Referred to by owners and regulars as either the Big Lumen or New Lumen, the latest addition to the many new-wave cafés in Pest is an offshoot of the tiny namesake gallery and terrace space nearby. Like the original Lumen, the new stablemate, naturally larger and more recently unveiled, offers quality own-brew coffee in tasteful surroundings. Branded with the same coffee-cup logo, Lumen on Horánszky utca can seat smoking customers in a pleasant adjoining courtyard and stage live entertainment most nights of the week. Little Lumen on Mikszáth Kálmán tér continues to function, a showcase of contemporary photography.
Denizens of District VIII may well remember the Apacuka, now a Mediterranean restaurant in Budapest’s theater quarter. In its former space behind Gutenberg tér, the Lumen crew has installed a multipurpose venue, a breakfast-to-past-bedtime operation where you can start the day with scrambled eggs and finish it with live jazz.
In between, there are lunches to be eaten, Czech beer to be necked and house wine to be sipped, all affordably.
First, though, the décor. A conservatory-like space, flooded with natural light and aptly filled with dark green houseplants, is lined with buff-colored seating, covered with old coffee sacks.
Their former contents are served with aplomb as lattes and macchiatos, served all day long but best kick in during the breakfast hours between 8am and noon. The grilled sausage and fried egg option should kill any hangover known to man.
During the week, the soups (950 forints) and mains (1,200 forints, 1,450 for both courses) change daily, or you’ll find Hungarian favorites and pad Thai dishes in the 1,800-forint range.
Postřižinské of Hrabal and Menzel lore is the draught beer of choice, brewed in Nymburk east of Prague, while the house wines come from Szekszárd. You can also choose from a list 20-long, provided by the glass or by the bottle.
A door near the main entrance leads to a small concert hall, put to good use for groups, duos, trios and even theater, a much-needed live venue battling against the tide of gastro-focused former bars.
