The team of este’r partners planned a community space in the historical building of Budapest’s city center. The plan evokes the world of classic elegant shops in London or Paris, where a store and a café coexist. The communal spaces designed in the first Hungarian bank building respect the values and the atmosphere of the building and the downtown milieu, while the alternation of enclosed and open spaces bring playfulness to the interior space.
Zazie Bistro&Bar, the new restaurant of the MOL Campus, was realized based on the interior design concept of este’r partners. Operating as a café in the morning, a bistro during the day and a casual bar in the evening, at Zazie you can experience a real sense of flow: nature shines through not only on the large glass surfaces but also in the interior, you can relax in small bays in the cozy lounge area and have lunch or dinner in cool restaurant booths. The interior design team has focused on the Danube experience, as they explained there are very few restaurants in Budapest where you can sit near the river during a long lunch or a night out. The MOL Campus also has a unique feature: while the modern high-rise building designed by Foster+Partners of London has a contemporary style, it overlooks the former factory buildings of the Buda Danube district, continuing the bay of Lágymányos. Modern glass surfaces, stunning views and an old industrial quarter in the distance are coupled with beautiful natural features: pampas grasses dancing in the wind, a green riverbank and sunshine.
Set on the waters of the Danube, this event venue redefines modern elegance with its ability to host up to 600 guests. Reflective elements—mirrors, metal sheets—capture the flow of the river, enhancing the venue’s connection to its surroundings. The design features terracotta and blue hues, blending earth and water, while a stunning Kriska Decor installation above the bar steals the show. A visible kitchen workspace adds a unique interactive element, while custom wavy designed walls in the bathrooms echo the water’s movement. With flowing textile panelling and mirrored ceilings, the space is a celebration of curves, reflections, and natural forms.
As one of the most exciting new hospitality projects marking
the Hungarian market entry of Marriott’s lifestyle brand Moxy, the 281-room Moxy Budapest Downtown has opened on Kazinczy Street in Budapest, developed by Forestay Group. The interior design concept of the hotel’s distinctive Saddle & Sky Budapest rooftop bar was created by our studio, este’r partners. The project introduces a fresh, experience-driven hospitality approach to downtown Budapest, where the hotel functions not only as an accommodation destination, but also as a vibrant social and cultural meeting point.
The development was realized on the site of the former Hungarian Dance University building, preserving and contemporarily reinterpreting the character and history of the location. The overall interior design concept of the hotel was created by Austrian studio BWM Designers & Architects, reflecting in a playful and experience-focused way on the iconic Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Sisi, through creative references to the worlds of dance and horseback riding.
The rooftop bar is one of the hotel’s most distinctive destinations, offering breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views over downtown Budapest and Gellért Hill from its rooftop terrace. The skybar concept connects to the hotel’s dynamic atmosphere through bold and characterful design lements, while also operating as an independent destination open not only to hotel guests but to the wider public as well.
Further developing the hotel’s overall concept, the rooftop bar was also inspired by the theme of Sisi, unfolding into several interconnected conceptual layers. Alongside the image of Sisi as the riding princess, the playful and nostalgic world of amusement parks and carousels became a key source of inspiration for the space. The aim was to create a bar where a 21st-century Sisi would go out to party, resulting in an interior concept filled with subtle references that evoke her character and essence. One such element is the central column of the bar, designed as a reinterpretation of the iconic illuminated structures of carousels, while the open rooftop terrace features an installation inspired by Sisi’s hat, serving not only as a sculptural landmark but also as a distinctive new selfie point overlooking the Budapest skyline.
