Archives for “terrace” tag

It’s originally from Krakow, speaks English, offers interesting books and serves delicious coffee and tasty cookies in the heart of the Jewish district. Any guesses? Ok, I’ll help. Massolit, a café and English language bookstore from Poland, has recently opened its doors in Budapest as well, for the pleasure of expats, exchange and local university students, and basically everyone who speaks English.

For me, someone who graduated in English Literature, Media and Gender Studies, this place is a heaven of books as Massolit is specialized precisely in these areas (plus politics, history, Jewish Studies and other social studies) and offers great academic titles at reduced prices. Besides non-fiction, they have a selection of fiction as well. Reading requires coffee, of course, and here I get it from direct trade and in various seasonal blends.

The café and store is situated on a ground floor of an old building. The turquoise wooden windows, the black and white granite tiles, the palm tree and the big bookshelves embracing all these create an antique but still cozy interior. Behind you’ll find a terrace located in one of the nicest backyards of Budapest, especially friendly during the summer days when the garden is lush and green.

Similarly to the Krakow store, the Budapest branch also organizes concerts, readings and other social gatherings. In the back room you might bump into English courses as well.

What’s true for Budapest bars (see the Müszi article) is also true for new restaurants and eateries opening up in Budapest. Meaning there are so many of them that even a Budapest foodie can have a hard time!

Recently I developed a soft spot for Sonka Arcok, on lovely Egyetem tér (near the Táskásradió espresszó article).

Its polished interior with warm and darker wood colours is a bit reminiscent of ‘Spain’, that seems to be an influence here.

Indeed, as you’ll notice entering the restaurant, nice pieces of hams (some of them Hungarian, some of them Spanish) are on display by the door.

However don’t be mistaken, if Sonka arcok serves sandwiches and tapas, it has more in store than just pork.

The menu card is truly diversified offering a nice glimpse of what Budapest new cuisine (as embodied by chef Bereznay Tamás) is all about.

What you really need to try is the daily menu on weekdays: it’s a great value for 3 courses and it comes with a homemade lemonade! On nice days, you can enjoy it on the tiny of terrace on the square.

In the 6th district, just behind the opera house, there is a peaceful and pleasing pedestrian street full of terraced cafes and restaurants.

I think you will be advised to visit Andrássy Street and the Opera House anyway, so it is worth to look for Hajós Street and stop for a rest, a drink or a meal at Balett Cipő.This restaurant received its name in 1948 after its first owner, who was actually a ballet-girl. Since then the place was renovated of course, it is a bit French, a bit Mediterranean and certainly has a good vibe.

When fair weather arrives it is one of my favorite places, first of all because its terrace is just divine, second, it has a perfect international cuisine, and third, they offer a good wine and palinka selection, and finally the great service. Needless to say this always makes me want to stay.

It is a kind of place where you can go for everything: a quick burger, a meal, or a drinking session. When my friends arrive from abroad and want to have a good meal, Balett Cipő is one those places I surely advise to go. Every first Wednesday of the month is called Thirsty Wednesday, on this day you can order alcohol drinks for half price!

They have a daily menu as well where you can choose from 3 different main dishes. Most dishes I tried (fish or meat) were excellent.

Go here and trust me you won’t be disappointed.

One of the main things I look for in a pub when deciding to try somewhere new is a warm and intimate atmosphere. With so many bars to choose from in Budapest it’s easy to miss out on some really characteristic places like Fasor Eszpresszó. It is just how you imagine a Hungarian pub to be, visited mainly by locals since 1959. The owners have kept the old fashioned interior and tuned it up, so it’s like jumping back straight to the ’70s.

Entering, you really get a slice from the past: the ceiling is really cool, covered with colored vinyl discs, the chandelier is made of tape cassettes, the whole two- floor spot is furnished with old school pieces and more, but you will have to discover it for yourself. There is an inner room with awesome wall paintings where you can get some privacy. In the summer the terrace of the pub is also a good option.

For those who desire some activities, there’s the opportunity to play billiard, table soccer, pinball and there is a screen as well for sport fans.

In short it is a real pub: warm, simple, not pretentious and not trying to pass itself off as something it isn’t, it is simply what it is meant to be: a busy place to have some social drinking or to relax after a hard day’s work with friendly locals of all ages who make you feel comfortable.

For the first time when me and a friend visited Briós, a nice cozy cafe located at Pozsonyi Street, we were so hungry, that we were shaking to hear about the menu, but the offer was too good to decide fast. Finally we succeeded, ordering 4 dishes which saved our life. Thank you!

Briós is a friendly and cozy cafe, just the right place to have a breakfast out of home. It is a simple and friendly spot run by a family, who was traveling a lot and wanted to show what they think about hospitality. Nóri the owner, who is a mother of 3, wanted to open a child friendly spot, where menus appeal to both children and adults alike. Briós managed to build its reputation really fast, not only because upstairs there is a playing space with activities to keep kids playing while their parents enjoy their meal, but also because of the open minded atmosphere, not to mention their excellent coffees.

They offer a satisfying menu from which it’s hard to decide, because every single dish seems to be delicious. They offer omelettes, baguettes, salads, bagels and marvelous desserts – I bet on the brownies, but carrot cake is also a big favorite. But they also have a nice wine selection for those who desire peaceful moments on their new terrace which is open from April.

I guess if you are on holiday to Budapest, you don’t want to prepare breakfast at home, so Brios is worth a visit!