Cotton House

You've gotta love a place with a life-sized mannequin, in period costume, playing a banjo next to the reception desk. The four-star Cotton House is a one-of-a-kind place, in a prime location.

Though each of 22 rooms are named after different Hollywood stars, furnishings in all are standard Prohibition-era. Satin sheets, heavy drapes, and elegant wooden chairs are upholstered in rich reds and Sweet Georgia browns. And oh yes, old-fashioned rotary telephone operate under fringed lampshades. All rooms are also equipped with television, minibar, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

This is a place that certainly doesn't take itself too seriously (cue that banjo!) and takes its design and accommodation cues from 1920s and 1930s America. The results are fascinating, fun, and unexpected. Our verdict: Cotton House is without question worth the price of admission.

With live music in a cellar restaurant (resembling a speakeasy, natch), a cigar lounge with humidors for rent, and double rooms with Jacuzzis, the Cotton House has some striking amenities on offer. And while it's not a budget find if you opt for extras like the on-site aqua fitness center membership, can be a bargain. Guests get much more for their money than hotels in this price category tend to offer in Budapest.

Be sure to book early, because rooms in the Cotton House (a Rick Steves' fave) go faster than ragtime swings.

Breakfast is included.