There are three well-known stages of a perfect night out. First, a great dinner with friends. Second, a slick bar for sipping superb cocktails. And the finishing touch: the combination of a packed dancefloor and great DJs.
There’s nothing easier than accomplishing stages one and three in the Magyar capital. However, good cocktail bars are still a rare breed this side of the Alps. May I surprise you with our newly found gem, in the backdrop of the Basilica where the prices are not as high as the gorgeous building itself?
Opened last November, the Black&White Cocktail Bar has a remarkable 250 different colorful drinks on offer. You’ll have no problem finding your old-time faves there, be it a good mojito or a Long Island Iced Tea. But, if you trust us, this isn’t the direction you’ll be going there. Having travelled around Cuba to learn from the real Havana pros, rum-wise, bar supervisor Balázs Bácskai has come up with an exciting palette of drinks spiced up with his very own ideas (look for the Bartender’s Special Selection); all familiar tastes with a twist. Think chili-honey Caipirinha or a Batida with a Magyar cranberry pálinka swirl inside. As Balázs tells me, he’s been jotting down recipes, ideas and little cocktail tricks for years in his own, secret ‘Cocktails ABC’ book (I must admit, I had a peek). At Black&White, they exclusively work with Havana rums; apparently the pros swear it’s the spirit.
Havana, though, is not only in their drinks but also on their walls – a huge retro photo of a Havana street, black and white in fitting style, nicely breaks the otherwise modern décor, designed by Zita Varga, boasting simple fixtures lit with beams of pastel purple light crowned with a designer Swarovski chandelier. The vibe is pleasantly balanced between the posh and the pub-like.
Oh, and they do parties, of course. Besides their Small World series, specially designed for the expat community (but everyone’s welcome), they’ll have a sunny season kick off party on March 27th. The usual fresh fruits in your drink and orchids galore are guaranteed. Not the sharing type? They’ve got a separate place upstairs for house-party feel bashes. Mixing your own cocktails or getting the bar tender to do it, your choice. Their terrace is opening soon, too – I’m gonna be there sipping my Purple Rain admiring the Basilica by night.
Black&White Cocktail Bar
1051 Budapest, Szent István tér 4-5.
Tel.: +36.1.235.0208
+36.1.235.0209
+36.20.520.3820
Open: Mon.-Sat.: 6 p.m.-3 a.m. (until March 31), Mon.-Sun.: noon- 3 a.m. (from April 1)
www.bwbar.hu