The World Luxury Hotel Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel industry competitions, has awarded the Petit Bois hotel in Balatonfüred the title of Best Luxury Adult Only Boutique Hotel in Eastern Europe. The hotel’s interior design concept was created by este’r partners, in partnership with the Laki Group and ARX Architects.
One of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel industry competitions, the World Luxury Hotel Awards, has honored the Petit Bois Hotel in Balatonfüred with the title of Eastern Europe’s Best Luxury Adult-Only Boutique Hotel.
Commissioned by the LAKI Group, the hotel’s complete architectural renewal was led by ARX Studio, while the initial interior design concepts were developed by este’r partners. Several renowned brands, including JAB Anstoetz, Goa Home, and Art&Deco, played a significant role in shaping the hotel’s final interior character.
One of Balatonfüred’s architectural gems, the Rodostó Villa, originally built in 1908 near the shores of Lake Balaton, was reborn at the end of 2024 following careful design and reconstruction. Preserving its original architectural values, the villa reopened its doors as an elegant five-star superior boutique hotel. Petit Bois is located in one of Balatonfüred’s most refined areas, nestled in the green embrace of the “Petit Bois” (Little Forest) from which it takes its name.
The designers created five elegant suites per floor within the villa, complemented by three contemporary garden apartments. The architectural concept respected the building’s original massing, introducing the necessary extensions and additions with sensitivity and thoughtful care in response to its new function. Inside, tradition and a sense of permanence take center stage: the interior design solutions enhance the villa’s inherent beauty, highlighting its stone and wood craftsmanship as well as its classical proportions.
Every detail of the Petit Bois Hotel’s refined environment is dedicated to relaxation and to physical, emotional, and visual renewal. With the opening of this five-star boutique hotel, one of Balatonfüred’s most beautiful villas has begun its second life—now drawing the attention of the international hospitality scene.
The LAKI Group, as investor, has created an atmosphere of elegance and calm, subtly evoking the spirit of the turn of the 20th century, when the spa town—renowned for its thermal waters—experienced its golden age among nobility and the bourgeoisie. Alongside numerous preserved original architectural elements, such as historic stone flooring and restored wooden windows, the interior designers confidently combined classical and contemporary details, including decorative stucco and refined material pairings to achieve a sophisticated effect. In the graphic elements—such as wallpapers—the city’s protected flower, the pasqueflower, also makes an appearance.
The villa is surrounded by a breathtaking garden, allowing guests to connect with the landscape of Lake Balaton and the natural beauty of Balatonfüred from every room. Comfort is further enhanced by a mini conference room and a wellness area, while the rooftop offers a panoramic bar with 360-degree views and a discreetly placed pool, creating a truly distinctive atmosphere.
Photography by: Zsolt Hlinka and Alexander Hajdu