium. This design ensures guests can revel in spectacular views, regardless of which direction their room points to. Architecturally, the surroundings appear refined, lush and even post-modernistic. Only three storeys high, the building blends with the surrounding nature. Inside, the zen-like atrium has a more dramatic effect on the guest. The colourful interior resembles the warmth of a living room, predominantly because of the copious amount of natural light flooding the interior through panoramic windows enveloping the atrium. The public areas are separated from the rooms to ensure privacy. All facilities combine and form a harmonious whole that ensures guests can find space to rest, socialise and enjoy the tranquillity.
In stark contrast to the new hotel, the neighbouring area is dotted with postsocialist developments, ranging from stunning villas to dilapidated weekend houses. In this setting, the hotel is forging a new path for the city’s urban architecture and development. Hotel Vinifera Wine & Spa is a real game changer in transforming Balatonfüred into a luxury destination.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
The hotel staff did not disappoint us. It is hard to harbour a grudge against the hotel, as it met all expectations for five-star service. The gastronomy combines a buffet and a-la-carte menu, which deserves the word superb. Executive Chef Bajdik Marton hails as one of the best Hungarian chefs. After our visit, we can confirm that. The fundamental buffet offering has been studied to the last detail and complemented with seasonal dishes, tasty pizzas and focaccias. High in demand right now are the traditional duck breast and beef cheeks. The holistic menu befits the five-star standard. An integral part of such an experience is local wine, including the best wines in the Balaton region. The concept, quality and ambience are unrivalled. The splendid breakfast continues similarly. Guests need to take time to savour all the diverse dishes. Professional staff that devote all their attention to guests elevate the entire experience. One last thing: they maintain the hotel at the highest level. You will struggle to find any flops. Hotel Vinifera Wine & Spa is a high-class hotel from head to toe.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
Even the basic hotel room with a balcony we stayed in provides enough space to cater to a vacation stay. Upon setting foot in the room, our attention was drawn to the charming parquet paired with a wall clad in cherrywood, fronted by a large TV screen. Soon after, we noticed details such as the elegant marble and terrazzo tiles in the open-style bathroom. The furniture features a partly open industrial style paired with retro crystal lights and superb illumination. A Nespresso coffee machine elevates the elegant interior, while the water served in cute bottles makes a lasting impression. We were only bothered by the slightly cumbersome work desk that was too elevated. Our search for a wine story attesting to the hotel’s name and brand was in vain. Apart from an average wine bottle in the mini bar, no wine product confirmed the hotel’s reputation as a wine hotel. The wine story is a segment the hotel can improve. Despite this drawback, the room is serene and befits the five-star philosophy of the hotel.
Meetings centre
The hotel features two conference rooms, measuring 100 and 118 square metres, respectively. They can merge into a hall for 150 attendees in a theatre setting. Given the number of rooms in the hotel, the capacity is ideal. The various outdoor terraces, particularly the pool area, convinced us even more than the event halls. The pool terrace seems perfect for pool parties in the summer. Likewise, incentive events and teambuilding programmes could be developed here, most notably because of the rich additional offering. We can imagine the satisfaction of incentive attendees in this hotel.
DESSERT – The extras
The hotel restaurant provides a compelling combination of à la carte and buffet. The excellent impression can be credited to the sommelier, who knows which wines pair with which dishes. Even though the management had already rolled out such a menu in its Falkensteiner hotel chain, the quality of the cuisine in this hotel dwarfs competitors. The handpicked menu ranges from modern takes on classics such as veal Wiener Schnitzel to exotic combinations. We revelled in the buffet assortment of cold and warm appetisers. To top it off, the pizza maestro dished out mouthwatering Neapolitan pizzas with gusto.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
Not all staff members are proficient in English. They could improve this with some educational courses. We understand most guests are local, but this hotel plays in the international Champions League of hotels.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
The wellness centre is undoubtedly the stand-out part of this hotel. Most hotels can only dream of having a similarly broad selection of saunas and treatments. Telling of the sheer size of the spa world is the fact they have four indoor and four outdoor pools. The wellness stretches over 2000 square metres and is, arguably, one of the best in this part of Europe.
SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS
Apart from implementing basic hotel measures (putting cosmetics in dispensers and reminding guests to save water), the hotel has not endeavoured on a serious sustainable path yet. We are unsure if the hotel implements more activities, but they do not highlight them. Therefore, we hope the management goes the extra mile to improve sustainability in the future.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
The hotel proved extraordinary with its duality: it can be a full-fledged wellness hotel or a stunning wine and hedonism paradise. We were mesmerised by the abundant additional activities and great staff. Moreover, Hotel Vinifera Wine & Spa showed us incentive activities are its forte, making it a no-brainer for corporate event organisers. After our stay, we could not dismiss the feeling that it resembles iconic hotels of the past but stays future-facing. Classic style never goes out of fashion, at least for those who cherish it. The package is not the cheapest in Hungary, but you get the most value for money here. We are convinced your attendees will appreciate your decision to host an event here, not least because of the splendid wellness offering.
FINAL GRADE: 4.93 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ Spa Meeting Hotel
3 MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ final score from 4.81 to 5.00
2 MEETING STARS⭐⭐ final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 MEETING STAR⭐ final score from 4.41 to 4.60
