The latest member of the Csendes family, Csendes Csemege, has opened near Astoria. Following on from the success of original ruin pub Csendes Létterem, wine bar Csendes Társ and two sister venues, Csendes Csemege now offers small-batch Hungarian products: jams, syrups, pastas, as well as fresh bread and pastries, plus some of the wines, beers and spirits imbibed at stablemate outlets. Alongside in this bright, artisanal store, you’ll find fresh dairy products, meat, fruit and vegetables. Non-food goods are also available, such as natural cosmetics, notebooks and books.
Csendes Létterem, one of the first ruin pubs to overtake Budapest, opened nine years ago. Developing around Károlyi Kert, the Csendes brand expanded slowly but surely: first the wine bar Csendes Társ, then vegan bistro CsendesM, then Pesti Szatócs, and now the deli shop Csendes Csemege.
Szatócs had its own culinary section as well, but mostly offered Hungarian design products, teas, jewelry, ceramics, and pálinka. As the selection of edible goods grew, the need arose for another shop, and soon retail premises became available on the corner of Magyar and Ferenczy Streets, promising to be the ideal venue for a proper deli.
Csendes Csemege offers a high-quality selection of simple, everyday foods and gourmet goods, all from Hungarian small producers – right in the center of the city, a two-minute walk away from Astoria.
All Csendes units have a peculiar atmosphere and unusual interior design – in the case of Csendes Csemege, this includes the rustic furniture, the rocking horse, the barn ladders way above the shop floor, the large, bright windows, and all the Hungarian products lining the shelves. Each piece of furniture – treasures obtained from flea markets and rural attics – was placed in the shop after undergoing careful selection, just like the merchandise. After all, Pesti Szatócs and Csendes Csemege are the passion projects of Gergő Bíró, who began his relationship with the brand as a bartender in Csendes Létterem.
In addition to items from Hungarian producers and manufactures, you can also purchase the wines, beers, pálinka and organic juices available in any of the other Csendes outlets – even their dishes are prepared with ingredients available here. Wines and beers are by Sauska, Bolyki, St. Andrea and Légli, as well as Etyek Manufactory and Horizont. The shop’s selection is continuously changing and growing, especially seasonal goods. You can choose from a wide variety of syrups from Endremek Manufactory (mint, sage, willow, walnut leaf and more), as well as jams from Mamka and Derecskei Fenséges, and honeys from Méz-máz. The prices remain friendly, starting at 960 forints for honey and at 1,290 forints for jams and syrups.
Every day, bread and pastries are delivered fresh from Panelpék and Panificio il Basilico. Various types of flour arrive from small mills and Grapoila, offering not only spelt flour, but also rosehip flour and hemp flour, prices starting at 390 forints. The shelves are lined with oils, vinegars and chilisauces from Fenevad and Csilion, and truffle-infused products from Dunst and Rose. Fresh meat comes from Gazda and BUZA, dairy products – cheeses, cocoa, yogurts – from Maszlik Családi Gazdaság. Fruit and vegetables come from MagosVölgy Ökológiai Gazdaság, based in Nógrád county.
In addition to the eco-friendlycleaning products, you can also find soaps made from goats’ milk, deo creams, body scrubs and showerscrubs from Cocoon Manufactory.
