Opera Gin raises a glass to its birthday by unveiling the classy Sfinx Gin & Wine Bar

Budapest’s own award-winning Opera Gin has celebrated its fifth birthday by opening the classy Sfinx Gin & Wine Bar on showcase boulevard, Andrássy út. Encouraged by the success of their Újpest showroom and tasting room, Bálint Dámosy and his team conceived of the Sfinx in these exclusive surroundings, where the fin de siècle meets contemporary art in a convivial setting.

Inspired by the two sphinxes that guard the nearby Opera House, the First Hungarian Gin Manufactory has just opened its first flagship bar on the ground floor of the Hotel Moments Budapest. Here the award-winning Red Dot design team has created the perfect setting for London-Dry style Opera Gin and similar refined spirits to be served.

Stuck out at their distillery in Újpest, Bálint and team had the notion to set up a flagship bar in the city centre.

In addition to Opera Gin, they were also thinking about creating a wider selection of spirits and wines, plus matching bar dishes, and came to the conclusion that this combination is almost exclusively available in the better hotel bars of Budapest.

The superior gastronomy comes courtesy of acclaimed chef Mariann Kiss, who has already dazzled Jeremy Irons and Brad Pitt with her stylish dishes. Here, they take the form of small plates of bar food, two or three of which can make up for a full dinner.

The duck liver is marinated in gin matured in István Balassa's Tokaj aszú barrels and, together with the pickled radish, algae and chili, summons a smoky, spicy, sweet-and-sour taste perfect for cocktail pairings. The hamburger spring rolls, with three types of cheese, come with three delicious dips.

The hamburger with medium steak is flavoured with Opera Gin spices and served with raclette. The chips deserve special praise, as they are made in a precise three-stage process to ensure the perfect taste. The ostrich slices offer further unique flavours, ensuring that the food maches the high-quality spirits and wines.

An important element of the gastronomic concept is that both the signature cocktails and the cosmopolitan creations of Mariann Kiss are based on Opera Gin or its ingredients, but there are an additional 25 gins and a drinks list with 65 international and Hungarian wines.

The Sfinx awaits a sophisticated clientele with classy cocktails and a delicious culinary offer.