Central Pest – Local festivals & events

I know, it’s kind of weird to blog about a blog, but sometimes it is silly not to. This is true of www.chew.hu. Chew.hu is devoted to Hungarian food and wine- and it’s in English! This is one of the things that makes it different from other Hungarian-only sites. Chew.hu is definitely not one of those usual boring review blogs about the tired restaurants one finds on the web. Chew.hu really has bite!

Where do I start to tell you what I love about it…For one thing- Chew.hu is dead serious about food and caters to ‘foodies’, among others- but it can also be irreverent- check out some of the comments to the articles. Chew is done with a sense of humor- the articles are focused on food, but not at the expense of fun. Chew.hu is also always up to date- so I can get the latest news about restaurants, as well as about all kinds of food and drink festivals that happen in Budapest regularly.

Chew.hu covers all of Hungary, but there is plenty of Budapest-focused information- and not just about restaurants. There is a great recipe section with an explanation about each dish, featuring some very Hungarian things like tripe stew…that I have never dared to make, but might try now.

If you’re like me and you’re thinking about the FOOD on your next trip, and you want the truth, get your tips from Chew.hu before landing in Budapest.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Chew.hu | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing, Snacks, Festivals & events
Clark Adam Ter | Central Pest
24 hours daily

If you take a look at the homepage of the OSA Archives, you will find the descriptions of various collections and ongoing exhibitions. From the organizing of the Verzio Human Rights Film Festival to the film club of the Budapest Gay Pride the OSA is engaged with various civil activities.

The house belonged to the Goldberger family and finally got to its present shape in 1909. The family owned a textile-factory in Óbuda. They wanted to have a representative central office downtown. After different turning points in history (German invasion, the Holocaust after that the socialist nationalization of the whole company) when the building was even empty for years the Archive chose it to be its center building.

Luckily it has a cafeteria as well, but it became a spot of the foreign professors and tourists much more than locals. In case you are still interested give them a try. The sandwiches are definitely not the main attractions of the house, rather check out the temporary exhibitions.

If you stay for a longer term in Hungary, apply for a researcher card which is absolutely free and a helpful English speaking staff can guide you through the visual and written materials of Hungarian history.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Goldberger OSA Archives | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Festivals & events | Free
Arany János utca 32. | Central Pest | +3613273250
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 17:45

Hungarians like food. They also like tales of food. Kőleves or StoneSoup Restobar takes its name after an old folk tale that explains the art of making a soup out of a bare stone. The place is as interesting as its name with a playful and imaginative decor that, as the story of the stone soup, creates something from nothing (lamps out of cheese graters, for example…). It is located in the middle of the 7th district, the historical Jewish quarter where every house could tell a story.

As far as the food goes some of my favourite are Matzo Flodni (Jewish Matzo cake layered with walnuts, apple and poppy seeds), Sólet (Jewish baked beans with smoked goose meat and boiled egg) on Fridays and Saturdays, Túrógombóc (cottage cheese dumplings with sour cream, honey and cinnamon) or simply cold fruit soup. You can get daily menu for 900 HUF. Locals of all ages love to either just drop by and pretend to work hard on their laptops or meet friends or watch the weary explorers of Budapest finding their way to the bar as well.

The place gets to be busy in the evenings so it might be a good idea to make a reservation. Every Tuesday at 21:00 there is a Jazz concert (entrance fee 900 HUF) and you can check their website for more info on the events. Once you are there check the walls as well, local artists regularly exhibit there.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kőleves | Art & culture, Bars, Festivals & events, Restaurants (Jewish) | Main from HUF 1500
Kazinczy u. 35 | Central Pest | +3613221011
12:00 – 00:00 daily