Magnificent Danube Views: New Hotel Chain to Replace Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge
Ennismore to Launch SO/ Brand in Hungary with Opening of SO/ Budapest in 2026
Ennismore, the lifestyle and leisure hospitality company, has announced that it will be introducing its SO/ brand to Hungary with the opening of SO/ Budapest in 2026. The new hotel will be situated on the site of the former Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge and will undergo an extensive renovation to create a luxurious and stylish accommodation option.
SO/ Budapest will feature 350 rooms, including 56 classic suites and two presidential suites. Drawing inspiration from fashion and luxury, the room designs will center around the art of dressing, with elegant amenities such as backlit washbasins, open-style closets, dressing mirrors, and various reflective surfaces.
The hotel will boast four diverse dining and drinking venues, including a ground-floor terrace restaurant, a Carte Blanched café, a lobby café on the first floor, and a rooftop restaurant and club. Additionally, guests can enjoy over 740 square meters of meeting and event space, 855 square meters of fitness and wellness facilities, and an indoor swimming pool.
Chadi Farhat, Operations Director of the Ennismore brand, expressed his enthusiasm for bringing the avant-garde design and creative spirit of SO/ to Hungary. He believes that the brand’s chic and social vibe will perfectly complement Budapest’s fusion of cultural heritage and modernity.
The former Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge hotel ceased operations in December 2020 and was sold by the Indotek Group in March 2023 to make way for the new SO/ Budapest. Ennismore, recognized as the fastest growing lifestyle and leisure hospitality company, introduced the SO/ brand in 2011, receiving acclaim for its bold fashion collaborations with renowned designers like Guillaume Henry, Christian Lacroix, and Viktor&Rolf.
With existing locations in cities like Berlin, Bangkok, Paris, Dubai, and the Maldives, SO/ Budapest marks the brand’s expansion into Hungary. Ennismore also has plans to open additional hotels in the country, including properties under the 25hours, JO&JOE, and Mama Shelter brands in Budapest by 2024.
Founded by Sharan Pasricha in 2011, Ennismore is a global community of entrepreneurs that, through their joint venture with Accor, has established a new independent lifestyle catering entity. Currently comprising 17 brands, the company operates over 145 hotels and resorts worldwide, with more than 100 hotels in development, as well as event venues, restaurants, and nightclubs across 35 countries and employing 30,000 staff members.
