Image by András Nagy

Every once in a while you may feel like you want to get out of the city, not too far, just to feel the green love of Mother Nature. Although Buda is greener with all its hills, the Pest side also has a forest to discover – Farkaserdő.

While the name suggests this forest would be the home of wolves, I haven’t met any yet. But there is a variety of tree and forest types ranging from a dark oak forest to a clear, mixed poplar and pine park forest. On the Western side of the forest there is a swampy open area, a nature reserve which you can cross using the network of narrow paths.

Geographically this side of the city belongs to the Pest plain and is built on sand. You can explore all the original natural features of a sandy plain here without having to travel far away.

The forest is just the right place for running, biking, it has a little technical track for mountain bikers (and there’s also a bike park nearby, at the crossing of Farkaserdő and Óceánárok streets). In late spring I usually come here to pick some elderflowers and acacia flowers, put them in water for a few days and they make a wonderful drink. If the weather allows, you can use the fireplaces available for grilling.

Click here for more photos.

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Farkaserdő | Relaxing | Free
Farkaserdő utca | Outer Pest
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Eszter Szilva

Cukorka means candy in Hungarian and from December it also refers to one of the coolest places in Budapest where you can indulge in sugary delights and the stunning design and idea behind this tiny candy shop. It’s always inspiring to see places like this being born in Budapest.

The vivid red walls almost shocked me when I entered the candy shop but everything gets calmer in the other corner where candies are made on a sterile steel counter in front of bright white tiles. Behind there is a row of transparent bottles with flavor and color materials which made me feel like I came across some secret laboratory. And that’s pretty much the case because all the candies are made here by hand according to less-known, traditional recipes from abroad and from Hungary as well.

You can choose from at least ten-fifteen different tastes of candies and lollipops ranging from cinnamon to piña colada, all made on the spot by the friendly staff. If you have difficulties picking your favorite (which I had, of course), tasting  them at the counter might help you out. Cukorka also organizes “candy shows”, when you can get an idea how these sweet little treats are made.

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Cukorka | Shopping, Snacks | Pack of candies HUF 900
Múzeum körút 7 | Central Pest
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 15:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Eszter Szilva

Although there were massive protests for saving Tűzraktér, a ruin bar and cultural center in the seventh district, the place had to go this summer because of severe disputes with the municipality. Fortunately, the crew did not give up their cultural mission and they transported the popular squat-like place into Buda’s Király Bath. Vízraktér is thus a fruitful marriage of Budapest’s two iconic features: ruin pubs (check the Szimpla kert article) and bath culture (check the Dandár fürdő article). I really hope that this one will last longer that Tűzraktér’s previous liaisons.

The organizers stick to the original idea of freedom of arts and culture, but they set off to create a whole new concept this time, merging alternative culture and the tranquil world of thermal baths. When you enter the place through the main entrance of the bath, you immediately feel the smell of the healing water and the warm steam. Turning left, there is a nice little terrace which leads to the Termál bár, a bar and café resembling a Turkish hamam. This place is simply magical (see some really nice photos here), something I have never seen before.

The programs of Vízraktér are versatile. They have really good film clubs screening rarely seen movies (for example Turkish films), theatrical performances, small concerts, public readings and literary events. Moreover, they have already organized a cookie baking contest for the local seniors! 

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Vízraktér | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Music, Theaters | Espresso HUF 290
Fő utca 84. | Central Buda
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Eszter Szilva

A beer garden during spring and summer and an ice rink in the cold months, Jégkert tailors itself to the seasonal needs. This spot is located just opposite Mamut shopping centre in Buda but it’s completely hidden behind a bus station and a restaurant.

Jégkert is a regular ice skating rink with a roofed rink, dressing rooms and, of course, mulled wine. It’s small and not as impressive as Budapest’s main ice skating rink in Városliget, but that’s precisely its charm (by the way, the famous Városliget one is supposed to reopen this winter after a three-year-long renovation!)

I suggest taking a look at the schedule whether the rink is open to the public. Jégkert is home for children hockey teams as well so you might come across a bunch of kindergarten hockey players. Most of the time, early afternoons are free, and you’re free to skate during the whole weekend. It’s possible to rent skates as well. The opening time is flexible: on weekends you can ride your skate as late as two o’ clock in the evening.

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Jégkert | Relaxing | Entrance adults HUF 1250
Széna tér | Central Buda | +36703352553
07:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Eszter Szilva

This is a place which you’d probably never come across accidentally, unless you get lost on your way to the nearby Children’s railway which is a popular spot for relaxing. Located in Hegyvidék district up in the hills of Buda, Moholy-Nagy University of Arts and Design (MOME) is outside the regular path of tourists, but worth a trip, especially if you’re interested in arts and design. Or just want to discover the greener side of Budapest which makes a striking contrast to downtown’s bustle.

The campus is a nice park, which is full of surprises. No wonder, as there are lot of inspiring artists here. You can bump into photos or other art objects randomly displayed. Just as every university buffets, MOME’s canteen (open to the public) is also noisy, people sit by their laptops or chat with each other. The red wooden benches and the industrial design makes this place a bit similar to the popular bars in the Pest side. The food comes in menus, or you can order pizza as well. The walls are full of design related program flyers which might help if you’re up to an exhibition or a party. The place also functions as a café with a nice terrace decorated by colorful graffitis.

The canteen is actually the ground floor of the dorm, a building which reminds me more of a guest house in the mountains than a regular university building. It’s a perfect place to have a break and absorb the laid-back atmosphere.

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MOME Kantin | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Menu from HUF 650
Zugligeti út 9 | Outer Buda
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Eszter Szilva

After passing Oktogon and walking down Andrássy street, it’s not so easy to find a nice café. This problem is partly solved by Ecocafé which was opened this year on Budapest’s famous avenue. The name is telling, you’ve guessed it, the café offers organic and fair trade coffee plus healthy home-baked snacks. Budapest’s slowly discovering the power of organic…

Biking home from Városliget park, I came across this spot randomly as the little terrace with flowers caught my attention. Stepping inside, I was impressed by the large, bright and modern space. Although everything is new and look somewhat sterile (especially if I compare it to my favorite places in Budapest), the kind waiters, the peaceful music and the calming combination of white, green and brown colors always make me feel relaxed. The place is mostly full of foreign students studying in Budapest, or tourists and locals heading to Városliget for a relaxing stroll.

The coffee is excellent, a blend of Guatemalan, Brazilian and Ethiopian beans. Cappuccino goes well with some cakes for baguettes, all of them made here. Those on the healthy side can choose wheat grass juice, or ask for soy milk with the coffee.

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Ecocafé | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Espresso HUF 330
Andrássy út 68 | Outer Pest
Mon – Fri 07:30 – 20:00, Sat – Sun 08:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Eszter Szilva

El Rapido has introduced a pretty unusual combination to the bar scene of the seventh district. It’s a taco buffet and a deli upstairs, plus a flea market bar in the cellar where everything you see is on sale.

Located in the busy Kazinczy street, El Rapido offers cheap and fast tacos and other Mexican-like fast food. The target group is clear: mainly those who arrive late in the evening from the neighborhood’s clubs and bars. As El Rapido is a deli as well, the shelves are packed with international food such as curry sauces, exotic spices and Mexican beers. 

While the small buffet is mostly crowded with people waiting for their snacks, downstairs you’ll enter a much more tranquil place. The smoky cellar bar is full of old tables, chairs and seemingly useless but funny retro gadgets, books and other bric-a-bracs. It feels a bit like sitting in a storage. That sort of a storage where you can choose from forty different types of Mexican tequilas… The slogan is the following: you can buy anything here. So if you feel that your chair is perfectly comfy, you just have to bargain a nice price and be happy with your Budapest souvenir.

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El Rapido | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Taco al pastor HUF 600
Budapest, 1075, Kazinczy utca 10. | Central Pest | +36302792861
Mon – Tue 11:30 – 02:00, Wed – Fri 11:30 – 03:00, Sat 12:00 – 04:00, Sun 17:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Szilva Eszter

Just a corner from busy Múzeum street, the noise of the traffic is suddenly replaced by a happy mix of children’s laughter and clatter. It comes from Károlyi kert, one of the hidden parks of downtown Budapest quite similar to the city garden of Honvéd tér.

This wonderfully kept park has two large groups of regular guests who live side by side without any quarrels. Kids coming from the nearby schools or with their parents enjoy the playgrounds while university students take the benches. Located in the vicinity of the art and law faculties of ELTE university, students often arrive here to breathe some fresh air between the lectures. When I studied at ELTE, I often bought take-out lunch the nearby organic shop and buffet and ate it sitting here.

The park used to be a garden of the neighboring Károlyi palace, now housing The Museum of Literature Petőfi, until it was turned into a public park in the thirties. I was happy to discover that recently, a nice café and vine bar opened at one of the park’s corner, which installed a little terrace in directly at the entrance of the park. It’s nice to continue hanging out there after Károlyi kert closes. Every day strictly at sunset.

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Károlyi kert | Relaxing | Free
Károlyi Mihály utca 16. | Central Pest
Daily from 08.00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Szilva Eszter

Látomás started out as a second-hand clothes shop thirteen years ago but now they already have three venues in Budapest, selling unique garments by small fashion labels. The three stores are a bit different in their style but one thing is common: each of them offers carefully selected clothes for those who had enough of mass produced items.

Látomás, meaning vision or fantasy in Hungarian, is something between a designer store and a multinational chain where you’ll find unique clothes at a rather reasonable price.

My favorite Látomás boutique is in Király utca where I always come across something attractive in the huge display windows which makes me enter. Inside there’s a small and tidy shop full of simple classics, elegant and minimalistic shirts, graphic T-shirts, casual jackets, leggings, trousers, dresses, and basically everything you need to look stylish. This winter I’d opt for the smooth knitwear lining the walls.

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Látomás | Shopping | Shirts HUF 4000
1077 Bp. Király utca 39. | Central Pest | +3612672158
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 19:30, Sat 11:00 – 16:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest

Image by Eszter Szilva

Indian restaurants are not abound in Budapest. However, there are some nice venues for those craving a spicy tikka or dahl. You just have to find them. My favorite one, Punjab, is not really easy to come across. I discovered this small restaurant behind Vígszínház theatre only a couple of years ago but since then I’m a regular guest there. Especially since I moved to the neighborhood and I always pass the spot which smells of Indian spices from far away.

Punjab is not a posh and trendy restaurant at all. The plastic entrance which separates the kitchen downstairs and the tables upstairs is probably the worst restaurant design which I have ever seen. But that doesn’t matter because the food is amazing. As experts in Indian gastronomy always emphasize, there’s no such a thing as “Indian cuisine”, because each region has its own tastes. Punjab offers food mostly from the northwestern region of India such as different meats baked in the traditional Tandoor oven. Besides, the dishes range from veggie sammosas, paneers, dahls and biryanis to different chicken, lamb, beef or fish plates. Tikka, masala, curry or korma, you’ll find all of them here. Always fresh and tasty.

Just one more thing: the waiter always ask you how you like your food: hot, medium or mild. I always go for the medium, but that’s already hot enough for me.

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Punjab | Restaurants (Indian) | Chicken curry HUF 1590
1133 Budapest Pannónia utca 3. | Central Pest | +3612702974
Mon – Sun 12:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Budapest