Perhaps strangely for someone my age, I am completely in love with the idea of the Czech beer bar, as I imagine it may have been at the beginning of the 20th century: heavy wooden furniture, taps overflowing with the liquid gold of Bohemia, middle-aged men engaged in loud, never-ending conversations, congenial if slightly hassled waiters slaloming amongst the tables, greeting familiar patrons and leading them to their favourite places. And when I want to time travel straight into this fantasy, I walk two blocks and go to Ferdinand Monarchia restaurant.
My intro is always a Becherovka and a pint of Ferdinand Sedm Kulí, an amber lager, but they also serve the same brewery’s pilsner and dark lager as well on tap- all excellent, as Czech beer generally is. The food is a mix of traditional Czech and ‘monarchic’ dishes, so ones from other regions of the Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy (told you we were time travelling). Some staples, such as the ‘hermelin’ (Czech pickled camembert, a must alongside beer), Švejk’s pork knuckles or the Prague pork steak with sautéed cabbage remain unchanged throughout the year, but otherwise there is a rotation of dishes, which means that whenever your heart breaks for a discontinued favourite, you find exciting new replacements. As noticeable form the previous enumeration, Ferdinand (or just Ferdi for the regulars) is mostly for lovers of meaty, hearty food, yet some options are always available for the special vegetarian in your life as well.
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MinuteBistro has a “daily menu” option, which can come with a soup combined either with salad or pasta/risotto (gluten-free pasta option is available too).
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Whether you're seeking a moment to relax or simply admiring the beauty of the area, the square will offer an escape from the chaos of everyday life.
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Take a seat right by the window where you can enjoy your treats with your morning coffee while looking outside at how the world moves at a different pace.
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I make sure to visit this place, at least once per month and always eat the same Gallet cake and drink some coffee or tea from their selections.
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Imagine a coffee with a small doze of mascarpone topping up with an espresso, which is a real delight for your taste buds, and a sprinkle of cocoa powder.
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On the menu there is a lot of different and unique sounding teas, and I would recommend trying the dark chocolate tea with a sip of cream on the side.
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This is a family-owned business, where the food tastes homemade. Every meal you choose feels like your family cooked it with so much love.
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This place might seem a bit retro to the people who pass by, but one thing is certain: some things are always great, no matter how much time passes.
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You can find many different kinds of cheesecakes here but one standout recommendation is the cottage cheese and raspberry, a unique Hungarian taste.
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Tortuga és Pohánka blends Mexican and Hungarian flavors in Budapest’s VII. District, offering 100% sourdough bread and authentic food made with heart.
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Auróra in Budapest is a place to create, attend workshops, concerts, parties, rituals... A big survivor in the district and it keeps fighting!
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In the place of a former canteen, a tapas bar opened, with the cute name of Arquitecto Pitpit, recalling the birds that often chirp in this leafy court.
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