It consisted of a classical score emulating Central European regions and utilized exotic instruments from the country, particularly the balalaika, which formed the musical core.

[5] For The Grand Budapest Hotel, composer Alexandre Desplat was tasked with creating a score that articulated the Republic of Zubrowka, a fictional country in Central Europe, that represented an amalgamation of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Russia, and Germany.

[24] Sean Wilson from Music Files called it as "one of the most accessible" from the composer's works, that "possessed of a character that's effervescent, odd and surprisingly touching in equal measure".

[25] In a four-star rating, James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "While the music may feel like a relatively light meal compared with Desplat’s more usual banquets, it’s so perfectly judged it’s actually very fulfilling and if you’re one of the people it catches, you’ll find yourself frequently returning for more.

"[26] Gissane Sophia of Marvelous Geeks Media wrote "With a brilliant mixture of fun and steadily slow, the soundtrack is one of Desplat’s most outstanding pieces to date and a Wes Anderson original score that won’t be forgotten anytime soon".

"[28] Filmtracks.com gave a three-star rating saying, "this smirk-inducing score has much to love and much to loathe, and it is the type of work that really has to be appreciated in context to avoid possible acceleration of any mental disorders you might be predisposed to having.

[30] Justin Chang of Variety, commented that Desplat "has concocted an unusually inventive score that combines a wide range of Central and Eastern European instruments, reaching a delirious crescendo toward the end of the closing credits.