Budapest, Hungary Guide - - Hotels, Restaurants, Nightlife - Classic Travel
Budapest is divided by the Danube River; the western bank is Buda, the historic area, while the other, Pest, is where the majority of the shopping, government and commercial districts are found. Between them there are hundreds of monuments, museums, galleries, theatres, and concert halls . This city, rich in history with a vibrant cultural heritage, is a must for the serious and curious traveler. The "Queen of the Danube" is also referred to the city of spas. There are a dozen thermal bath complexes served by over 100 natural thermal springs. The culinary scene is reaching new heights here with more and more wonderful restaurants to choose from.
Activities
Hungarian State Opera House 22 Andrássy út, VI Tel. 361.331.2550 www.opera.hu Newly renovated, this 1300-seat auditorium has been home to some of the country’s most talented entertainers. For a relaxing evening with a loved one, Hungarian State Opera House is the best spot to spend time with him or her in Budapest.
Gellert Baths XI. Kelenhegyi út 2-4. Tel. 361.466.61.66 A personal favorite of both residents and non-residents, these baths offer a traditional Turkish experience. Fueled by hot springs located underneath the building, a mix of hot and cold temperatures guarantees its in-pool guests a relaxing experience. Non-swimmers can pay 500 HUF to take look around the beautiful mosaic-studded entrance hall and take a glace at the pool. A vaulted glass roof tops the art nouveau main hall and elegant Roman-style columns support the gallery surrounding the pool.
Guided Boat tour on the Danube Pier 7, Danube bank near Vigadó tér Tel: 36.1.317 2203 http://www.legenda.hu/a_home/a_home.html Take in a splendid view of the Capital, enjoy seeing the city lit up at night or make it a romantic evening - a cruise down this main waterway.
Milonga Opera Try tango dancing on Fridays at the Holgyvalasz Dance Studio in Milonga Opera. Candlelight illuminates the dancehall as couples dance the night away.
Varga Imre Gyujtemeny (Imre Varga Collection) III. Laktanya u. 7 Tel. 1.250.0274 http://www.museum.hu/search/museum_en.asp?id=88 Dedicated to one of Hungary’s most renowned contemporary sculptors, Imre Varga Museum showcases a large selection of his work.
Hosok tere (Heroes' Square) Pest At the entrance of City Park lies one of the great historical sites of Hungary. Once a host to the Socialist celebrations, Heroes’ Square has endured revolutions and reconstruction. On a trip here, be sure to check out the Magyar tribal leader statues, which were reconstructed in 1996 for the 1,100th year anniversary of the Magyar Conquest. Heroes’ Square is also close to the Museum of Fine Arts and Exhibition Hall.
Dining
Csalogany 26 Csalogany utca 26, 1st Tel. +36.1.201.7892 www.csalogany26.hu This trattoria has been gaining a reputation with foodies since it first opened. A closed-circuit, flat-screen monitor in the dining room shows the chefs preparing your dinner, the wine list has some great Hungarian varietals, but it's the really tender breast of guinea that everyone raves about.
Gundel XIV Allatkerti ut 2 Tel. +36.1.468.4040 www.gundel.hu This beautiful restaurant in the city park first opened in 1894. Purchased in 1991 by George Lang and Ronald S. Lauder, Gundel was beautifully restored, and now the quintessential Hungarian restaurant’s decor lives up to its cuisine. Along with the delicious food, they also have roving gypsy musicians that play while you eat.
Arany Kaviar Ostrum utca 19, 1st Tel. +36.1.201.6737 www.aranykaviar.hu Yearning for caviar and homemade Russian food? Then come to this 19th century bourgeois-themed restaurant. Arany Kaviar is intimate and always scrumptious and consistently considered one of the best restaurants in Budapest.
Pomo D'Oro B.Arany Janos utca 9 Tel. +36.1.302.6473 www.pomodorobudapest.com Pomo D’Oro is a sophisticated restaurant focusing on pizza and pasta and is frequented by many of the knowledgeable locals. With daily menu changes, the chef always strives to be creative. Great wine list as well. Live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Abazint VI., +Andrassy ut 34 Tel. 36.1.301.0844 www.abszint.hu Situated on what looks like a Parisian street, Abzint serves the French cuisine to match. Only the freshest produce is used while the ambiance is relaxed and friendly. Expect live accordion music to accompany your dining experience.
Baraka Magyar utca 12-15 Tel. +36.1.483.1355 www.barakarestaurant.hu Opened in 2001, this is considered by many to be Budapest's best restuarant. The international menu changes daily while the service remains excellent. Popular with the local celebrities!
Vadrozsa Pentelei Molnar utca 15 Tel. +36.1.326.5817 www.vadrozsa.hu The mansion setting has a romantic, Old World garden terrace to complement Vadrozsa’s elegant and delectable food. With this combination you can't go wrong.
Déryné Bistro
Krisztina tér 3, 1st
Tel. +36.1.225.1407
www.cafederyne.hu
A warm and inviting atmosphere with a open fire, Déryné Bistro is a great place for a quiet and romantic evening. They serve light and fresh fare such as Bresaola carpaccio and vegetable julienne in an incredibly fashionable and hip setting, making the old world restaurants seem a bit passé.
Kerék Vendéglö
Bécsi út 103, 3rd
Tel. +36.1.250.4261
www.kerekvendeglo.hu
If you want the classic early 20th century Hungarian experience, then it doesn't get better than Kerék Vendéglö. Located in Óbuda (Old Buda), it maintains a family-oriented feel and serves classic Hungarian dishes like paprika chicken and bean soup with bacon and ham. The tables are set up in old stables and during the summer, there is a beautiful garden to enjoy.
Bagolyvár Étterem
Gundel Károly út, 14th
Tel. +36.1.468.3110
www.bagolyvar.com
With a name that translates into the “Owl's Castle,” it's appropriate that this restaurant is right next to the beautiful Budapest zoo. All the food is prepared in a traditional fashion and by women only. Their menu changes daily and during the summer, many people will visit the zoo after their meals since the restaurant offer free tickets to its visitors. They also offer cooking lessons for 5 or 10 people where they teach traditional Hungarian cooking.
Cafè Kör
Sas utca 17, 5th
Tel. +36.1.311.0053
www.cafekor.com
An incredibly pleasant and fashionable restaurant, Cafè Kör creates a relaxing atmosphere for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With a menu sporting such dishes as pörkölt (meat stew), goulash, roast turkey escalope with apricots and caramel-sesame sauce, and foi gras with apples and blueberries, you are bound to eat to your hearts content. Enjoy the dining room with its vaulted ceilings, green lamps, and armchairs to drink coffee and read a newspaper in.
Costes Restaurant
Ráday utca 4, 11th
Tel. 36.1.219.0696
www.costes.hu
A favorite of the capital's young, scholarly and international minded citizens, Costes Restaurant is the first starred restaurant in Budapest. With an impressive wine list, chef Miguel Rocha Vieira makes traditional Hungarian food with a French influence. Dishes include lobster ravioli with Aquitaine caviar, foie gras drizzled with Blue Mountain Coffee, and they also include a children's and vegetarians' menu as well.
Mák Bistro
Vigyázó Ferenc utca 4, 5
Tel. 36.1.30.723.9383
www.makbistro.com
Focusing on fresh and local ingredients, Mák Bistro makes offers contemporary takes on tradition Hungarian and Austro-Hungarian cuisine. Decorated in a casual but elegant style, they offer their take on classics such as sautéed foie gras on a bed of rhubarb flavored with a hint of Tonka bean, pig's ear with beets and pomegranate, and a poppy see tart with Bourbon-vanilla ice cream.
Shopping
Fleischer Nagymezo utca 7 (Pest) Tel. 1.267.4756 Step back in time for the perfect handcrafted shirt. Choose from different fabrics and get fitted measurements from a great old-fashioned tailor.
Sandor Gyor Petofi Sandor utca 3 (Pest) Tel. 1.317.4721
Sandov Gyor, creates the finest footwear out of lambskin; custom-made shoes that feel as if they were taken from a previous era.
Tango Vaci utca 8 (Pest) Tel. 1.318.9741
At this true cultural boutique, customers can dress like a member of the Hungarian aristocracy with Tango’s tunics and silk vests from imperial days gone by.
Wladis Galeria Falk Miksa utca 13 (Pest) Tel. 1.354.0834 www.wladisgaleria.hu
Beautiful, curved shapes define the jewelry available at Wladis Galeria. Large and simple designs made of amber and semiprecious stones rule the impressive display cases.
West End City Center 1062 Budapest. Vaci ut 1-3 Tel. 238.7777 www.westend.hu
West End City Center is one of the largest shopping establishments in Hungary that has sprung up in recent years.
Central Market Halls V. Vamhaz korut 1-3
This famous neo-Gothic market hall offers a variety of stalls selling everything from folk-art inspired products to food.
Ecseri Flea Market 1194 Nagykőrosi ut 156
Hungary has always been famous for its traditional flea markets. Sometimes known under "Tango," Ecseri Flea Market stretches over four-acres and offers everything imaginable.
Resorces
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Csillaghegy Swimming Pool and Lido III. Pusztukuti at 3. Tel. 36.1.250.1533
When in Budapest, do as the Hungarians do: be sure to explore the spas and baths. Csillaghegy is the oldest lido in Budapest open both in winter and summer. With three pools, it is located in a park and complete with a restaurant close by for hungry swimmers.
Lukacs Medicinal Baths II. Frankel Leu u. 25-29
Thought of as a place for local intellectuals and artists to gather since the 1950’s, Lukacs recalls grand Hungarian history with its atmosphere of marble tablets and inner courtyards and offers a place to relax with the thermal pools and spa center.
Hungarian National Tourist Office www.hungary.com
Get a cross section of tourism opportunities for the whole nation, click on ‘Explore the Regions’ to get Budapest.
Budapest Resources www.budapestresources.com
This site is geared more toward people moving to Hungary or looking to rent a more permanent dwelling. Budapest Resources lists doctors, dentists, banks, English language lessons and more.
Budapest Sun www.budapestsun.com This English language weekly can be found at newsstands and hotels.
Nightlife
Szimpa Kert Kazinczy ut 14 Tel. +36.1.352.4198 www.szimpla.hu A large space with concrete floors and furniture, Szimpa Kert always has something interesting going on. This site hosts everything from concerts to movies to club nights with a lot of other things in between. Call or go to their website to check out exactly what they have planned for the evening.
Piaf Klub Nagymezo utca 25 Tel. +36.1.708.3166 http://www.facebook.com/PIAF.CLUB One of the hottest clubs in Budapest, Piaf Klub keeps going when all the clubs have called it a night. One room is lounge area which is usually accompanied by live piano music. If you are still in the mood for dancing, check out their cellar where they play the usual club music that keeps the party going.
Fel 10 Jazz Klub VIII. Baross u. 30 Featuring live jazz every night, Fel 10 Jazz Klub is a classy getaway for those seeking relief from thumping discos and teenagers. Know that they don't have a website or a public telephone number, but they are considered one of the most consistent clubs in Budapest.
Fat Mo's Nyary Pal utca 11 Tel. 1.267.3199 www.fatmo.hu Who said speakeasys could only be in American? Fat Mo’s, a prohibition-themed bar with 14 different draft beers, is popular with many locals, tourists and expats. It as extensive cocktails and décor to match its theme. Live jazz and blues five nights a week.
A38 Hajó (Buda side of the Danube) Petöfi híd, Pázmány Péter sétány Tel. +36.1.464.3940 www.a38.hu This multi-use space that host a wide variety events was once a Urkanian river barge. Now, it's become a standard on the Budapest nightlife scene. Voted the "World's Greatest Bar" by a Lonely Planet readers poll in 2012, A38 Hajó hosts concerts by both local and international bands, conferences, and lectures. The top deck has a restuarant which serves Hungarian and fusion food along with vegatarian selections as well. During the warmer seasons, the terrace becomes an open air bar and dance club.
Boutiq'Bar Paulay Ede utca 5, Pest, 6th Tel. +36.1.554.2323 www.boutiqbar.hu Though mixology still has not become a trend in Hungary, Boutiq'Bar is trying to change that. The head bartender Zoltan Nagy, who trained in Spain and the U.K., likes to mix things up be offering an ever changing array of cocktails. He even has various theme nights where both expatirates and cosmopolitan Hungarians come to enjoy Nagy's creativety.
Szoda Wesselenyi u. 18 Tel. +36.1.461.0007 www.szoda.com Great atmospheric dance club where the DJ's spin the hits till late.
Excursions
Children's Railway www.gyermekvasut.com| This train that heads to the Buda hills (one hour) is unique in that it actually employs local children who take tickets, make the annoucements and do eveything short of driving the engine. It's a great little excursion especially in the summer.
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