People say that a steaming cup of Earl Gray is the best way to trick your thirst during summertime, but let's be honest – you would also prefer a cold lemonade over a hot tea. So let's stick to sour lemonades, smoothies that are like liquid fruit-bombs, and icy shakes. Apart from keeping an eye on the price-to-value ratio, we fancied places that only use fresh ingredients and offer a really tasty treat. Here are ten-plus-one options from cocktail bars to clubs, from the city center to the suburbs, and from cheap to expensive, so that everybody can find a place to swill and chill.
2/12
Zelefánt Organic & Sushi Bistro
As the dominant green color scheme here suggests, Zelefánt is about refreshment. Even though they have homemade lemonades, the wide variety of smoothies is what makes this place so special. They offer mixed fruit juices (including tropical treats like mango, pineapple, papaya, kiwi and more) and yogurt-based beverages (such as bilberry-and-redcurrant or raspberry). Be careful – a bigger glass of the vitamin bombs here can make you feel so stuffed that you will surely skip breakfast or lunch. You can also ask for 'normal' carrot or orange juice. INFO
Cost: 290 HUF/dl
anti syrup-zone; take-away cups available
Update: Zelefánt is no longer operating.
3/12
A38 Ship
Well, A38 offers something for all of our senses, like sweet music for our ears, a wonderful panorama for our eyes, and cold lemonade for our tongues. Sorry, we said lemonade? Their cooler comes with so much lemon, lime, and orange that it's more like a sour citrus bomb, but we like it that way. The options are: normal, raspberry-, strawberry-, and elderberry-flavored lemonade. Water is replaced with soda here. Lay back and enjoy a good concert while you have a liquid refresher. INFO
Cost: 650 HUF
4/12
raqpart
Don't hurry when visiting here – even if you plan to just hop in for a to-go cup, stay a few minutes to enjoy the view raqpart offers. Located at the Pest side of Chain Bridge, this new place offers hipster-friendly glasses, creative lemonade (such as basil-strawberry or cucumber-elderberry flavors), and smoothies (try the red-berry variety) for thirsty clubbers. If you wanna spice things up a bit, they can add alcohol in any version for some extra money. Drinks come with crushed ice.
INFO
Cost: lemonade/smoothie, 3 dl: 490 HUF; 5 dl: 690 HUF (without alcohol). 3 dl: 890 HUF; 5 dl: 1,290 HUF (with alcohol).
anti syrup-zone; take-away cups are available
5/12
Blue Fox
Gourmet lemonade – does a thing like that exist? The answer is yes, at the Blue Fox. The most elegant bar of our roundup takes an expert approach toward these liquid refreshers, concocting special combinations that cannot be found anywhere else. For example, We Love Lemonade consists of grapefruit soda, attar, strawberry, lime, sugar, and chocolate mint. Tempting, isn't it? With the Violet Julep, the lemonade reflects their luxurious side once again; although the name suggests that it contains alcohol, they replace the strong stuff with sugar, fig jam, lime juice, crushed ice, and soda all contained in a beautiful silver vessel. Cheers!
INFO
Cost: for seasonal offers, ask the Blue Fox staff
6/12
Vintage Garden
Vintage Garden is like a hidden gem of Budapest, and now that they have opened their terrace, things are only better – this became the sweetest spot of Hungary's capital. If you want to be amongst the trendsetters, check in here with an icy lemonade in hand. We've tried the varieties flavored with lavender and rose-water and the strawberry-flavored version, and this place didn't let us down: it's not only cute, but also the staff knows everything about lemonade. Lovely!
INFO
Cost: 750 HUF (5 dl)
7/12
Ahoy! Chocolate & Lemonade Bar
Not too far from Ferenciek Square, there is a place called Ahoy! Chocolate & Lemonade Bar, where there are so many different things to drink that we tried not two but four types of coolers. The place changed its management and profile recently, and we must say that this was a wise decision! Lemonade is served in jam jars and mostly consists of fresh fruits: raspberry, redcurrant, and sundry citruses – don't forget to grab a spoon. When it comes to shakes, the one with banana, biscuits and caramel is, well, addictive. The mango smoothie was creamy, and they have a special icy Belgian-chocolate drink.
INFO
Cost: lemonade 5dl: 880 HUF (1,150 HUF if you want some rum in it too); shake 3dl: 690 HUF, 4dl: 890 HUF; smoothie 3dl: 690 HUF, 4dl: 890 HUF; icy chocolate: 2dl: 750 HUF, 3dl: 900 HUF
8/12
Macesz Bistro (Closed)
Our favorite Jewish restaurant is not just about dinner and wine, but about special lemonades – and the bustling climate of Kazinczy Street begs for something cold and refreshing. We've tried two specialties: green apple with ginger and basil with raspberry. In the former one, there were so many chunks of green apple and ginger that we couldn't resist asking for another round; evidently with every sip, they don't use syrup here. The best lemonade of District VII can be found here!
INFO
Cost: classic lemonade 5dl: 650 HUF; flavored version 5dl: 750 HUF;
anti-syrup zone
9/12
Kandalló Kert
The younger brother of Kandalló Artisanal Pub is not only about burgers and craft beers, but also about lemonades that are a real thrill for both our eyes and tongues. They are served in vintage jam jars – our favorite was the cucumber-citrus version, which sounds strange at first, but think about it: cucumber soup is a great refresher. The artisanal elderberry-syrup-based version is also a must. All of the lemonades comes with handful of sliced lemon and orange with crushed ice.
INFO
Cost: 5dl: 590 HUF
10/12
Legelő Salad Bar (Closed)
There is a long list of reasons why you can love Legelő: fresh and healthy salads, good vibes, quick service – and after our test, we must add the freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies, and irresistable drinks. Berry White is a great refresher with yogurt, red berries, and banana. Green Day not only succeeds in combining punk appeal and healthy living, but finds the balance between spinach, pineapple, and banana – you’d have to be an American idiot if you miss this. Arrive before or after lunchtime if you don’t intend to stay for long.
INFO
Cost: smoothie 3dl: 690 HUF, freshly squeezed juices 3dl: 650 - 720 HUF
anti syrup-zone; take-away cups, and optional home delivery
11/12
IÑEZ food bar
IÑEZ food bar offers bagel sandwiches, salads, quiche, and frittata for those in a hurry needing to grab a quick something to eat – but you can sit down and take your time here, too. Everything is made of the freshest ingredients and sold for very fair prices. They have classic lemonade that comes with a huge portion of citrus fruits and without syrup. We couldn’t complain about it, or about their mango lassi. Even though this roundup is only about freshly made refreshers, we must add that they also have ice-cold Club Mate tea.
INFO
Cost: lemonade 3dl: 360 HUF, mango lassi 3dl: 550 HUF
anti syrup-zone; take-away cups
12/12
Kino Cafe mozi
Kino is always a good way to start your day, and since there are always fruits in the fridge or on the counter, we tried the house lemonade and a fruit shake. The classic lemonade transported us back to our childhood: our grandma prepared this summer classic in a very similar way, with fresh lemon and lime. The grapefruit-banana shake was a match made in a heaven: the bitter taste of the grapefruit went very well with the sweetness of the banana.
INFO
Cost: lemonade 3dl: 450 HUF, 5dl: 650 HUF; shake 3dl: 470 HUF, 5dl: 670 HUF
