Confectionery factory gets a new look: the Stühmer palace is reborn as a hotel

Previously, reported that the former chocolate factory and headquarters of Stühmer would be reborn as a four-star hotel in the design of SWIETELSKY Magyarország Kft.. The renovation has been completed, and the hotel has been welcoming guests since October 2025.

For many, the name Stühmer is synonymous with the heyday of domestic confectionery production, attractive packaging and one of the emblematic chapters of Hungarian industrial art between the two world wars.

The building at 8 Szentkirályi Street was built in 1928 in the art deco style, and not only the chocolates but also the building itself radiated quality and modernity. Today, romantic nostalgia and modern hospitality meet within its walls: the former factory and headquarters has been reborn as a four-star hotel.

From design to handover

The development was commissioned by YOU ARE HUNGARY Kft. and based on the plans of D55 Architectural Office Kft.. The contractor, SWIETELSKY Magyarország Kft., began structural construction in October 2023, followed by the facades, roofs and interior design. Following the interior finishing works – painting, wallpapering, tiling – carried out in early 2025, the investment is now complete and the hotel is operational and welcoming guests.

The newly opened You Are Budapest Hotel welcomes visitors with 94 rooms. The interior design features youthful contrasts: furniture set against pastel walls, highlighted with metallic elements and bold colours, unified by atmospheric lighting.

Modern technologies within the walls of the past

The hotel's building services solutions were designed with sustainability and comfort in mind, as our newspaper learned from chief construction manager Hajnalka Gyécsek. The Hybrid VRF system ensures that cooling and heating needs are met. The technology combines the advantages of traditional VRF and water-based systems: water is supplied to the rooms instead of refrigerant, making it safer to use in a hotel environment. Thanks to its compressor operation, it enables high energy efficiency and simultaneous cooling and heating, while contributing to guest comfort with quieter operation.

The guest experience is further enhanced by the KNX-based building automation system from manufacturer Zennio, which offers room-by-room lighting, temperature and mood settings, as well as supporting sustainable operation with energy monitoring modules.

Suspended ceilings were deliberately omitted from the building's communal areas, leaving the raw structures to create a rustic effect.

Recalling the past

The original appearance of the façade has been restored, revealing the inscription „STÜMER FRIGYES R.T. KAKAÓ, CSOKOLÁDÉ ÉS CUKORKAGYÁR” (STÜMER FRIGYES R.T. COCOA, CSOKOLÁDÉ AND CANDY FACTORY) and the year 1868, which refers to the area's history in the candy industry.

Youthful vigour and uniqueness

The hotel's entrance hall leads through a tunnel-like entrance, which is made unique by contemporary artwork. In line with its new function, the building also houses a fitness room, cinema, bar and restaurant.

The investor's intention is for the hotel to radiate a free-thinking, youthful and vibrant atmosphere, which, with its uniqueness, could quickly become a popular place to stay in Budapest among guests wishing to explore the city.