Hungary
Great restaurant in a good location, not far from Octagon. Food is fantastic, atmosphere great. Two people, two courses, best bottle of wine on the menu; £45 - bargain. It's full of locals too - a good indication.
6th district, Liszt Ferenc ter 2
This is one of those places where the guests stay longer than they expected, and end up working there. The writing all over the walls and the squat-like attic give it a definite acid house feel, but don't worry, everyone’s friendly, and the hippy vibe is pretty infectious.
The 24-hour bar (essentially a fridge) and adjoining lounge are great to meet people and play some free pool. It’s a party place as well, so expect to have some messy evenings. A little bit of a mission to find, but definitely worth it. AND make sure you do a shot of Unicum at the bar. Medicinal apparently. Can't really remember.
If you are in town on a stag party. Please stay out of out non-tourist pubs. Everyone is getting a bit sick of your pasty-laddies in their drunken groups. Maybe you want to think about Prague. Groups of 2 or 3 are always welcome.
A reasonably priced and enjoyable restaurant on the Pest side and just south of the popular tourist areas.
Home-brewed beer, which you can have in litre sized glasses if you want (and at about £2.70 a litre at May 2007 exchange rates). Ask the band for your favourite tune.
www.kaltenberg.hu/angol.htm
Kinizsi utca 30-36.
Metro Ferenc Krt.
or short walk from the tram which runs along the banks of the Danube
This was recommended by our hotel receptionist and was brilliant. It is a pub with great food and atmosphere and clearly was the place to be. It gets pretty packed, mind.
Address : VII. Akácfa u. 13.
Tel : (+36-1) 322 7645
Open daily :15:00-04:00
except:
Friday: 15:00-04:30
Saturday: 15:00-04:30
They have an extensive selection of Hungarian, French, Italian, Far-Eastern dishes and wide range of Hungarian and international wines, drinks and cocktails.
Budapest, Nyári Pál u. 9.
+36 1 266 3277
www.avocadorestaurant.hu
Where possible I like to partake of the local tipple on my travels but rarely, if ever, have I tasted anything like Hungary's herb based spirit, Unicum. A single measure of this concoction should be more than enough for two to three people ... the first sip tastes a little of cough mixture, and the second enough to convince you that no, apologies to the good people at Benylin, this is something far nastier.
On the plus side, it does come in great globe shaped bottles - miniatures of which make ideal presents for friends back home, particularly those you don't like much.
Just about every bar in Budapest
Stylish wine bar and restaurant near the State Opera House. Lovely food, and wines you can try before ordering a bottle.
VI Andrássy út 41
Tel: 413 1545
Go there for the vast array of tasty Belgian and German beers at low cost. You will inevitably get hungry and descend into the 'Jungle' restaurant in the cellar where a plethora of paper mache zoo animals peer at you as you tuck into giant portions of steak and veg type fare with names like 'cry of the rhino'. Great value with roars and squawks to keep you amused throughout the meal.
VI. Jókai u. 30
For under a tenner you can spend an afternoon sampling hundreds of fantastic wines in the underground cellars of this brilliant attraction.
Not at all pompous, so you don't have to be a boffin to enjoy it. The atmosphere is relaxed and the staff are lovely - if a bottle's empty just shout up and they'll open another.
Szentháromság tér 6; tel: 1 212 10 31; www.magyarborokhaza.hu
Small and beautiful restaurant in the Castle area, wonderful service, interesting menu.
Fortuna Utca 14, Castle Hill
Tel: 413 1545
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