Lemonade is the most refreshing, non-alcoholic drink of the summer – we have absolutely no doubt about it. You can enjoy all sorts of different tastes while, let’s just say you’re sitting at the terrace of your favourite café or when you decide to go out on a hot summer night. We went on a journey and we were looking for the most special and the most tasteful lemonades of Budapest – we even tried to make it bigger and better than last year.
1/5
trafiq
We have already trafiq, the newest venue at 18 Hercegprímás street which is the ultimate heaven for the bohemian bourgeoisie. In the eclectic-styled bar, bobos can choose from a wide-range of innocent non-alcoholic lemonades. The one we tried is lemonade made from passion fruit, lime, with a hint of fresh ginger and ginger ale. The dominating flavours of ginger ale and lime create a great balance between sweet and sour. For a tall, icy glass of lemonade we have to pay 890 forints which is quite reasonable if we take the quality, the quantity and the environment into consideration as well. The only problem with this drink is that it’s quite addictive, so one glass of it is never enough.
Trafiq (closed)
Address: 1051 Budapest, 18 Hercegprímás Street
2/5
Fruccola
Fruccola at Kristóf Square is like a fruit paradise in the city centre, but it’s not just fruit what they have to offer. They have excellent lemonades as well. We tried the colourful, peachy version with peach, lemon and orange juice, brown sugar and a small hint of mint. After the first sip we thought that mint will dominate, but soon all the different tastes and flavours ‘arrived’. All in all, we might say that this refreshing drink is very well-composed. The serving and the presentation is not the most flattering that you’ve ever seen but the quality is exceptional. Don’t judge a book by its cover as they say. A pint of lemonade – that comes in a jug – costs 790 forints.
3/5
Pastrami
Pastrami can be defined with the following words and phrases: pure, industrial interior design, helpful staff, huge windows, happiness and last but not least, home-like feel. The guests represent a wide range of international clientele and there are representatives of all age groups. Right next to our table there was a nice elderly couple trying to figure out what dishes are there on the menu while on the terrace young tourists took a break from sightseeing. There are two very popular lemonades here; one which is ginger lemonade and another that is a local speciality called Pastrami. The waiters are running up and down with these refreshing drinks, guests order them all the time. The ginger lemonade, which is made with home-made ginger syrup and with sparkling water, can easily become the favourite of the sweet-toothed. This drink complements the sour tastes of coffee for example; the two go very well together. Pastrami on the other hand is made from cane-sugar syrup, sparkling water, lime, lemon and orange. There’s nothing surprising or special about it, but it’s actually really delicious. 3dl costs 650 forints, while 5dl costs 900 forints.
Pastrami
Address: 1035 Budapest, Lajos utca 93-99.
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8:00-23:00
4/5
Café 57
Café 57 – which is a café and a restaurant at the same time – is only seconds away from the Szemlő mountain cave, in a neighbourhood which is probably one of the most luxurious areas in Budapest. Using public transport to get up to the café is like a wild journey or an expedition maybe, but it’s worth it especially for the lemonades. We took our seats at the terrace and we tasted the amazing litchi-mango lemonade. It is characterized by the intensive mango and citrus flavour but the real attractions are the huge pieces of fruit in the lemonade. There is an unbelievable range of lemonades and surprisingly the prices are rather friendly. The lemonade we tried costs 890 forints for example.
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5/5
Kertem
It was early in the day, families were having fun in Városliget, cyclists were riding their bikes and there was a bohemian mood in the air. For some reason we thought that this would be the ideal time and place to try lemonade which has rum in it. At the bar we could still feel the smell of beer from last night, but we suppose it comes with the bohemian lifestyle. The pulpy, squashy Lemonade Joe, that we tried, is made from orange juice, 5cl of rum and sparkling water. It’s a refreshing alcoholic soft-drink that is probably the best choice for a summer night out.
