In a modern setting, a teenage girl finds herself at a monument dedicated to a writer in a cemetery, clutching a memoir by an enigmatic figure known as "The Author." As she begins to delve into the text, she becomes absorbed in a chapter recounting The Author's visit to the Grand Budapest Hotel in 1968.
Set in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka, a war-torn and impoverished European alpine nation, the Grand Budapest Hotel has seen better days. The once-glorious establishment now stands in disrepair, attracting only a handful of guests. One day, The Author meets the hotel’s elderly proprietor, Zero Moustafa (portrayed by Tony Revolori), who invites him to dinner that evening, where the two share the incredible story behind the hotel's legacy.
Zero begins his tale in 1932, during the hotel's heyday, when he served as a lobby boy. As the political climate grows tense with the looming threat of war, the dedicated concierge Gustave (played by Ralph Fiennes) continues to cater to the whims of the affluent guests. He’s renowned for his "exceptional service," particularly to older women who hang on his every word. Gustave's charm leads him to form a fleeting liaison with Madame Céline Villeneuve “Madame D” Desgoffe Und Taxis, a wealthy guest who, after their night together, unexpectedly passes away.
Upon her death, Gustave and Zero attend Madame D’s wake and are thrown into the midst of family drama regarding her will, which bequeaths Gustave a priceless painting known as Boy with Apple. This bequest enrages her family, particularly her son Dmitri Desgoffe Und Taxis, who feels cheated. Gustave’s troubles escalate when he’s wrongfully accused of Madame D's murder, pushed by the testimony of Serge X, her butler.
In a twist of fate, Gustave escapes imprisonment, aided by Zero, who smuggles in tools disguised within pastries crafted by his fiancée, Agatha. Together, the duo embarks on a quest to prove Gustave's innocence and uncover the truth surrounding the murder. Their journey leads them to a mountaintop monastery where they encounter Serge X, yet their plans take a dramatic turn when the merciless assassin, J.G. Jopling, sent by Dmitri, brutally murders Serge.
In a delightful yet dangerous escapade, Zero helps Gustave retrieve a stolen sled to chase down Jopling, culminating in a nail-biting confrontation at a cliff’s edge. Just as the tension mounts, Zero acts decisively, saving Gustave from imminent death.
As the storm of war looms, the hotel becomes a military outpost, and Gustave, heartbroken, maintains he will never enter it again. This leads to a chaotic clash with Dmitri when Agatha attempts to reclaim the valuable painting, culminating in a frantic showdown. The eventual discovery of a hidden will catalyzes Gustave's vindication, revealing that Madame D had intended to leave him not only the hotel but much of her fortune, cementing his place as a wealthy regular at the Grand Budapest Hotel.
Fast forward to a tense train journey, as enemy forces investigate their documents. Zero narrates Gustave’s fate, poignantly recounting his mentor’s brave sacrifice. Tragedy strikes as Agatha succumbs to illness, leaving Zero with a vast inheritance yet also a heavy heart. As Zubrowka faces a Communist upheaval, the hotel deteriorates alongside Zero, who grapples with letting go of his cherished memories tied to the hotel.
In his twilight, Zero confesses his emotional struggle to The Author, revealing he cannot bear to close the hotel, the last vestige of his joyous past. Eventually, The Author departs for South America, leaving behind the poignant echoes of their shared history. The girl, enthralled, continues to read the memoir in reverence before the statue of the elusive writer.
