Pizza Manufaktúra and Manu+ are names pizza lovers in Budapest need to know. These are two small and fuss-free eateries, where the pizzas are outstanding. While Pizza Manufaktúra makes Roman-style variations, Manu+ goes Neapolitan. The best thing about each of them is that their genie lies in their simplicity. There aren't too many variations, but the service is quick, the ingredients are superb (San Marzano tomatoes, pizza flour from Naples) and the pizzas are perfect. Now Manu+ has been renovated a little, making a bit more space for all those pizza lovers that always flood this downtown eatery.
Hiding in a shadowy courtyard full of local history at Múzeum körút 7, Manu+'s location is quite special. And as more space was achieved by knocking down the wall between Manu+ and the adjacent venue, the eatery also gained a cast-iron spiral staircase, which is at least 200 years old and was once moved from a countryside mill to Budapest. Some new seats were also brought in, but Manu+ kept to its simple, makeshift and no-frills style. Nothing too fancy, but perfect in flavour.
Basic variations such as Margherita or vegan Marinara cost 1,500 forints, while fancier pizzas are 2,000 forints. You pick one from the menu, place your order and then basically just have time to settle in at your table before your dish is delivered. As the dough is raised for minimum of 24 hours, the pizzas only really need a minute in the oven to be baked to perfection.
The centrepiece is still the little original black-and-white oven from Naples, decorated with mosaics that together make up the name of the eatery – this is where the magic happens. Meanwhile, ales by popular Hungarian craft beer brewery Monyó now also feature. Bear in mind that for the time being, you cannot pay by card. And even though altogether 31 people can now enjoy pizza at Manu+ at any one time, if it is still full when you visit, you can head to the nearby Károlyi Garden, a beautiful inner-city park.
