Take in the Danube, bridges and Pest cityscape from the lively terrace of Mike’s Pop-up Garden

Last year, Mike’s Pop-up Garden appeared for the first time at Várkert Bazár. So many people wanted the southern terrace to be open to visitors, to enjoy the 360-degree panorama of the Danube, Pest cityscape, the bridges and Buda Castle.


The list of venues at the Neo-Renaissance building, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, is now complete with this lively destination that avoids the usual clichés. Instead of a luxury restaurant or a standard cafe, this is more than just a place to relax outside – much more, in fact.

Here at Mike’s Pop-up Garden, they await guests on weekdays at 4pm, and at weekends from noon, so you can start the daytime party then. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, a DJ plays on the terrace, in the direction of electronic music rather than today’s hits. This is also attractive, as the musical offerings on many terraces are so similar. The crew at Mike’s wanted to shake things up a bit.

Don’t book a table at Mike’s for a complete dinner, but if you arrive hungry, tapas-style finger foods and Lazio-style pizzas can provide comfort before you get stuck into the drinks. Many enjoy spritzers and beer, but the range of cocktails and spirits is also inviting. For example, the gin selection is excellent and there’s no special G&T that they can’t fix. As an absolute extra, hookah pipes are also provided at tables, if they’re needed – youngsters love this Oriental smoke, by day or at night.

The city and the Buda side have really benefitted from places of this kind, which combine everything you need from a terrace. The view is, of course, hard to beat. Especially if there’s background music set for sunset, of the type played at Mike’s Pop-up Garden.