budapest mini guide: where to eat, drink & things to try -life on pine

budapest, hungary's capital, is actually two cities merged into one [split by the danube river]. its 19th century chain bridge connects the hilly buda district with the flat pest district. buda represents the old town and castle hill, opposed to pest which has the old jewish quarter and represents the upbeat energy of the city today.

our time here was mixed, with a few days on our own and a few days with friends & family to celebrate thanksgiving. what a wonderful experience we had exploring this unique and incredible city. we loved the pace, the people, their cafe culture and the deep history around every corner. the city is affordable, fun and has a little something for everyone...below are some of things we loved.

THE FOOD & CAFE CULTURE

BREAKFAST & LUNCH || STIKA budapest coffee and fun breakfast spot || bistro suppé healthy local snacks and really good soup || déryné bisztró must come here for brunch before visiting castle hill [short walk from here] || grand market hall can't leave with out trying langos here! || centrál kávéház elegant historic cafe with marble tables & balcony, come here for coffee & cakes || steg fish bar great fish soup and other seafood!

DINNER || két szerecsen need to do at least 1 dinner here, so cozy - shared plates style and the house wine is delicious. zeller bistro

COCKTAILS || bar pharma or gresham palace budapest for cocktails RUIN PUBS || szimpla kert the first and most popular of the “ruin pubs”. have an organic farmers market here on sundays too.

COFFEE || konyha coffee, tea, food or wine/beer. this place was one of our favorite cafes to hang at for hours. juicy & budapest bagel grab a juice or try a creative hungarian bagel option like goose liver pate || madal café great coffee and ambiance || espresso embassy beautiful space with a 200-year-old vaulted brick ceiling || fekete ‘black’ in hungarian - their subtle hint on how to order.

TEAHOUSE || sirius or red lion two old teahouses loaded with cushions and zen vibes for taking a break.

things to try

lángos classic hungarian street food, deep fried flatbread with all kinds of toppings. the basic is sour cream and cheese, adding red onion, arugula and tomato was our favorite.

goulash soup meat and vegetables, seasoned with paprika and other spices.

fisherman's soup (halászlé) & goose liver hungarians are famous for it.

boat ride on the water day or night is fun and a great way to see the city. budapest is second only to paris for brightest cities at night.