Entertainment in Budapest
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Captain Cook Pub
There’s not much to say about the CC except that it enjoys an enviable location diagonally opposite the basilica, the terrace is a delight in the warm weather, there are four beers on tap and the staff are welcoming and friendly. And for us, that’s sufficient.
reviewed
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Gerbeaud Cukrászda
Founded in 1858, Gerbeaud has been the most fashionable meeting place for the city’s elite on the northern side of Pest’s busiest square since 1870. Along with exquisitely prepared cakes and pastries (410Ft to 1150Ft), it serves continental breakfasts (2950Ft) and sandwiches (1550Ft to 2950Ft). A visit is mandatory.
reviewed
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Mumus
Everyone’s favourite chilled romkocsma, the ‘bogeyman’ transforms from a cavernous vaulted beer hall in the cooler months to a wonderful outdoor kert in summer, with its own tree (real), stars (fake) and old oil drums masquerading as tables.
reviewed
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Vittula
Great (though tiny and very smoky) underground (both senses) bar just off the Big Ring Road, with international performances, cutting-edge DJs and some cheap Slovakian lager.
reviewed
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Castro Bisztró
Now in a new location just off the Little Ring Road, this eclectic place has a mixed clientele, Serbian finger food like čevapčiči (spicy meatballs; 900Ft to 1800Ft) and tasty pljeskavica (meat patties; 1200Ft), wi-fi throughout and the same chilled vibe it had when located on IX Ráday utca. The street running north from here, Madách Imre út, was originally designed to be as large and grand a boulevard as nearby Andrássy út. But WWII nipped that plan in the bud, and it now ends abruptly and rather self-consciously after just two blocks.
reviewed
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Darshan Udvar
This cavernous complex with bar, restaurant and vegetarian cafe has decor that combines Eastern flair with a hippy vibe. It’s an easy escape from the bars of VI Liszt Ferenc tér and the dull sophistication of IX Ráday utca, though VIII Krúdy utca has yet to take over as Budapest’s next after-hours strip. There are pizzas (1090Ft to 1390Ft) and pasta dishes (990Ft to 1190Ft) as well as more substantial mains (1290Ft to 2550Ft) to accompany the liquid offerings.
reviewed
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New York Café
This Renaissance-style cafe, considered the most beautiful in the world when it opened in 1895, was the scene of many a literary gathering over the years. It has now been extensively renovated but, alas, lacks the warmth and erudite crowd of most traditional cafes. Still, the opulence and the history of the New York will impress and it’s a great place for a late breakfast (1500Ft to 4800Ft; available till noon).
reviewed
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Janis Pub
Close to the university, this ever-popular pub is a shrine to the late, great singer Janis ‘Pearl’ Joplin, which, according to the pub’s publicity blurb, ‘makes the traditional ‘Irish pub’ spirit unique’ (we don’t get it either). But it’s always a good place to stop for a quick one or two on the way to somewhere else.
reviewed
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Terv Eszpresszó
‘Plan’ (as in ‘Five-Year’) is a retro-style cafe-bar on two levels decorated with photographs of Hungarian athletes, politicians, actors and so on from the 1950s and ‘60s. Unlike a lot of such places, the theme doesn’t get old in a half-hour and it’s a useful place for a quick beer or coffee on the way down to Váci utca.
reviewed
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Champs Sport Bar
Established by five Olympic medallists (swimmer, runner, pentathlon, kayaker and racer), Champs is the place for sports fans and the vicarious, with two giant screens and 35 TVs. There’s a wide choice of low-fat ‘fitness meals’ along with the less healthy favourites of armchair athletes. There’s also a Buda branch, which keeps the same hours.
reviewed
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Dokk Club
One of the perennials in Budapest’s ever-changing club scene, Dokk is a cavernous club in a converted warehouse on an island in the Danube. It attracts a well-heeled crowd and employees from the nearby porn-movie studio; it’s at its hottest, grinding-est best on a Friday night. Take a taxi, or it’s an easy walk over Árpád Bridge from the HÉV or bus stop.
reviewed
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Nothin’ But the Blues
The oldest blues venue in town, NBB has been wailing for more than 15 years now. The name may be accurate Thursday to Saturday from 8pm when there’s always a live strummer or some such but acts vary the rest of the week. Jamming is on Sunday afternoon and open mike on Monday night. Grab the in-house ‘beer guitar’ and give it a go.
reviewed
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Ferenc Liszt Music Academy
A block southeast of Oktogon, what’s usually just called the ‘music academy’ was built in 1907. It attracts students from all over the world and is one of the top venues for concerts. The interior, with large and small concert halls richly embellished with Zsolnay porcelain and frescoes, is worth a look even if you’re not attending a performance.
reviewed
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Café Miró
A personal favourite in the Castle District, this bright cafe-restaurant has wrought-iron furniture and local artwork and photography on the walls. Aside from its decent snacks and cakes (360Ft to 390Ft), it does more substantial starters (1790Ft to 2190Ft) and main courses (1990Ft to 2990Ft). There’s also a Pest branch called Café Miró Grande.
reviewed
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Centrál Kávéház
This grande dame of a traditional cafe is still jostling to reclaim her title as the place to sit and look intellectual in Pest, after reopening a few years ago following extensive renovations. It serves meals as well as lighter fare, such as sandwiches (1000Ft) and omelettes (from 1490Ft) and, of course, cakes and pastries (390Ft to 800Ft).
reviewed
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Morrison’s 2
Far and away Budapest’s biggest party venue, this cavernous cellar club attracts a younger crowd with its four dance floors, half-dozen bars (including one in a covered courtyard) and enormous games room upstairs. Live bands from 9pm to 11pm in the week. No 2’s daddy is the much smaller and more sedate Morrison’s Opera.
reviewed
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Elsö Pesti Rétesház
It may be a bit overdone (think Magyar Disneyland, with olde worlde counters, painted plates stuck on the walls and curios embedded in Plexiglass washbasins) but the ‘First Strudel House of Pest’ is just the place to taste this Hungarian stretched pastry (240Ft to 290Ft) filled with apple, cheese, poppy seeds or sour cherry.
reviewed
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Bambi Presszó
The words ‘Bambi’ and ‘modern’ do not make comfortable bedfellows; nothing about this place (named after a communist-era soft drink) has changed since the 1960s. And that’s just the way we (and the rest of the crowd here) like it. Surly, set-it-down-with-a-crash service completes the distorted picture.
reviewed
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Pesti Vigadó
This Romantic-style hall, built in 1865 and facing the Danube to the west of Vörösmarty tér, is a popular venue for concerts, dance performances and other cultural events. It was badly damaged during WWII and, though the original style of the exterior was retained, the interior is all new and has been recently renovated.
reviewed
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Cinetrip
By no means should you miss this regular event at the Rudas Baths, if one is taking place during your visit. It combines partying and dancing with music, film and bathing and is just short of being an all-out orgy. Woohoo! It is usually held monthly from 9pm on Saturday; schedules are available at the box office of the Merlin Theatre.
reviewed
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Déryné
What was until not too long ago a very untouristed traditional cafe near the entrance to the Alagút (the tunnel running under Castle Hill) has metamorphosed into a beautiful cafe-bar-bistro with excellent breakfast (950Ft to 1250Ft) and more substantial meals (starters 590Ft to 2690Ft, mains 1490Ft to 4190Ft) throughout the day.
reviewed
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Oscar American Bar
The decor is cinema inspired – film memorabilia on the wood-panelled walls, leather directors chairs – and the beautiful crowd often act like they’re on camera. Not to worry, the potent cocktails – from daiquiris and cosmopolitans to mojitos – go down a treat. There’s music most nights.
reviewed
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Jazz Garden Music Club
A sophisticated venue with traditional, vocal and Latin jazz, and odd decor: a faux cellar ‘garden’ with street lamps and a night ‘sky’ bedecked with blinking stars. Book a table (starters 1680Ft to 2650Ft, mains 2680Ft to 4180Ft) in the dining room; music starts at 9.30pm and finishes at 12.30am.
reviewed
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Piaf
Piaf is the place to go when everything else slows down. There’s dancing and action well into the new day. There’s a piano and some louche lounge lizards on the ground floor but most of the fun and the characters – including some professionals – are in the smoky cavern with a dance floor below.
reviewed
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Satchmo
As its subtitle 'Amerikai Kreol Jazztaurant ' would suggest, this club-restaurant with big windows just round the corner from Szabadság tér serves up 'American' Creole cuisine (lots of spices, shellfish and 'blackened' things) and live jazz music courtesy of Mr Louis Armstrong from Thursday to Saturday nights.
reviewed
