There are no stag party groups or beer bikes around here. Instead, we are greeted by the unadulterated, romantic atmosphere of Józsefváros. Children are chasing a tabby cat on the street, and workers from construction sites and offices frequently drop by for a coffee, syrup or fröccs. Cintányéros is a classic-yet-modern wine tavern, not a wine bar. This place isn’t defined by snobbery, but by the sincere love of eating, drinking, and community life, with a nice selection of wines, cheeses, and meat platters, non-specialty coffee and no pallet furniture. Kata and Imre showed us Cintányéros.
Kata and Imre worked abroad for a long time before deciding to return home last summer and embark on something entirely different from what they did before. They love District
VIII, gastronomy, wines, and beers, and could generally be called hedonists. They only have a few favorite places, because they eventually find that their favorites have changed too much. So, they decided to create the perfect hangout for themselves, start a different lifestyle, learn the profession, and offer something good for a good price.
Thus Cintányéros Borozó (“Cymbalist Wine Tavern”) was born, called a tavern instead of a wine bar for good reason. The place opens at 9am with fresh coffee – not some fancy specialty either, but good old hearty Italian java. They serve lunch, have fröccs ready after work, and gladly serve guests who want to drink and eat until late at night. All of this can possibly be accompanied by live music; a pianino is already provided for anyone to play.
Imre admittedly likes old-school stuff and preserving traditions. Hence the tavern’s name; the whole district and Cintányéros itself carries this charming nostalgia. The design is absolutely authentic; everything from the chairs through the gallery’s railing to the glasses and plates came from the past. For example, the aforementioned pianino is more than 100 years old, and was the property of the previous owner of Imre and Kata’s apartment. The photos above are family memories, and the chandelier was already in the shop. Fortunately, they decided not to become another ruin bar.The wines in Cintányéros have been carefully selected; the wines by the glass, including white, rosé, and red, all cost 220 forints per deciliter, while the price of bottled items ranges between 290 and 1,000 forints per deciliter – all from the Hungarian wine regions of Etyek, Csopak, and Szekszárd. They get their pálinka from small suppliers as well, in unique flavors like apricot, mulberry, and blackthorn. There’s no cola on the drink menu, instead they offer syrups and soda. In addition to drinks, they naturally have some snacks, as well: the meat platter (sausage and ham, 1,500 HUF), the cheese platter (savory Hungarian hard cheeses, 1,500 HUF) and grilled sausages, served with slightly piquant Dijon mustard, mixed pickles, and fresh horseradish (700 HUF).This is the secret of Cintányéros: paying attention to quality and service, understanding the area and appreciating good wine.
