Hungary - Eastern Europe - page 347

rebirths, the place has turned into a welcoming, red-dominant interior with a dance
floor in the back where karaoke awaits visitors on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday.
A minimalist selection of homemade-style specialties is served during the day. Crowd:
20s and 30s. VI. Teréz körút 30. & 1/269-5566. www.underground-budapest.hu. Metro: Oktogon
(Yellow line) or tram 4 or 6.
THE BAR SCENE
Aloe A sizzling bar filled with long-legged lovelies with warm-brown eyes, and pow-
erful yet remarkably cheap drinks prepared by attentive bar staff. This place is known
among locals as the temple of good, inexpensive cocktails. Open daily 5pm to 2am.
VI. Zichy Jenó u. 34. & 1/269-4536. Metro: Nyugati pu. (Blue line).
Balettcipó A colorful, cheerful coffeehouse/bar in the heart of the theater district—
behind the Opera house, “Ballet shoe” has a laid-back, open atmosphere—great for
catching up with a longtime friend. A largely Hungarian client base and a simple yet
refreshing cafe-style menu. Open Monday through Friday 8am to midnight, and Sat-
urday and Sunday 10am to midnight. VI. Hajós u. 14. & 1/269-3114. Metro: Opera (Yellow
line).
Becketts A lively authentic Irish pub, Becketts serves the best Guinness in the city
to the crowd of expats and local high-class yuppies. The cheerful staff—some with a
clear Irish accent—the spacious bar, a cozy restaurant, live music, and/or the lively
sport telecasts pack the pub throughout the week. Open Monday through Friday
noon to 1am, and Saturday and Sunday noon to 3am. V. Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 72.
& 1/311-1033. www.budapestsun.com/becketts. Metro: Nyugati pu. (Blue line).
Fregatt This was the first English-style pub in Hungary, though now it's too
crowded and noisy to really feel like one. Hungarians make up the better half of the
clientele, but American and other English-speaking expats also frequent this place.
Guinness stout is on draft. Live jazz is performed on Thursday and Sunday. Open
Monday through Friday 3pm to 1am, and Saturday and Sunday 5pm to 1am. V. M o l -
nár u. 26. & 1/318-9997. Metro: Ferenciek tere (Blue line) or tram 2, 47, or 49.
Irish Cat Pub This was the first Irish-style pub in Budapest; there's Guinness on tap
and a well-equipped whiskey bar. It's a popular meeting place for expats and travelers.
The pub features a full menu. Open daily 11am to 2am. V. Múzeum krt. 41. & 1/266-4085.
www.irishcat.hu . Metro: Kálvin tér (Blue line).
Janis Pub Named and decorated after the illustrious wild-child Janis Joplin, this
easily accessible pub features a fine selection of alcohols at moderate prices, '70s and
'80s hits, and the occasional live concert. Open Monday through Thursday 4pm to
2am, Friday and Saturday 4pm to 3am, and Sunday 6pm to 2am. V. Királyi Pál u. 8.
& 1/266-7364. www.janispub.hu. Metro: Kálvin tér or Ferenciek tere (Blue line).
Kuplung Located in a former warehouse, Kuplung (Clutch) packs a lively, young
crowd in its stony interior. In a squat-like atmosphere, table football (csocsó) fans spin
away on one of the many tables, while loud groovy sounds fill this vast hangar. Cheap
drinks might just make you “clutch” onto your chair. Open daily 6pm to 5am. VI. Király
u. 46. No phone. Tram: 4 or 6 to Király u.
Picasso Point This cafe-bar-restaurant joint is a popular hangout among the local
youth, which is understandable knowing that Picasso Point has a downright warm,
welcoming atmosphere which is only underlined by the ever-smiling staff. By day the
restaurant offers a wide selection of local specialties, while adventure-seekers find