Guessing by the posts and some PM's I have received we have a few folks in Budapest over the next few months. I suspect a few overlap.
A glass or two with RS people is always a nice event when on the road.
Post your dates and maybe a few can meet up.
We will be there August 22-27, staying in District 6! My two young adult sons and I are traveling to Budapest for the first time. I have the Kadarka Wine Bar location bookmarked
I will be there early-mid Octoberish. Still working on dates for certain, though. Great idea!
If you want an introduction at Kadarka, just let me know what evening. Probably there anyway.
And if you are staying in District VI, look up "The Lion's Locker" for breakfast. Ask for Arpi and say the guy across the street in the yellow building sent you. Maybe you shouldn't. Strike that. But do visit and do start a conversation wth the owners.
Lets keep in mind that Kadarka is just a local hang out wine bar. It’s about 250 feet from where I stay when I am in town, so it has become sort of my last place before bed time. It’s 75% locals and the ages are pretty well balanced from young to my age. The food menu is pretty good too. DISTRICT VI
If you want to kick it up a notch and have some live entertainment look up Dobolo but it’s more expensive and 80% tourist and a bit older. But excellent service and atmosphere. Lovely place. DISTRICT VII
Or if you want very quiet, talk to the owner about wine, sample a few and buy a bottle, look up Champion Wine Vinarium & Gastro Boutique DISTRICT VI
Then there is DiVino Wine Bar by the Basilica. Because of the location it’s going to be pretty heavily touristed, but not entirely. I know a few Hungarians that hang out there. The location on a nice evening can be pretty sweet. DISTRICT V
N28 is sort of upscale and still mostly locals and a very good bar menu. DISTRICT VI
And for quirky there is Bortodoor City which has sampling parties, I think on Wednesday nights. DISTRICT VI
And there are more. I could enjoy the evening at any of them.
https://cluboenologique.com/review/best-hungarian-wine/
https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/hungarian-wines-for-the-win/
https://tastehungary.com/journal/a-short-guide-to-hungarian-wine/#a-brief-history-of-hungarian-wine
Taking notes for my October visit!
CWsocial, you and that other lady, I think have a guide?
Well, I certainly hope that you will be our "guide" at least one evening!!
CW, I should see about getting into the tourist guide business 🤣🤣🤣😎
First thing I would do is get a bunch of custom selfie sticks made .... with the company logo or something.
You get that and I'll get a bright red flowy skirt and an enormous hat! Then I'll borrow your selfie stick to take pictures of my self flowing up the stairs to Budapest Castle :-)
That sounds perfect.
For anyone interested there is a secret society of selfie stickers "SSSS" like on your boarding pass. I have applications if anyone wants to join. Our next meeting is in South Africa where we will try and get pictures with Lions.
Here are a few event dates during the period
August
10 - 15 Sziget Festival
18 - 20 St Stephens Day (20th) celebrations and probably the biggest holiday in Hungary with something every day ending with fireworks over the Danube. There isnt a corner of the city without some celebration or fair. https://szentistvannap.hu/en
24 Ukraine Intependence Day
25 - 27 Óbuda beer festival
29 - 03 Beer Festival on Szabadság ter
September
1 - 3 Bakáts Fest
7 - 9 Buda Wine Festival
3 - 7 and 10, 11 Jewish Cultural Festival
10 Judafest
16 Wine Lovers Event at the Corinthia Hotel
October
6, 7 "Probable" dates for the National Gallop at Heroes Square and festival on Andrassy ut.
7, 8 "Probable" dates for Oktoberfest Celebration
14 Pancake Festival
14, 15 Etyeki Wineries Piknik
19 - 22 International Art Fair and Market
23 1956 Revolution Day Celebrations
28, 29 Whiskey Show
I’ll be in Budapest, arriving Oct 26- departing Nov 1. I will not have a long twirly skirt however 😉. First time visit, very much looking forward to it. I’m staying at K&K Opera Hotel, only a 5 minute walk to Kararka I see according to google maps. It looks like a great spot for a glass (or two) and something for a light supper for a single person perhaps?
Lyndash
I will treat you to a welcome drink, as i am leaving town for a few weeks the morning of the 27th. But yes, Kadarka does have a pretty decent menu and if you introduce yourself to the waiters, they will look after you. Also close to you is Callas Cafe which has good Hungarian cooking and usually music in the evening. My impression is that single women are comfortable in Budapest but not being one, I leave that to one of the other RS contributors.
Since you are staying in "my neighborhood" I will send you a link to things in the area. To get to Kadarka you will walk past the Opera, cross Andrassy ut and walk up the sidestreet that runs alongside the new Budapest W Hotel. Take a moment and wander through the lobby. This magnificient old building is worth time to peak inside. Vasvari Pal utca dead ends into the back side of the hotel, and that street will take you to Kadarka. Along the way you will see "The Lions Locker" which is a great place for breakfast. The owners are Arpi, Magi, Agi, Marci (dad, mom, daughter, son) and if you take the time to ask for them and say you know the guy in the yellow buildig across the street they will either treat you good or throw you out .... never really know for sure. Opposite the Lions Locker is one of the best Spanish restaurants in central Europe.
Our motley crew will be in Budapest October 4 and leave Oct 8 in the am. Haven't been to Kadarka and looking forward to it while we are there!
I remembered this for another thread, but thoiught it would be interesting here as well. I have an aquaintance that swears by it.
We'll be there the last two weeks of September, but Mr. É already knows that.
TexasTravelmom, I'll miss you by just a few weeks. =( NEXT TIME!
Arg, Christy! Next time I need to plan ahead for your dates!
We don’t be in Budapest anytime soon but we sure enjoyed our meet up with mister E and Chani last November/December
Have fun!
Kim
Kim and company it was a pleasure.
Chani has gone missing for a while. Hope she is well.
Hubby and I will be in Budapest September 20 - October 4. I am having some dental work done. Would enjoy meeting up for a 🍷.
Extend a few more days and there us an interesting party on the 5th.
Otherwise, just send me a note. Kadarka is about 200 feet from my accommodations
Mr E, We land at 5pm on Tuesday Aug 22 so plan to check in at our place then go wandering. We will look for you that evening. I was considering booking an evening cruise that night but am not too sure about how long it will take us to get from the airport, etc so will maybe save that for a different night. As it gets closer I am wishing I set aside more time for this trip!
Looking forward. Sounds like a busy late summer and fall .....
And since there are a number traveling to Budapest here are the averages. I have been watching the last few weeks and the actual has been pretty close to the average; some days a few degrees cooler, some days a few degrees warmer. But pretty much in line with the historic (the high is 82F today, but supposed to drop to a high of 68F by the end of the week):
August 1 63 to 80F
15 62 to 80F
September 1 58 to 75F
15 55 to 71F
October 1 51 to 66F
15 46 to 60F
November 1 40 to 52F
15 38 to 47F
December 1 34 to 40F
15 32 to 37F
January 1 30 to 35F
I guess I have to pack warm clothes with my summer clothes…..
I have said a few times that locals dont always provide the best information for tourists. I am not a typical tourist and I am not a typical local, so I am probably the worst source of information for someone makeing their first trip to Budapest.
Ocassionally you meet someone with a unique interpertation of the city.
Today I had the etrrodinary enjoyment of following an expat around town for a few hours. The expat, an asian, has been in Budapest for 7 years. It became apparent very quickly that 7 solid years imparts a lot more knowledge than 20 years of 3 to 8 weeks per year. "We will take the 9 bus or the 23 tram or the 28 will work if you dont mind a short walk ... or we could do the 70 trolly" (not to be confused with a tram or a bus).
We ended up, first near Keleti, for excellent asian food in a shop that sort of defies logic. Then off into the depths of outter District VIII. Not for the timid. The architecture goes from the absolute freeking amazing turn of the century (20th) to what I suspect was failed '60's and 70's attempts at urban renewal; also represented by pretty imaginative and amazing architecture. Want to meet an authentic Gypsy in Eastern Europe, come to District VIII. Want to meet any individual ethnic group in Eastern Europe, come to District VIII (the outter part of the District).
Deep in District VIII, well past the cemetery, we arrived at a former industrical complex. I suspect some of the buildings were pre-War, some from the 50's through the 60's. Block after block of dilapidated wharehousing and factory now part of what is Budapest's version of ChinaTown., Okay, China, Japan, Korea, Viet Nam, Thailand to name a few. Amazing sea creatures that defies description of anything i have ever seen before. Vegitable like things, again many of which I had never dreamed possible; fruits and Kit Kat bars produced in China in "Tea" flavor. Clothing of every description and respectability, the least respectable being the most prominately displayed. This was an amazing mix of cultures and byproducts of culture.
In each shop I was asked if I was the new husband. Finally I just started saying yes. By morning it will be official with the word of mouth taking it from District VIII to Obuda. I could do worse, so I am not complaining.
A perfect day......
Oh, noticed at a few of the metro stops that the inspectors were checking those GETTING OFF the metro. In other words, not to help, but to fine. And was checked once on a bus. So best have your passes.
Oh, good news. Kadarka Wine Bar managed to get a few bottles of my favorite WHITE Kadarka. (Kadarka is a red grape). I drank one bottle tonight and bought all the bottles they had. Its not particullarly "excellent" wine, but I love it for a lot of reasons.
Mister E, sounds like you had a great day. I’m so fascinated by the mix of cultures and immigrants coming in with all the energy, throwing up new businesses etc. I suppose during the Soviet years things were pretty battened down but Hungary has always been a place for different peoples to move through, no? Some stay, some go and over time new cultures rub off. Same way in Texas and I feel better for it.
I’m coming in Oct and I need to start some wine self education so I’ll know what to order. I find my palate has changed over the last few years, still don’t care for sweet, but the super bold dry reds with lots of tannins just don’t work anymore.
Lyndash, a few ideas for the wine.
One is Kadarka. Even wine by the glass you try before purchase and tgey are patient enough to bring several bottles based on your description of what you like. But they don't screw around with selling flights.
Another is Tuesday at Marlou Wine Bar https://www.marlouwinebar.com/keddi-rendez-vous-no-10
Or take a tour 🤣
Shared route
From Marlou wine bar & store, Budapest, Lázár u. 16, 1065 Hungary to Kadarka Wine Bar, Budapest, Király u. 42, 1061 Hungary via Hajós u. and Zichy Jenő u..
18 min (1.5 km)
To see this route visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/tGx2bDj2QwuaRcfM7
This sounds like a route I need to take… but not more than one on the same night. 🤣
Lyndash, I am a wine know-nothing except that I don’t usually like red. In Budapest, if I am at a wine bar, I ask for recommendations - and I don’t find that they try to sell me the most expensive. When I am at a restaurant, I just ask for a house wine or any white wine. I have yet to find one that wasn’t good (to me).
Looking forward to being back in October!
I can imagine trying too many in one night might not be a good idea .... for me either
Texastravelmom- next time order a fröccs with white or rose. It's the Hungarian version of a spritzer and is THE summer drink in Hungary. I'm sure you've passed Fröccsterasz, the outdoor venue near Deák. It's a fun place to try one (or two). There are different kinds depending on the blend: 1:1 or 1:2, etc.
Ok, Christy, going on the list! 🤣
It is apparently some sort science. Look up high on the wall over the bar at Kadarka and there is a chart with all the percentages and names.
Never tried it.
But at lunch I had raspberry palinka lemonade at Stika.
Raspberry palinka lemonade…… Might be palinka I could manage. Maybe. Palinka is wretched stuff.
Palinka isn't retched, Unicum is retched.
I've never been able to drink Unicum with a straight face and pretend that it's interesting. It's not.
Palinka...well, let's just say that I have adopted a maneuver that makes it look like I drank it all but in reality, I've taken a sip and given the rest of it to my husband (or a potted plant, which looks remarkably robust in photos...).
Christy, 100% this! Lol! Unicum is double wretched.
Except in March I had something I THINK was an herbal palinka that I would try again…. But I failed to take a picture of the bottle so I don’t know for sure. #rookiemistake Maybe if I go back to the same place next time and try to explain, they will know.
These are the ones that have confessed.
Docsngeese
Aug 22 – 27
PrairieGirl
Aug 26
TechTrainer61
Sept 8-12
Christy
Sept 15 – 30 more or less
Sue
Sept 20 – Oct 4
TexasTravelMom
Early Octoberish whatever that means
Nsbtraveler
Oct 4 – 8
sheriff
Oct 5 - 8
CWSocial
Sometime in October as well
Lyndash
Oct 26 – 1 Nov
Mister E,
What!? Did you forget to pencil us in on August 26th? We’re walking right by your door!
Better yet, the more the merrier 😜
Mister E - we did not get to Kardarka and are heading out on Sunday (today) I appreciated the invite but we packed every evening (and got in later and more exhausted than expected on our first night!) Thank you to you and others on this forum who helped me plan much of our trip!
What is important is that you enjoyed .......... I hope
docsngeese: not many Nebraskans visit Budapest, I hope you loved it! Be sure to share your experience when you get back home.
Go Big Red! =)
Yes, many of my friends were impressed and/or shocked that I went to “Eastern Europe.!” But I’m already planning another trip and felt well-informed from this group. Plus my kids kept me pretty spontaneous - two sons aged 19 and 24 - so we felt like nearly everywhere in the districts by the river were safe and walkable. I’ll try to write up a little travel summary for moms like me to see how easy it is to get out of your comfort zone!
Some people get the Eastern Europe bug and end up returning and returning and returning. It is a different experience and you have just scratched the surface with Budapest.
"Feeling" safe and actually being safe are two different things. But, statistically Budapest is among the safest cities in Europe. Most of Eastern Europe is equally as safe.
Thanks Mister E for your generosity and knowledge provided to this forum.
We had a wonderful time in Budapest! It was great to meet you at Kadarka for drinks and conversation. We had a blast!
Our location at Casati was perfect…easy to get around and explore and the hotel was great! So much to see and so little time! We will be back!
Believe me, the pleasure was all mine.
I’m staying by the opera house the next 3 days.
Just completed a Rick Steves tour.
I could meet for a glass of wine or a morning coffee tonight 10/17 -10/19.
Rob
That should be 9/17-9/20. Rob g
How much does it cost to visit a location? There is only one reliable cost indicator, The Big Mac Index.
United States $5.58
Switzerland $7.73
Euro Zone on average $5.82
Britain $5.39
Czech Republic $4.85
Hungary $3.99 (possibly true outside of the Budapest where the going price is $4.50 in the city center or about $4.10 in the suburbs like Obuda)
I just stumbled on this thread and the collective bonanza of knowledge, including from Mister E (how do I add the accent??) for Budapest and Emily for Vienna. So grateful for all the info! We arrive in Vienna September 28 and head to Budapest October 3, five days in each place. I've been studiously taking notes on the forum so lots to look forward to, but anything "can't miss" for seasoned travelers who love to experience the future would be most welcome. The wine bar/local spots & restaurants/secret haunts and walks have all made my list! Thanks to all of you for sharing your knowledge!
Happy there was some value in all the rambling. Sounds like we will have quite a few RS types in the neighborhood in October. There goes the neighborhood. Best month of the year to be here.
But, if you buy a single trip metro ticket, please be sure to ........... well ......... I got off the metro at Nyugati and they were checking tickets at the escalator. A woman approached me, showed me her ticket and asked if that was what they wanted to see. I looked at it and said, yes, that and 25.000 forints (about $75). She made a terrible face. I laughed and told her to get back on the metro and ride to the next stop and if no one was checking tickets VALIDATE that ticket and come back. If they were checking tickets, keep riding until you get to a stop where they aren't. Not all stops are manned all the time. Its more of an honor system, but the past month about half the stops have had inspectors. Tourists subsidize the system (my month pass costs about 84 cents a day).
