Castro is no more but Fidel’s Cabaret is alive and well and living in Dob Street, Budapest. The Hungarian capital has seen Caribbean restaurants and Cuban dance nights come and go, but this latest venue in lively District VII allows you to dine, drink and dance all under one roof. And watching over proceedings will be Castro himself, in neon form, cap and cigar in place.
While the passing of Fidel Castro in 2016 brought an era to an end, Cuba remains an exciting and beautiful travel destination, with its colorful houses, classic cars, energetic Latin music and random dance festivities at various public spaces, not to mention the smell of expensive cigars blending with the refreshing scent of citrus trees.
Fidel’s Cabaret intends to deliver something of this Cuban atmosphere, adapted and fine-tuned to modern-day Budapest. The interior design features a Cuban flag, emblematic photos taken around the Latin-American island, eye-popping colors and a large neon sign portraying Fidel Castro, signature cigar hanging from his mouth. The L-shape of the restaurant, the many small tables and long bar counter provide plenty of room for Latin mischief.
Yet there’s always enough room for an improvised dance in front of the miniature stage – after all, the restaurant has a musical event for every day of the week. These usually feature Latin music and moves, but acoustic performances are also scheduled. On Wednesdays and Fridays, you can enjoy the sounds of a Latino duo, while Thursdays and Saturdays are dedicated to Cuban dance shows. For a detailed list of events, keep an eye on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Life at Fidel's Cabaret begins after the sun sets, when the hypnotizing lights, the gentle stir of the shakers and the spicy, citrusy scents begin shaping the atmosphere into something more mysterious. The soundproofing is beyond professional: you can arrive at the time of a concert and find that, surprisingly, you can’t hear either the powerful bambu drums nor the voice of Lili Garces from outside. Hit songs from Dirty Dancing 2 should come one after the other, sometimes interrupted by a Buena Vista Social Club cover or the well-known Despacito.
When it comes to food, you should try the sandwiches. The beef variety (1690 HUF), made with Cola-marinated brisket, comes with BBQ sauce, fresh salad, jalapeno and melted Swiss cheese inside a crispy baguette. Perhaps skipping the salads, you might also sample the empanadas (1890 HUF), savory pastries stuffed with veal, olives and salsa, and served with a sweet sauce. The house specialty is orange-marinated Cuban spare ribs (3100 HUF), served with a whole grilled corn on the cob and steak potatoes.
The cocktails are also worth a try, especially those containing rum, although the alcohol-free varieties aren’t to be sniffed at either. The coffee selection is also Cuban.
While the food is more than satisfactory, you can’t help but wish for the atmosphere to be a little fierier and sexier. For now, the novelty of Fidel's Cabaret keeps the place buzzing but hopefully it should mature in time.
