The heartwarming hot beverage of spiced mulled wine is best to drink in a homey, cozy, and happy atmosphere, so making it at home along with friends is the preferred way to have it. However, preparing this steamy concoction can be a messy and laborious process, so sometimes we just want to lounge at a downtown hangout and order steamy cupfuls of red, white, or rosé. Unfortunately, a lot of mulled wine is made of low-quality ingredients, so we might end up with a flavor that is very different from what we wanted – but the “forralt bor” at these five Budapest hotspots surely won’t disappoint.
1/5
4Street Hordó
For a long time, Móricz Zsigmond Square didn’t have too many places to hang out, but since the area was renewed, the situation got a lot better. We already got to know 4Street Café, another place which spices up the winter season with mulled wine and sweet treats. This is a perfect place for a tea, a hot punch, or a mulled wine to warm up while waiting for someone at this busy meeting spot. Regulars of the place already know that they can ask for blankets, which can prolong their stay.
Price: 500 HUF/3 deciliters
Where: 4Street Café, Móricz Zsigmond Square – Gomba
2/5
Borkas Food Truck
This familiar blue-and-orange vehicle can be found this winter at the Élesztő Food Truck Garden – however, for the winter season, the truck is basically transformed from a fröccs-serving station to a mulled-wine hotspot. They definitely avoid simple solutions, so although they have plain white, rosé, or red versions, they serve a total of 21 special types of mulled wine made from the beverages of the Monostor estate. We loved the apple-pie red the most, but they also have lavender-flavored white, orange-infused rosé, and chocolate red mulled wines.
Prices: 750 HUF/3 deciliters + 150 forints for the flavoring
Where: Élesztő Food Truck Garden (Budapest 1091, Üllői út 51)
3/5
Castro Bistro (Closed)
Castro is a very popular hangout at Madách Square, right in the heart of downtown Budapest. For years now, this cozy place has been using the same recipe to make their prune-flavored mulled wine that they serve during the winter season. Luckily they don’t boil the uplifting alcohol out of it, so we can get sufficiently warm after three deciliters. This place and its mulled wine are perfect for a little friendly gathering.
Price: 250 HUF/dl
4/5
ÉS Bisztró
The terrace of ÉS Bisztró with its winter bar invites those who would like a more serene environment after strolling on buzzing Váci Street. Expect a hütte vibe here, with cool decorations, heaters, skis, and (of course) blankets. The classic Central European Tafelspitz sandwich is served in the festive pop-up hütte, where they also have hot goulash soup of excellent quality. What’s more, this is one of the few places where we can eat steamed sweet dumplings, the favorite treat of ski resorts. Mulled wine is available in white, rosé, and red variations. We fell in love with the rosé one, as the star anise and citrus gives it a really special, almost Oriental flavor. The beverages are served in ÉS mugs made especially for the holidays.
Price: 1,100 HUF/3 deciliters (+1,500 HUF deposit for the mug)
5/5
Pest-Buda
This pretty restaurant that specializes in providing traditional Hungarian flavors is located in the building of the oldest inn of the city, up in the Castle District on Fortuna Street. Their mulled wine is a traditional take on the beloved winter beverage, spiced up with cloves, oranges, and cinnamon. It’s a nice way to warm up after a long walk in the city’s most historic neighborhood.
Price: 400 HUF/deciliter (+ service charge)
