On every International Women’s Day, Hungarian gentlemen honor ladies with gracious deeds like giving flowers to female friends and colleagues; inviting mothers, sisters, aunts, and daughters to lunch; or taking a sweetheart out for a night on the town – for in-depth details about Hungary’s fascinating Women’s Day history and modern-day rituals, read this article. Meanwhile, here are six happenings around Budapest on March 8th that are especially welcoming for fêting femininity.
“Festa della Donna” at Gustolato Budapest
Celebrating International Women’s Day with sensations of “amore”, this District V dining destination for tempting Italian delicacies and desserts will be pouring mimosas from morning until late at night. Bring your favorite lady (or ladies) here for lunch or dinner – menu options include pizza, homemade pasta, roasted meat dishes, and other Italian specialties – and every female guest will receive a sweet surprise gift, all while enjoying the eatery’s charming atmosphere and “delizioso” drinks. More details
“Cherchez La Femme” wine-tasting event at the Sofitel Budapest
Highlighting the tasteful accomplishments of female vintners, this high-spirited event allows visitors to sample sips from the best bottles by women winemakers from 28 different wineries. Featured producers include Angelika Árvay from the Árvay Family Winery, Sarolta Bárdos of Tokaj Nobilis, Mónika Debreczeni from the Vylyan Winery, Fruzsina Osváth of Royal Tokaji, and many other notable representatives of Hungary’s best wine regions. Between glassfuls of good libations, guests can snack on fine cheeses, gourmet ham, and other French delicacies provided by Chef Stéphan Rémon. More details (in Hungarian)
Women’s Day Wine Dinner at ARAZ Restaurant
As live music fills the casually elegant ARAZ eatery, Chef de Cuisine Áron Barka provides delicious international delicacies paired with quality Hungarian wines. The six-course menu includes butterfish with Jerusalem artichoke petals and roasted poppy seeds served with Apátsági Furmint Top Selection 2013, veal fillet with truffle and turnip cream accompanied by Gróf Buttler Kékfrankos 2015, and dark chocolate with jasmine, tapioca, and raspberry for dessert. Guests can enjoy the dinner with wines for a quite reasonable 11,990 per person (plus 10% service charge), and women diners receive a 10% discount. More details
“Ladies First” Chic Thursday party at Kupola Bar
Raise a glass to womanhood while enjoying a DJ’s audio artistry at the cosmopolitan Kupola Bar, a classic lounge with contemporary flair overlooking central Erzsébet Square from within The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest. For this Women’s Day celebration that doubles as the premiere of Kupola Bar’s Chic Thursday party series, all lady guests are treated to complimentary sparkling wine between 6pm and 8pm, and the first 30 women to arrive will receive a gift from the leading Hungarian cosmetics brand Omorovicza – and one visitor will win a luxurious Omorovicza Blue Diamond facial treatment. More details
Dalinda folk music album-release concert at Fonó
A trio of young Magyar women – Johanna Orbán, Julianna Paár, and Sára Tímár – comprise Dalinda, a Budapest-based a cappella group specializing in Hungarian folk songs belted out with authentic old-fashioned vocal style enhanced by modern musical elements. Dalinda is celebrating International Women’s Day by debuting a new album at Buda’s Fonó Music Hall, where these harmonious ladies will perform songs about womanly experiences with feminine energy and playfulness, spreading a vivacious spirit among the audience as the evening progresses. More details
“Dear Sisters…” party at KOLLÁZS
Shake what your mama gave you at this upscale Women’s Day celebration at Pest’s exclusive KOLLÁZS Brasserie & Bar, found in a timelessly sleek corner of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, an Art Nouveau landmark building by the Chain Bridge. Here a DJ helps guests get their groove on as they sip craft cocktails mixed by talented bartenders and devour gourmet snacks created by Chef Árpád Győrffy. This is the kickoff event for the new KOLLÁZS Beats party series, so the organizers are making sure that it will be a regal night to remember. More details
