A weekend in Budapest
Impressively enthroned the Burgpalast above the Danube.
"Budapest is like Paris, only without perfume"This is how the Budapesters describe their hometown. Pretty apt. Because the Eastern European trend metropolis can keep up with its big sister on the Seine: beautiful old buildings, picturesque old town streets with small boutiques and a broad river (the Danube), which divides the city in the middle and for a relaxing after-work drink on one of the many Invites ships.
And yet Budapest is different: Here and there crumbling facades reminiscent of past socialism, loud and bumpy subways, unbeatable cheap and good food and above all: nothing to feel the typical Parisian arrogance and fancy.
We have collected the best tips for a long weekend for you and brought great impressions from the Hungarian capital.
Nostalgia: Retrock Deluxe
Welcome to Alice in Wonderland. Between chandeliers, ornate little tables, old suitcases and pink piggy hang the latest designs by well-known Hungarian young designers. For example dresses (about 160 euros) and shorts (about 590 euros) by Je suis belle, the creative duo Dévényi Dalma Alma and Kiss Tibor. Very special treasures are hidden in the glass cabinet on the second floor: pick-up flea market finds, such as chains or brooches made of glass (10 to 20 euros). These include nostalgic make-up bags and fine leather belts (Henszlmann Imre utca 1, 5th district, Mon-Fri 10.30am-7.30pm, Sat 10.30am-3.30pm, www.retrock.com).
Stylish gymnastics: Tisza
The label Tisza is the love-hate relationship of the Hungarians. In times of socialism, there was only one sports brand in the country. Competitions did not take place in the market economy, but only in the gymnasiums. And they filled in the blue-red-white uniformity. In a desperate attempt to stand out from the crowd, many students painted on adidas stripes with felt-tip pens and quickly dropped them in the corner after the turnaround.
But then everyone started missing the trusted brand and the first flagship store opened in Budapest. The hats, caps, bags, shoes and lanyards are still made in Hungary - but now in all possible colors (Károly körút 1, 7th district, 10-19, Sat 9-13, www.tiszacipo.com)
Funky treasure trove: Látomás
Take a deep breath, stay calm and definitely have a lot of time. The boutique offers a broad average of Hungary's young design scene. In addition to renowned labels such as Kati Nadasdi, unknown fashion designers also have a platform here. In the last eight years, a lot has gathered together: retrofit bags, colorful felt earrings, silver and plasticine, bracelets, dresses and skirts. Especially nice are the brightly colored knit bags by Anikò Piry (from 20 Euro). And the second hand department has recently - how could it be otherwise - its own floor (Dohány utca 20, 7th district, Mon-Fri 11-19 clock, Sat 11-16 clock, www.latomas.hu).
Culture Collection: Szimpla Kert
The facades in Budapest's streets have not all been renovated yet. First came the apartments and large courtyards, which hide behind the house fronts. And there is much to discover here. For example, the old steel factory in the district Elisabethstadt. What began half-empty four years ago has blossomed into Budapest's most popular club. Chairs, armchairs and tables from the second-hand shop stand in front of red factory tiles. Once a week concerts are organized and from the spring also flea markets. If the weather is good, you can sit outside in the "Kert", so garden. And in the summer there is a cinema, the "Kertmozi", with a canvas of old industrial fabrics (Kazinczy utca 14, 7th district, daily 12-2 o'clock).
Oldschool party: the Szóda bar
As "Kávézó and mulató" refers to the Szóda bar. Kávézó simply means café. Mulató was in the 70s for "entertainment" and sounds as adorable and out of place as an enthusiastic "knorke" from dad's mouth. The café-bar is completely furnished in the 70s style, Japanese mangas replace the wallpaper and on the window sills the soda bottles are lined up, because - what would Hungary be without the tingling water? The inventor István Ányos Jedlik, a Benedictine monk, founded the first soda factory in 1841. According to legend, to dilute the incredibly strong Hungarian wine. Even today there are funny mixed drinks called "little janitor" or "vice-house master" (Wesselényi utca 18, 7th district, www.szoda.com)
Chic beans: the restaurant Menza
Who wants to do his new clothes properly, should take a drink in the evening on Liszt Square.In the large and open restaurant Menza meet futuristic forms and 70s wallpaper on traditional treats. From the card you can order blind. Whether Hungarian bean soup (about 3 euros) or pasta with cream cheese (about 6 euros) - everything tastes great here. Definitely try: Desserts, such as cottage cheese balls with strawberry jam and cream (about 3 euros), because the Hungarians are kings of pastries. When the Habsburgs liberated Budapest from the Turks in 1686, they not only left many beautiful Baroque houses, but also their fondness for sweet nibbling in Budapest (Liszt Ferenc tér 2, daily 12-24, www.menza.co.hu). ).
Children's chocolate in Hungarian: the Great Market Hall
Then all Hungarians are addicted: Pöttyös - small, filled with cream cheese chocolate bar, which already existed with grandma. Recently, the brand is trying to infect other countries and is expanding to Austria. If you do not want to wait until the sweets have landed in our supermarkets, it is best to visit the market hall at the end of the pedestrian zone, around Váci utca. In the building from 1896 there is everything the Hungarian heart desires: goose liver, fresh vegetables, Unicum schnapps and paprika in all conceivable variations, ie fresh, dried, as a powder and in different degrees of severity. On three floors there are over 180 shops, stalls, bistros and a supermarket. In the cellar there are fish, freshly caught from large aquariums (Vámház körút 1? 3, Mon 6-17 clock, Tue-Fri 6-18 clock, Sat 6-14 clock).
