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)
