Whether it’s a rooftop bar, a spa or tea at the Gresham, there are plenty of places around Budapest for girls to catch up – or even take a cooking class and learn how to make perfect Italian pasta!

1/10

360 Bar

From the top of the tallest building on Andrássy út, you can admire Budapest 360 degrees all around, with the Buda hills, Parliament and Citadella in the background, and the Basilica glinting at sunset, all with a cocktail in hand. You don’t have to forego this experience after autumn either, because the whole kit and caboodle gets winterised with transparent igloos, giving the city an entirely different perspective. The bar is accessible via the entrance alongside the Paris Department Store.

2/10

À La Maison

This French-style breakfast destination slap in the city centre provides set morning meals (Vienna, New York, Los Angeles) as well as an à la carte selection also available for lunch. Gossip over avocado and sweet potatoes on toast or feta pesto waffini in this shabby chic, Insta-friendly interior.

3/10

Anantara New York Palace Spa

The New York Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest, significant for Hungarians because of its historical and literary heritage. Below street level within this exquisite landmark, you will find an ice cave-themed spa, where ladies looking for perfect relaxation can enjoy tranquillity with champagne in hand, fruit and sweets, in relaxed female company. The spa has a 15-metre-long wellness pool, a tea room, a Finnish sauna and a hammam steam bath. Forget about the outside world as you can dive into complete indulgence with the help of professional masseurs and therapists. This year, the hotel has placed great emphasis on developing treatments with serums rich in mineral and divine scents perfect for the season.

Exclusively, this autumn, if you arrive with this article at the spa reception desk between 8 October and 31 December, you receive a 10% discount on all treatments! (x)


4/10

Bobo Restaurant

Family faces patronise this elegant spot in Buda, where classic Hungarian dishes and the flavours of international cuisine feature on the menu. In addition to the Kárpáthy pike-perch, there is also tuna steak, chicken paprikash with dumplings and rib-eye steak among the dishes. To close your meal, classic Hungarian cottage-cheese dumplings and ruby chocolate mille-feuille are both great choices. Haris Park, where the restaurant is located, is a magnificent property built in the late 19th century. The huge grounds around it suffered slings and arrows of 20th-century history before finally being transformed by the expertise of the Haris family steeped in hospitality and mercantile experience. They bought the place in the early 2010s, so villa and park may once again stand for aristocratic elegance. (x)

5/10

Casa Pomo D’oro: “It's good to eat Italian”

This autumn, “It's good to eat Italian” cooking courses will take place once again with chef Alessandro Manna at the Casa Pomo D’oro. This legendary series of six themed lessons selects from the classics of traditional Italian cuisine. Deservedly famous Italian sauces, homemade pasta, fish, meats, desserts and Italian tips for everyday meals all feature. An extraordinary experience is guaranteed, not only because of the recipes and dishes prepared from them, but also by the person, the chef, straight from Sicily, to make each session truly memorable with his unique style. Take a seat around the large table and dive into Italian gastronomy under the guidance of a professional chef! (x)

6/10

Chefparade Cooking School

It’s time to experience the joys of cooking with girlfriends, where none of you have to clean the dishes after making a great meal. In this cooking school dating back 15 years, you can choose from three themed courses at three locations. Fish, vegan, French or Italian flavours, desserts and chocolate workshops all feature, so it’s easy to choose. Each course lasts an average of three hours, and following the advice of professional chefs, success should be guaranteed for all participants! (x)

7/10

The Duchess

The newly opened Matild Palace was inspired by a grand dame of the Habsburg era, the Archduchess Clotilde. This aristocrat who lived at the end of the last century dealt in splendour and natural wonders, as illustrated by the sumptuous surroundings. The panoramic Duchess cocktail bar sits at the very top of this latest addition to the city’s luxury hotel stock. From the elegant lobby area, through a hidden door with a key logo, you take Budapest’s first lift to this opulent setting, evoking boudoirs of yore with its golden peacocks and heavy green velvet curtains. The exquisite cocktails suit the milieu.

8/10

Sunday tea at Múzsa

Feel like the Queen when you go for Sunday tea at the Gresham Palace, hosted at the recently opened cocktail bar Múzsa attached to the lobby. Served on custom-made Hungarian Herend porcelain with regal designs, the spread of English scones, muffins, savoury snacks and fine teas is partaken amid the refined surroundings of Art Nouveau décor authentically reconstructed from the fin-de-siècle original, and bright Zsolnay tiling. Live music also accompanies.

9/10

Vintage Garden

In these romantic surroundings, Insta fans will have a field day in the heart of the Jewish Quarter. Tranquillity, charm and French chic combine amid the pinks, whites and tasteful floral decorations, while the large covered terrace puts the visitor into a real fairytale. A great wine selection, hot chocolate and fabulous desserts also await.

10/10

Zileat

Just unveiled by the tram stop at Döbrentei tér, on the Buda side of Elizabeth Bridge, Zileat Brunch & Bistro is all things to all meal times. Zília Mocsári has always loved breakfast and brunch, so with the opening of this eatery in the narrowest building in the Tabán quarter, her dream came true. Zileat awaits with breakfasts and, from noon to 10pm, you can also choose from its bistro food selection. Among the brunch dishes, Eggs Benedict comes with homemade English muffins, Hollandaise foam, two perfectly creamy poached eggs, spinach, lime and salmon. But, with a hangover, a delicious English breakfast with homemade sausage and Serrano chips, with milk loaf, burrata, tomato salad and pesto, should help you start the day. For a serious blow-out, try the Dreamy crêpes, mouth-watering, creamy vanilla-and-cottage-cheese pancakes. Good food with a girly chat just makes for perfection when crowned with a breathtaking view of Gellért Hill and Elizabeth Bridge. (x)

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