Image by Szilva Eszter

Facades of classic cinemas with their black letters and neon commercials always impress me. The entrance of Szikra Cool Tour House opposite Nyugati station is one of these spots. The name of this complex institution is a Hunglish word pun: kultúrház (yes, to be pronounced Cool Tour House) means cultural center especially since the early socialist era where different events were organized from official celebrations to concerts of local choirs. Szikra’s programs are just as diverse.

Built in the 1920s, Szikra functioned as a cinema until the end of the 1990s. Its main sensation is the roof of its theatre room which can be opened and closed thanks to a clever machinery. When I was there last time at a Pecha Kucha night, the audience gathering to listen to designers and architects was just as amazed by discovering the starry night above their heads as cinema goers of the 1920s could have been. There’s something magical about sitting in a traditional theatre and watching the sky framed by golden stuccos.

Szikra admittedly goes against Budapest’s famous ruin bar trend by evoking a cabaret milieu. The ornate and shiny decors and the posh bar go perfectly with the atmosphere of the theatre. The program ranges from mainstream to alternative, from jazz concerts to independent theatre performances or DJ sets. The building houses a bar and bistro which you can reach from the street from as early as 8 o’clock in the morning. The snacks and drinks keep you sated until the show begins.

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Szikra | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Music, Snacks, Theaters | Espresso HUF 250
Budapest, 1066, Teréz krt. 62. | Central Pest | +3619110911
Sun – Tue 10:00 – 02:00, Wed – Thu 10:00 – 04:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 06:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by András Nagy

Stuff, lots of stuff. On the walls, on the lamps, on the doors. This is the first thing you notice and the collection of Babos Zsili Bertalan grabs your attention for at least a half an hour. Funny reinventions of Barbie dolls, toys, signs, a bike or a lifebuoy stare at you all over the place. Even the menu is a bit special, blackboards are used in many bars but this one is simply enormous. Click for photos.

They have a wise choice of location: off Múzeum körút, just 50 meters away from one of the biggest university campuses in Budapest – the place is packed day and night. The chaos on the walls, the eclectic variety of furniture create a mellow atmosphere but Csendes is not really quiet as the name would suggest. Live music and live acts entertain the guests who, according to the owners’ plans can easily get to know each other and spend quality time together in the ‘living space’ as the place defines itself.

The days of the week are scheduled for various programs: Mondays for films and photos, Tuesdays for old Hungarian music, Wednesdays live music, Thursdays dj-s vs. instruments, Fridays Balkan music, Saturdays apéro i.e. warm-up with aperitifs for the night and finally Sundays literature or theatre.

Relax a bit in Károlyi Gardens around the corner before coming inside to join the company.

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Csendes Létterem | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Music, Theaters, Festivals & events | Soproni beer HUF 480
Ferenczy István utca 5 | Central Pest | +36307588935
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 00:00, Sat 10:00 – 00:00, Sun 14:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Hélène Bienvenu

Trafó is the first name that comes to my mind when I think of alternative cultural centres in Budapest. It is located at the heart of the 9th disctrict (Ferencváros).

The place stands in a building which was once a power-station (a ‘Trafó’) left abandoned during Communism, to be squatted by French anarchists -well done guys!- at the beginning of the 90′s. The place got funding and official support later on: Trafó officially opened its doors in 1998.

The place really deserves its second name ‘the house of contemporary arts’. If you go downstairs, you’ll find an exhibition space, as well as a nightclub – Mappa (ex- bar-tango). Upstairs, that’s where the stage is.

Trafó has the most interesting and eclectic event-calendar ever. It works as a theatre, a concert-hall, a workshop area, a gallery… Contemporary dance companies regularly come to perform here, including Josef Nadj and Pal Franak. There’s been some concerns recently about Trafó’s ownership, hopefully there won’t be significant changes…

Though it hosts a variety of concerts, I’d say Trafó mostly features world and oriental music. Big names show up quite regularly actually. Last year I got to see Mohammad Motamedi (Iranian classical music), recently I saw the Gundecha brothers (on the picture) as Trafó and Tilos radio sometimes put together classical Indian music master classes.

There’s also a café (with wifi), where to have a drink before and after the shows. In fact, Trafó is an open-place, it has a bit of everything for everyone, not only for contemporary art freaks!

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Trafó | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Theaters | Ticket from HUF 1000
Liliom utca 41 | Central Pest | +3614562040
Box office Mon – Fri 16:00 – 20:00, Sat – Sun 17:00 – 20:00 (till 22.00 on performances’ days).

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Hélène Bienvenu

Merlin színház (theatre) embodies Budapest creative spirit at its best. It was initially established in 1991 in a turn-of-the century elegant building right in the centre of the city (by Deak tér).

Merlin theatre is the only permanent English theatre. It regularly hosts plays by foreign theatre companies. Knowing that Hungarian is a very tricky non indo-European language, Merlin is the only theatre foreigners can actually enjoy going to as other national or local theatres don’t usually have foreign-language performances!

But there is another reason to go to Merlin. First, it also has a café – restaurant with wifi on the top floor. Second, as it happens a lot in the city, there is a B side to Merlin! On the weekends and party days (namely Thursday, Friday, Saturday in Budapest), the place is taken over by Djs’, VDJ’s (visual light Djs) and arty followers. It can be pretty crowed after midnight especially when foreign Djs come over to perform.

So if you like electro Djs and VJs in general, Merlin is the place to go!

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Merlin theatre | Art & culture, Bars, Theaters, Festivals & events | Party HUF 1000
Gerlóczy utca 4 | Central Pest | +3613179338
Party Fri – Sat 21:00 – till late (closed in Summer)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Hélène Bienvenu

Budapest cultural heart now beats in Ferencváros, a former industrial district of Budapest. Well at least it is true for the Pest side of the Lágymányosi bridge, where lots of things happen since the opening up of MUPA in 2005, and right in front of it, of the National Theatre (in 2000).

The district is often overlooked by visitors as it is not exactly in the centre but you should really consider going, it’s not far at all (tram 2 goes from Jászai Mari tér up to Millenáris kulturális központ, it’s a 15′ ride). Architecturally wise the two buildings belong to the modern – not to say hypermodern – genre but forget about the aesthetics and have a look at the programs instead!

MUPA means “the palace of arts” in Hungarian and indeed, that’s what it is. This enormous cultural complex is home to two concert-halls and to the Ludwig múzeum – Hungarian contemporary arts museum (highly recommended).

MUPA has a broad, exceptionally good and busy musical offer. Not only does it host operas and classical musical concerts led by world-famous conductors, it also features folk, world and jazz concerts and even dance performances. Big stars such as Cesaria Evora, Bregovic, Adam Fischer, Natacha Atlas… have been seen on stage at MUPA.

Note that with your student card you can get in for 500 Ft an hour before (valid for concerts played in Béla Bartók National concert hall and at the Festival Theatre). A real bargain (but you may not get a proper seat)!

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MUPA – MŰVÉSZETEK PALOTÁJA | Art & culture, Music, Shopping, Theaters, Festivals & events | Performance from HUF 1 500
Komor Marcell utca 1 | Central Pest | +3615553300
10:00 – 22:00 daily (no concerts/performances in summer)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest