In the heart of Pest, at 3 Királyi Pál Street, Hotel Rum Budapest has been welcoming guests for years. Last summer, the hotel expanded its gastronomic portfolio with a new addition: on the ground floor, the Michelin-starred SALT restaurant’s “younger sibling” was joined by the opening of SOLID Wine Bar on the rooftop. While it belongs to the rooftop/skybar category, it manages to rise above and go beyond the genre.
On the seventh floor, the space is closely connected to the fine dining restaurant in several ways: not only through ingredients, flavors, dishes, wines, and the shared approach to gastronomy, nature, and traditions, but also in its design. This is no coincidence, as both spaces were renewed through the work of architect and designer Dóra Fónagy.
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SOLID Wine Bar, photo: Attila Gulyás
When developing the SOLID concept, the focus was placed on closeness to nature and sourcing within local borders. The food offering is tailored to their extensive wine repertoire (including natural and biodynamic varieties, Europe’s iconic vintages, Tuscan wines, and specialties from major Champagne houses). It was important that the strong professional consciousness present in the service was also reflected in the space itself. Functioning as a community venue, the wine bar may belong to the rooftop/skybar genre, but it manages to rise above it. The location is truly impressive: the view is stunning, offering an essence of Budapest’s culture from above – glimpses of Gellért Hill, the Liberty Statue, the Basilica, or details of the Castle District.
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SOLID Wine Bar, photo: Attila Gulyás
One of the guiding ideas was to create a gastronomic space where people can meet and socialize, reminiscent of the bourgeois salons of the past. It is no coincidence that the owners defined this place as the “best room” – like a living room, where one can arrive at the end of the day in search of comfort and relaxation.
The gastronomic concept is inspired by Nordic food culture, and the imprint of this “nordic-ness” is also visible in the space: reflected in the use of metal and wood, clean lines, and restrained ornamentation. Naturally, it is no accident that guests are seated on chairs designed by the Finnish Norm Architects.
Since the intention is to deliver an experience, not only food or wine, the space itself – with its outstanding features – plays a key role. Mirrors were used to extend the logic of the panorama, ensuring that there is no “bad seat” for guests, as the view can be enjoyed from virtually anywhere. At the same time, it becomes clear whether a guest chooses a spot for an intimate dinner or prefers to be part of the lively flow. This is further supported by the variation in furniture height and comfort.
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SOLID Wine Bar, photo: Attila Gulyás
Although outdoor-style finishes (such as the brick fireplace cladding) are rarely found indoors, they nevertheless evoke a sense of homeliness. The exciting interplay between “inside and outside” is reinforced by the landscape design of György Zsigmond, with whom the team had previously collaborated, creating a kind of landscape around the guests.
The iridescent tones reflect the colors of the sun, which is also present in the name SOLID. In this spirit, even the pipes were left uncovered, continuing this design idea. (The sun motif also appears in the logo, designed by graphic artist Eszter Laki.) The defining curved spatial installation – developed together with András Jánosi (Lumoconcept) – is also a light wall: its colors shimmer differently under every light source. Reminiscent of the waves of the sun, it provides an added dimension of atmosphere, elevating it into a noble material.
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SOLID Wine Bar, photo: Attila Gulyás
The rooftop terrace was transformed – wisely – during the closures brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although construction had not yet started in March 2020, the idea had already been born. Planning began in the spring of 2021, and by July the “best room” reopened with a new interior and new function, featuring a food menu designed by chef René Rába and the SALT team.