Upon visiting – or living in – Hungary, it is worth tasting the local wines. Watch out, if you try them once, you won’t be able to live without them anymore! Here are 6+1 places you can enjoy Hungarians’ favourite drink.
Apropó
Located on one of the main arteries of the Party District of Budapest on lively Király utca, rustic and cozy Apropó (opened almost two years ago) puts an exciting spin on the concept of Hungarian wine bars, focusing more on the lesser-known cellars of the country, without lowering the quality, as well as serving seasonal Hungarian and international tapas dishes, such as goose breast carpaccio, ham plate and shrimps with citrus, chili and garlic. Their unique selection includes wines from Eger, Villány, Pannonhalma, Tokaj and Szekszárd, but they also keep some bottles from foreign lands, such as Italian wines and French champagnes. Last but not least, Apropó’s huge streetfront windows offer some great front-row seats for people-watching.
BIOdeVEGA Vegetarian Restaurant & Coffee
Just a stone’s throw away from Kossuth Lajos tér, Biodevega is a cozy safe haven intended for vegetarians looking for delicious foods made of organic ingredients, prepared without any gluten, lactose and added sugar. Rich in vitamins, minerals and fibers, the nutritious dishes are accompanied by faitrade coffee specialties, home-made fruit syrups, fresh juices, organic wines and unique craft beers. For those following a paleo or vegan diet Biodevega has a number of toothsome cakes and ice creams, and even meatlovers are welcome at the Báthory utca venue: their spelled wheat „healthburger”, made with a gray cattle-Mangalica patty, is both exciting and flavorful.
Doblo Wine Bar
Having opened as a simple wine shop more than ten years ago in the heart of the Jewish District, Doblo has since evolved into a slick and popular wine bar, known for its friendly atmosphere, their attentive and near-unchanged staff, and their fun wine and pálinka tasting packages, while also hosting live music performances from Sunday to Thursday. Their wine list includes the most renowned winemakers of Hungary, as well as bio-wines and the products of lesser known Hungarian talents that are worth paying attention to. Besides serving potent drinks, Doblo also offers a number of snack plates to pair your glasses with, like the caprese deluxe, the ham platter consisting of home-style ham, crafted smoked ham, Hungarian cottage cheese, Balkan bread and pickles.
Etyeki Kúria Winery
The Etyeki Kúria Winery is the Etyek wine region’s most sleek and modern winery, with grapevines scattered across an area of 32 hectares, producing award winning wines of the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties. Viticulture in the region dates back to Roman times, while Etyek’s oldest wine cellar was built on the orders of Archduke Joseph of the House of Habsburg. The Etyeki Kúria is not only a wine shop, but also a venue for hosting professional and family events, and a vinotheque focused on the knowledge-transfer of modern wine-making techniques and contemporary architecture. For a relaxing day-trip in tranquil countryside surroundings spent in the spirit of great wines and good cheer, give Etyeki Kúria a visit!
LEXO Bistro
Exceptionally fine fish dishes, contemporary plant-based creations for vegans and vegetarians alike, local craft beers and unique Hungarian wines, perfect for getting a taste of what the country’s renowned wine regions have to offer. This is LEXO, a hidden gem near Oktogon. LEXO is setting the bar high in terms of quality in everything they offer. Explore a three course dinner and surprise your taste buds with a roller-coaster of flavors. With the wine season kicking off in September, LEXO introduces a dynamic wine list to support its one page menu created by chef Márton Tatai. Go to LEXO for fish at its best, veggies with a heavenly taste, and pair the culinary delights with great Hungarian wines. At LEXO, summer is not ever over.
Stelázsi Restaurant
Extraordinary wine nights, Hungarian dishes, grandmotherly care, a neatly assorted wine shop, and interactive talks with winemakers, sommeliers and the cupbearer of the restaurant: situated on the corner of Nagyszombat utca and Lajos utca, Stelázsi pays equal attention to its á la carte selection, daily menu and winey events. The latter of which represent another tier of quality compared to other, similar events: take, for example, the Wine Dinners, where the wine and food pairings are presented by three-time champion sommelier Antal Kovács; or the WineThursdays, a monthly organized event at which the country’s finest wineries introduce their products, accompanied by the phenomenal plates of chef Balázs Papp and the welcoming words of cupbearer Ádám Almási. Visit Stelázsi Restaurant in September when the casual event will host Gyula Kúcs and his winery.
SzalonSpicc
Buda’s first wine bar was opened in 2012, and SzalonSpicc still enjoys unbroken popularity: situated just a few minutes’ walk from Széll Kálmán tér, in the pedestrian Lövőház utca, the wine joint awaits lovers of champagne and wine in a youthful environment with dozens of fine drinks, most of them produced in Hungary. A range of foreign-produced wines, sparkling wines and champagnes is also available, including bottles from France, Chile and New Zealand. The drinks are accompanied by a menu composed of juicy hamburgers, crispy fresh salads and a variety of wraps to choose from. As SzalonSpicc boasts a comfy terrace area, it’s the perfect place for some September wine time with the friends.
+1 Wine Harvest Festival
Held on 14 and 15 October on recently refurbished Kossuth Lajos tér in the 18th District, the Wine Harvest Festival of 2017 will muster up an august lineup of renowned wineries, pálinka houses, breweries and gastronomy exhibitors, coupled with tractors, hay bales and carriages, to evoke the spirit of a countryside village festival. Of course, there’s no outdoor event without handicrafts stalls, live music concerts, folk plays and workshops, so you’ll find plenty of them as well here, ensuring that both young and old will leave the festival in cheerful satisfaction. Trample on grapes, make your own must, and most importantly: have fun!
