If you fancy diving deep into the Hungarian pop culture, Klinika is the place to go. This brand-new community hub in Budapest’s District XIII assembles a fusion of attractions within a tiny locale. From fine java to a vinyl selection of independent local labels and music books, you’ll find plenty of entertainment under one roof. Acoustic concerts and relaxed DJ sessions add to the intimate atmosphere in a city brimming with crowd-pulling ruin bars and sizeable clubs.
The city’s Újlipótváros area is not an immediate choice for after-hours entertainment. While small-scale cafés and fine restaurants are cropping up all around the neighborhood, for concerts or a nightcap crowds usually congregate in Budapest’s District VII party vortex. Now, recently opened Klinika provides a new alternative for music lovers looking for a place to hang out away from bar hub. A fashionable vintage vibe, atmospheric live acts and some top pálinka brands should guarantee good times.
“Klinika is the modern successor to a former book café that occupied this same location,” explains Péter Jakab, founder of this new venue and singer of alternative Hungarian band Jazzékiel. “We’ve given a boost to the merchandise of the previous café by adding records on indie Hungarian labels and books related to pop culture,” says Jakab, who opened Klinika in cooperation with insiders of the local music and nightlife scene.
This same team runs Klinik, a Budapest-based alternative record label that serves as an inspiring platform for this semi-hidden hangout, a real treasure trove for audiophiles. Here, a wide vinyl selection should provide an introduction to the world of Hungarian music, from power pop troupe Dope Calypso to indie-influenced Jónás Vera Experiment. Meanwhile, you can browse books, mostly Hungarian, focusing on legends of the music industry.
After dark, you can come here for acoustic concerts, solo performances and occasional live DJ sessions. Klinika also plans gallery exhibitions, movie nights, and gastronomic and literary gatherings. No matter what event you are here for, you can always chill out here over a beer, wine, cocktails or spirits. With all of these funky features, this offbeat refuge is worth making a detour for, away from the city’s main artery.
