Shows, concerts and cultural attractions – Budapest is always buzzing. Each week, we gather all of the important happenings taking place in our favourite city so you can plan ahead.
Friday, 8 March
Restaurant Week 2024
Restaurant Week (which is actually two weeks long) is in full swing, offering you the perfect chance to savour exquisite meals at top-notch restaurants with fixed prices from March 7th to 24th. Explore specially crafted 3-course menus available in three price categories: HUF 5,900 (approx. €15), HUF 7,900 (approx. €20), andHUF 9,900 (appr. €25), service charge included. The list boasts high-end restaurants, such as Costes Downtown, Flava Kitchen, Aranybástya or Spago by Wolfgang Puck. You can also delve into Taiwanese flavours at 101 Bistro, Lebanese dishes at Baalbek, or Italian treats at Allegro Ristorante & Bar on artsy Bartók Béla út. You can also indulge in Hungarian gastronomy at iconic spots such as Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant in the City Park or Első Pesti Rétesház (Strudel House) in downtown Pest.
More details and bookings here.
Lego Flower Market at Hello Buda
If you are on the hunt for a more imaginative Women's Day gift than a traditional bouquet, head to the Buda Hills! Here, the local favourite food court Hello Buda has stocked up a wide selection of vibrant flowers – with all of them crafted from Lego! After picking the perfect one, have a quick bite at one of the tempting food stalls!
The market is open between 4 pm - 8 pm on Friday, 10 am - 8 pm on Saturday, and 10 am - 6 pm on Sunday.
Details here.
Welcoming spring fair in the Csarnoknegyed
Hungarian designers and small business await with united forces at the Rákóczi tér (Vásár utca) at the weekend. So if you are up for exploring local brands, don't miss out on this event between March 8-9th. The participants include the bakery VAJ, clothing brand Verkstanden (hosting a garage sale), art studio Hullám stúdió (selling colourful T-shirts from the '60s and '70s), and IKIIKI Jewelry (offering discounts), bike store Csepel, and plant shop Pilea Project. Come mingle with locals and catch some great deals.
More details here.
Budapest Architecture Film Festival
If you are curious about architectural issues affecting the world, the region, and Hungary, make sure to join this film festival between March 7-10th! Organised by the Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre, the carefully selected programme is set to initiate a dialogue about our environment. Catch films like A Plan for Paradise, Foodscapes, and A World to Shape – all screened with English subtitles.
More details here.
Saturday, 9 March
Tulip Fair at Normafa Síház
In celebration of International Women's Day, Normafa Síház, located at the beloved hiking destination Normafa, will be brimming with tulips at the weekend (March 8-10th). Treat yourself or surprise a woman you love by picking a 10 or 20-stem bouquet. Then stay for a lovely strudel or kaiserschmarrn – not to mention the pretty views – in an chalet-like atmosphere.
More details here.
Women's Day pop-up at Berber Budapest
Berber Budapest offers gorgeous hand-knotted rugs from the Atlas Mountains. For March 9th, they also invited three female entrepreneurs to host a pop-up market together. So in addition to the rugs, you can also browse wonderful ceramics, jewellery, ethically made clothes, and accessories by DE_Ceramics, Kafi Folk, and Málna Jewellery.
More details here.
Noémi Barkóczi concert at trafó
Noémi Barkóczi is a talented Hungarian singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She and her bandmates are about to host a super cosy and intimate concert at the conemporary art centre, Trafó. If you join, you can not only get familiar with a local band (and language as the lyrics are in Hungarian), but step into a space that feels like someone's rented apartment.
Get tickets here.
Swedish Tap Takeover at Hopaholic
Craft beer enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that local beer bar Hopaholic (in the heart of the party district), is hosting a Swedish tap takeover this weekend (March 7-10th). That means you can not only sample Hungarian brews but also get to know some Scandinavian brands. More specifically, 5 breweries from Göteborg to Malmö will be presented, which we definitely wouldn't miss out on.
More details here.
Sunday, 10 March
bottomless brunch at the Pavilon restaurant & bar
Nestled in the inner courtyard of the newly opened Dorothea Hotel, and only steps away from Madame Tusseauds Budapest, Pavilon Restaurant & Bar is here to impress. Mouthwatering dishes get served up in the lush garden, all made of locally sourced ingredients. On Sundays, you can even sign up for a bottomless brunch, coming with – you guessed it – bottomless Prosecco, alongside a Bloody Mary Station, a signature smoothie, carving station, and all the other brunch essentials.
More details and booking here.
More fairs
If you are up for even more fairs, it's your lucky day as two more brilliant markets are popping up this Sunday. First, Kiskertpiac Plant Fair is opening its doors at downtown craft beer bar MADHOUSE, offering an array of colourful flowers and flower-related homeware. A little further away, in the stunning building of the Museum of Ethnography (2nd floor), the monthly design fair WAMP brings gorgeous accessories by Hungarian designers.
Oscar Day at Művész Art Cinema
On March 11th, the long-awaited Oscar Gala is coming! While you are waiting for the winners to be announced, join a day-long screening of the nominated films at Művész Art Cinemaon March 10th. Whether it's your first time or a rewatch, come along; the majority of the films will be screened in their original language.
More details here and here (Hungarian only).
