Four Seasons Budapest: Omorovicza facial treatment
Tamsin Wressell is cleansed with local ingredients in a Omorovicza facial treatment
“Just a bit more and we should be able to get rid of these knots,” my therapist says, while kneading my shoulder muscles to sleep. I wasn't expecting them to be targeted during an Omorovicza facial treatment, but as with everything else during my stay at Four Seasons Budapest, attention was paid to every detail to make life a little more comfortable.
My back had been scrubbed and I was now experiencing one of the best massages I've ever had during the 90-minute treatment. Once my knots had fizzled away under the pressure, my face and neck were scrubbed before being covered in a mud mask. Omorovicza products are used throughout, with ingredients extracted from Hungary's Lake Heviz, the second largest thermal lake in the world. One of the signature ingredients in the products, Moor Mud, is mineral-rich and renowned for its curative properties.
My therapist treats me to a hand massage as the mud sinks into my skin, before the excess is wiped away. The treatment concludes with a face massage and I leave looking and feeling rejuvenated.
A pool runs the length of the top-floor spa, with panelled floor-to-ceiling windows alongside. I dip into the Jacuzzi before visiting the steam room and sauna, breaking up my visits with fresh tea from the refreshment area. Headphones are on offer in the gym and all essential toiletries provided in the changing rooms — including disposable razors and hairbrushes.
Housed in the art nouveau Gresham Palace, the standout luxury at the Four Seasons Hotel Budapest is that the staff treat all guests like royalty.
Centrally located at the end of the Chain Bridge in Pest, the hotel is a sanctuary from the busy streets outside — and the relentless rain. My business-style Superior Room is simple, with high ceilings and neutral beige and brown details. The marble bathroom oozes luxury, but the gold star certainly goes to the view. Double doors open onto a private balcony overlooking the River Danube, with Buda Castle sitting directly opposite my room.
Every time I re-enter it, more sweets and treats have appeared inside my room, from light lemon biscuits to moreish fudge. But I leave space for my evening meal in the hotel's Kollázs Brasserie & Bar. Its low lighting and dark wood details leave the spotlight to the view, with the castle fully lit up outside taking centre stage through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
A refreshing gin, palinka (the local tipple) and blueberry marmalade cocktail starts the carousel of drinks and dishes before I sleepily retire to my room. I slip in one last view of the castle and think of all those little touches— the bag containing towels, toiletries and slippers provided by the concierge when we mentioned we were heading out to Szechenyi Thermal Baths or how the staff politely addresses all guests by their name. It's these little touches that make the palace a treat to stay in.
Essentials
A Superior Room (B&B basis) at Four Seasons Budapest from €310/£242 a night (off-peak) rising to €490/£382 (peak). The Omorovicza facial treatment costs from €180/£140 for 90 minutes.
