Ungarn

Living in Budapest for a year starting in August 2012 was a highlight of my life.  Unfortunately, it's all been downhill since dictator Orban took over.  Since I have zero desire to visit dictatorships, I haven't returned since reunion 2014.  I'm sure everyone says this about any place in which they lived and loved, but I feel that my year in Budapest was the last golden year for the city.

Budapest

Top Hits:

Ket Szerecsen and the Fagola gelato cafe across the street.  Ket has something for everyone with mediterranean, international, and Hungarian fare.  I love the vegetarian tapas and always have huge indecisiveness choosing amongst the delicious entrees.  To drink, get the house lemon tea.

Koleves has delicious food with creative dishes and a nice assortment for vegetarians.

A Table - excellent boulangerie et patisserie!  My favorite is the pistachio pain and my mom's is the almond.  Excellent savory items too - like the ham & cheese croissant or croque monsieur!!

Restaurants:

  • Paprika - my go-to for Hungarian because it's not in tourist center, the menu is huge and diverse, the service is very friendly, and the interior is cozy like a mountain lodge.  I always get the spicy noodles with chicken and the portion usually lasts me two meals!
  • Millennium de Pippo
  • Trattoria Pomo D’oro /Gastronomie Pomo D’oro
  • TG Italiano
  • Thai place on Jokai Ter
  • Rivalda

Cafes:

  • Alexandra
  • Museum
  • Gerbeaud (and pub w house beer)
  • Central
  • New York Café
  • Café Kor
  • Déryné Bisztró
  • Fuger Kave

Bars:

  • Kiado - my favorite place for a liter!  I spent many a night here before I had wifi in my apt eating chicken caesar salad and washing it down with a liter.
  • Most - my favorite place for chicken tikka masala and naan bread.  Love the cozy interior in winter and the outdoor picnic tables in summer.
  • Pántlika Bisztró in City Park
  • Szimpla Kert - das Originial ruin pub
  • Tundergyar (great draft selection, garden)
  • Anker & Ankert
  • City Park Beer Tent http://www.sorsator.com/
  • Corvinteto - best place for a rooftop view.
  • Kisüzem (Kis Diófa Utca 2)
  • Durer Kert
  • Kertem
  • Spíler (Hungarian artisanal beer)
  • Akvarium
  • Boutiq Bar (cocktails)
  • Illegal
  • Pótkulcs
  • Otkert
  • Instant
  • Toldi
  • A38
  • Pater Marcus (house beer)
  • Ferdinand Monarchia (house beer)
  • Kaltenberg (house beer)
  • Dunaparti Matroz Kocsma (house beer)

Sights & Activities:

Day Trips:

Szentendre via bike (restaurant: Promenade)

Eger (overnight)

Balaton (overnight; Balatonfüred: Flamingo or Anna Grand hotels; Siofok: Mala Garden)

Brunch:

  • Ket Szerecsen, bottles of sparkling wine run about 4500ft (good breakfast menu, but only til 11:30)
  • http://www.villa-bagatelle.hu/villa_bagatelle_en - venture to Buda burbs, but close to Deli station: 1126 Budapest, Németvölgyi út 17., Hungary
  • Gellert Hotel Sunday buffet brunch and unlimited drinks for ~5oooft – could be followed by baths… soak in heated outdoor pool
  • Most, bottles o bubbly 3500ft, cheap house wine
  • Kiado, cheap eats, but bottles of champagne??
  • Le Meridien (8400ft) and the Hilton (in Buda, 7590ft) have pricey, but unlimited drink & buffet brunch on Sunday 
  • Gerlóczy Kávéház - near Deák: http://www.gerloczy.hu/locate/
  • Bobek - has big garden courtyard, near Kazinczy & Kiraly:  http://www.bobek.hu/kapcsolat.html
  • Déryné Bisztró: http://www.bistroderyne.com/your-bistro.html

Shopping:

Massimo Dutti & Deák Ferenc u.

Andrassy

Last updated in 2014.