Brilliant Budapest

Just arrived home from a visit to Budapest, which was rather brilliant.  I had very little prior knowledge of the city, but went equipped with a top ten list, and the overwhelming desire to visit a restaurant called Cafe New York, proclaimed as 'the most beautiful cafe in the world'.

We stayed for four nights, at the Easy hotel centrally located in oktogon, this was perfectly basic, perfectly located, and perfectly priced at £87 for a double room, en suite, for the entire stay.

One of the best things about Budapest for me was how we stumbled across amazing buildings, cafes, bars and clubs, without any research and ended up in the prettiest and most unique places.

I just wanted to share a few of the places we visited.

There's undeniably a strong cafe culture, and beautiful cafes literally line the streets of Budapest. My favourites (in the style of Carrie, SATC, in Paris) were Művész Kávéház, est 1898, a really pretty, grand cafe, decked out with amazing chandeliers and perfectly formed cakes. 

One of the most memorable cafes, is at the top of a former Paris Department Store, currently a waterstones style bookstore, the sharp contrast between modern bookstore and beautiful neo-reneissance ball room is breathtaking. There was a pianist and a great dessert selection. 

Ruin pubs, are something new to me, they are old buildings that seem like former factories, that are deliberately left unfinished and decorated with art installations, unique art works and offer live music.  We visited several of these, everyone of these from the outside was a little spooky and odd, however once inside they feel artsy and have a great vibe.  They are known to close down and move locations over night, therefore they're exciting to discover.

Sufni G'art'n

Fogas Ház and szputnyik pop up shop....   This place has an amazing court yard, with an out door bar, bbq and lots of giant, vibrant 3D lips hang from the buildings. This is attached to a club and the vintage shop Szputnyik, loved the jewellery and accessories, which I visited for a late night cocktail induced spree.  

Instant... Instant was recommended to us and was easily my favourite ruinpub, there were so so so many rooms, all with the theme of an enchanted forest.  Rabbits running across the ceiling, a breasted owl, there was a display of family portraits with the odd persons head displayed as an animal.  Pleasantly strange, an adults drunken Disney.

 

And finally, Cafe New York, I absolutely loved this place, it was a real treat, there were so many thoughtful touches.  On arrival staff place handbag hooks on diner's tables, as a handbag lover I adored this, the staff were so sycronised each course laid out delicately and each persons plate placed on the table at exactly the same time, each course was described thoroughly once placed on the table.  I opted for a wine tasting menu, which literally changed my opinion on the purpose of wine, this wine really did complement each course.  The interior of the building was amazing, and there was a brilliant atmosphere created by a pianist who played classical versions of the Beatles, Disney and Abba, not what you'd expect, but I really enjoyed it.  This meal was the final thing we did in Budapest and has left me defiantly wanting to return.