Lions Garden Hotel in Budapest

Unfortunately, this stay did not meet the standard expected of a 4-star hotel. I stayed for three nights (17 January) and experienced multiple issues.

Water availability:
There is no complimentary drinking water available for guests. You are required to purchase small bottles at a high price from the bar after breakfast. I queried this twice and was explicitly told to either pay at the bar or source water myself elsewhere, despite visible water dispensers being used during breakfast service and a clearly accessible tap at the bar. This was not a communication issue.

Spa and leisure facilities:
The pool, sauna, and jacuzzi were all significantly below their stated temperatures, an issue already mentioned in other reviews.
The pool was uncomfortably cold on entry.
The jacuzzi, advertised at 34 °C, was also well below this and not relaxing.

There were no towels available in the sauna area on either day, with empty racks, meaning I had to return to my room wet.

Fitness centre:
The gym is extremely small, realistically accommodating only 1–2 people. Equipment is very limited (one weight machine and a treadmill, no bench). The fan was not working (I am familiar with the controls, as the same model works in my room). Again, no water dispenser—water must be purchased at the bar or sourced externally.

Room and amenities: generally clean and modern room, however:
No milk or creamer available for tea/coffee.
No black tea provided.
The teacup appeared poorly washed, and the bathroom glass had visible toothpaste residue and was clearly not cleaned before being placed upside down.

Breakfast and service:
Breakfast was acceptable with a wide selection, but not 4-star quality. Hot items such as scrambled eggs appeared to have been left out since early morning and were cold, dry, and overcooked. Guests are not permitted to take any food or drink away unless paying €7 for a takeaway box, even for a single pastry.

Staff interactions were mixed: one female breakfast staff member in particular was excellent. However, one staff member elsewhere (already reported in some reviews) was rude and unhelpful, which stood out.

Key card issues:
Only one key card worked at a time. I was locked out of my room twice due to card failures, requiring trip back to reception.

Overall:
This hotel does not reflect a 4-star hotel experience in facilities, service, or basic guest provisions. I would recommend choosing an alternative venue if you are looking for a proper hotel stay.

Positive :
The Hotel is close to the center and well deserved by common transportation
Rooms are quiet
Swimming pool, the SPA and Sauna included

Negative :
Mistake in my booking - only 1 room was booked while the booking was done for 2
The daily cleaning is very light , dust on the wall, dirty marks on the table, pillows not rearranged ...
Triple room the 3rd bed is a joke - a sofa-bed with a big hole in the middle and the mattress is 10 cm not confortable at all - the hotel cannot do anything for that - they just provide an extra blanket ...
Breakfast is purely industrial nothing home made and expensive 15€/pers/day. Very crowded and not big enough for everyone in the hotel so they have to open the meeting rooms ...
The shower head was leaking.

We are very far from a 4-stars , 3 max thanks to the SPA and the swimming pool.

This hotel did not meet our expectations at all. Be aware that there is no nearby parking, and the hotel’s own garage is small, very narrow, and costs €20 per night. The breakfast was disappointing — limited food options and a small dining area meant we had to wait for others to finish before we could sit down. The sauna and pool area were also a letdown, as there seemed to be no rules in place: many children were entering the sauna in wet swimsuits, which made the experience unpleasant. Overall, we would not recommend this hotel, especially for the price.