Hungary’s newest shopping mall has brought in numerous new vendors from abroad, making it an exciting addition to the city. For foreign visitors and expats who have tasted Häagen-Dazs ice cream before, this is an arrival long awaited. The ice cream brand is known the world over for its excellent quality and flavor.
If you’re a fan of ice cream, you know that not all ice creams are created the same way. In fact, there are distinctly different types of ice cream, aside from the basic variable of quality. What you’ll find at Häagen-Dazs is a denser, creamier product with less air than the fluffy ice creams you tend to find in Budapest. This makes for a rich experience.
What also sets this ice cream high above what you might find in the supermarket is the fact that it is made from entirely natural ingredients. Color and flavor additives are not included in any of the 24 flavors available in Hungary. Take the sweet-but-tart raspberry sorbet for example. It is the fruit you taste, not extra sugar, and the color is simply beautiful piled in a glass cup and dribbled with dark chocolate.
At the Häagen-Dazs café, you can choose from a large 90 gram scoop (about double what you normally get here) of whatever flavor makes your mouth water, whether it be Macadamia Nut Brittle, or Belgian Chocolate. Many of their flavors cannot be found anywhere else in Hungary. Or, opt for one of the sundae-style creations they have already come up with. Many of the delicious combinations have fresh baked cookies combined with the rich ice cream and warm toppings like fudge sauce to really satisfy the your sweet tooth.
While the ice cream could surely stand alone in creating a great experience, the café itself and the friendly staff round out any visit. They’ve created a comfy space with soft couches and chairs, tables that look out onto the passersby, and a generally welcoming atmosphere. This is the kind of place you could take a date or a good friend for a special occasion, or just stop into after catching a movie at the cinema located just steps away. Either way, you’ll feel that you are getting the best, something special.
As the weather warms up and our minds turn to cool treats, Häagen-Dazs is certainly a welcome newcomer to the region. For those who have had it before, it’s a bit of the familiar, and for those who haven’t, it’s a new taste of indulgence that will be hard to forget.
Häagen-Dazs
Arena Plaza Shopping Center
1087 Budapest, Kerepesi út 9.
(1st floor – next to the cinema)
Tel.: +36.1.455.0496
