BUDAPEST FISH FESTVAL IN THE PALACE QUARTER

Living in the Palace Quarter has its many advantage. I love the neighborhood because there are so many beautiful buildings, everything is within walking distance, yet it is quiet and liveable. There have been plenty refurbishing going on int he past couple of years, and it makes me happy to see that a lot of new restaurants and shops open in the area. If you are around in the middle of February, don’t miss out on the Fish Festival that will take place in the garden of the National Museum and its surroundings at Pollack Mihaly square.

There will be over a hundred types of fish to choose from

There will be over a hundred types of fish from all over  the world to taste, you can take part or just watch the fishsoup cooking competition and listen to some folklore music. In 2014 the guest country is Russia, so you will be able to taste plenty of Russian fish specialities as well!

Of course you will also be able to taste wines and palinka, and many other traditional Hungarian dishes. The 3 day festival also offers a lot of programs for children, so it can be also a great family time to look around at the festival. Early birds can get a lot of things for a discounted price, you can print their coupons from their Facebook page.The coupons are only valid on 13 February, so make sure you get there on time!

Traditional Hungarian fishsoups

Useful information about the festival:
Where: District 8 at the National Museum and Pollack Mihaly square
When: 13-16 February, 2014. 
Website: http://budapestihalfesztival.hu/http://budapestihalfesztival.hu/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BudapestiHalfesztival

Would you like to know what else is worth tasting in Hungary? Check out our recommendations here!

If you've found this post useful, please join our Facebook page and also please share with your friends!

LIVING HISTORY THROUGH AMAZING PICTURES

A selfie way before it was cool (1920)

The other night we just had a discussion about Fortepan with a friend over a bottle of wine and some snack, and she suggested that the founders of this site should deserve a Nobel price for creating such an amazing thing for the world. And I really think she is right. I’d known Fortepan for some time and I actually found it pretty amazing even when I first saw it, but I never really took the time to browse its pictures thoroughly enough, and to be honest, I also didn’t think that so many more pictures have been uploaded to it recently. But why is Fortepan so precious to us? Not only because it was created by Hungarians, there's so much more to the story. 

So let me tell you a bit about it!

Fortepan started as a private collection of photographs that were taken between 1910 and 1990 mainly in Hungary and the pictures were uploaded by the two founders. They started with 500 pictures that they found either at home or among household junks. As words had spread, more and more people scanned and sent their pictures to the founders and also in the meantime several libraries and institutions contacted them offering their archives, so today it has over 33.000 pictures and this number is increasing day by day. 

Soldiers in World War I

The site is very simple to use, you can read all about it by clicking here. 

But if you think that you would only find pictures of Hungary, then think again! I’ve just realized that there’s a lot of pictures uploaded from all over the world. 

Do you live in New York City, in Switzerland or in a small village of Germany? Check out the site, as you might be surprised, they might have pictures from your neighborhood from your grandparen's childhood as well.

Women in Coney Island in 1915

Check out their site and take the time to browse for either amazing pictures of Hungary in the 20th century or maybe you also have some great pictures that you would like to send to Fortepan so everybody around the world can see it. 

The 1956 Revolution in Budapest

Believe me, it's amazing to see pictures of times that you only heard about from your grandparents, or I think it is also funny to see pictures from my childhood realizing that everybody else looked exactly the same in the 1980s in Hungary.

The Berlin Wall in 1988

It’s like recreating the world in pictures that existed before this whole online social craziness took over. Enjoy what you see there, and if you like it, please spread the word to the world!
For more about Hungary, join us on Facebook! 

HUNGARY'S ATTRACTION SHADOW PERFORMANCE THEATER WON THE 2013 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT!

Once upon a time in 2013, Hungarian dance group called Attraction Shadow Performance Theater went to London in order to try themselves at Britain's got talent, and I must tell you it was a brillant idea. Why? Because they actually won the 2013 Britain's got talent! 
Today, this amazing dance group is performing in front of over a billion people at the Chinse New Year Gala.

Watch their first performance here that dazzled the judges and the audience as well.

Their semi-final shadow theater performance has been watched over 5 million times!



Aaaand obviously they have an amazing shadow performance about Hungary as well: 

We just can't get enough of them. What about you? If you like what you've just seen, please share with your friends! :)

IN THIS SURGERY ROOM EVERYTHING IS EDIBLE

Are you stressed, exhausted, have mental problems? They can help! 

How about drinking a shot from a doctor's needle as an appetizer? Then you should eat the food that comes out from the surgery room. If you wish, you can sit in a wheelchair while eating, and feel free to use the lab if you need to go to the restroom. 

Confused? Don't be! I'm only talking about the latest and probably one of the craziest restaurants that has opened recently near the Blahaz Lujza square in Budapest. It is called Rendelő in Hungarian, which can be translated as the doctor's office or a clinic.

Upstairs interior

If you've ever wondered, what a real socialist doctor's office must have looked like, then you've found it. Everywhere you look, you will see surgical lamps, wheelchairs, infusion holders and all other medical equipments that otherwise could only be seen at the doctor's.

The brain and its parts as wallpaper

Just like at the doctor's

But let's keep in mind that it is actually a restaurant and a bar, so let me tell you a bit about the food as well.

They serve Hungarian and international food, and they also have fish & chips! It's worth stopping by on a weekday, as they offer lunch menus between noon and 5 pm. You can get a two course meal for 890 FUF, while a 3 course meal cost 1090 HUF. Very good food for very good price.

A three course meal cost 1090 HUF (ca. 3,50 EUR)

If you are around some other time, you can try their pastas for an average price of 1700 HUF or main dishes for about 2000 HUF.

The staff is very kind, they speak English, and it is just something that you can not miss if you are in Budapest!

Streetview, just a couple of steps away from Blaha Lujza square

Contact details:

Rendelő resto & bar

1085 Budapest, 8 Somogyi Béla Street

Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday: 11:00-24:00, Thursday - Saturday: 11:00-01:00, Sunday: 12:00-22:00

TOP RESTAURANTS OUTSIDE BUDAPEST: WESTERN-HUNGARY

Think outside of Budapest! Are you heading towards the western part of Hungary, especially Lake Balaton? Then these are the restaurants that you should definitely try on your way! All of them are listed among the top restaurants in Hungary. We've had the chance to try most of them, so we can give you first-hand recommendation about these really amazing places.

BALATONSZEMES

Appetizer: duck liver with peach compote

KISTÜCSÖK RESTAURANT 

Kistücsök Restaurant is located in Balatonszemes at Lake Balaton, about 130 kms away from Budapest, you can easily get there by train or by car. 

They have been around for over 20 years and have become one of the top restaurants in Hungary. 

As the area is rich in many raw materials, the owner of Kistücsök puts great emphasis on using these ingredients in their meals. Also, they offer a wide variety of wines from the best winemakers of the area.

They have a sunny outside area, where you should sit in the Summertime, this way you can not only enjoy the food and wine but also the nice breeze that comes from Lake Balaton. 

After your nice lunch or dinner, don't forget to take a walk at the lake, which is within 5 minutes walk from the restaurant.

Opening hours: Everyday between 11 am - 11 pm

Also, find them on Facebook and Foursquare.  

Exact address: 8636 Balatonszemes, 25 Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street
Get the Kistücsök feeling by watching their introduction video.

SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR

67 RESTAURANT & BISTRO 

67 Restaurant & Bistro is located in Székesfehérvár, which is about 70kms away from Budapest, on the way to Lake Balaton. The owners of the restaurant were all born in 1967, so they simply named their place 67. 

Unfortunately their website is only in Hungarian, but the pictures of their meals should be enough to convince you to take the trip! 

Not to mention that they are among the TOP 10 countryside restaurants of Hungary. 

For more mouthwatering pictures please find them on Facebook and Foursquare!

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday between 11:30 am  - 11:30 pm 

Exact address: 8000 Székesfehérvár, 1-3 Jókai Street

KÖVESKÁL

cottage style open-air bar for bikers and walkers

KERÉKBÁR

If you are in the Uplands of  Lake Balaton, we suggest to stop in Köveskál. There are two places that you should visit. But first of all, you should arrive very hungry, as your first place to visit should be the KerékBár which is an open-air place mainly for bikers, but obviously it is ok to simply walk in there. 

We recommend to take a minute (or more) to look around, as the view is really stunning from here. Also, if you haven't tried fröccs (white wine or rose mixed with club soda) yet, it's the perfect time for it along with a slice of bread with fat and red onion! Yes, this is what you should eat as an appetizer once you are there. We guarantee that you will love it!

homemade bread with fat and red onion

Exact address: 

KerékBár
8281 Köveskál, Kővágóörsi út. 10.

Now you can head to one of the best restaurants in Hungary which is located in about 5 minutes walking distance.

KŐVIRÁG RESTAURANT

Another country-style restaurant that offers traditional Hungarian and international dishes. They have a really beautiful interior design, buti n the summertime we recommend to sit outside. It really feels like you were soemhere else in a Mediterranean countryside. The dishes are amazingly delicious, the staff is kind and the environment is simply stunning. 

we had fish served on salad

Unfortunately their website and Facebook pages are unavailable in English, but believe me, it is worth giving them a chance.

Exact address:

8274 Köveskál, 9/A Fő út

VIDEOS ABOUT HUNGARY

Still hesitating to visit Hungary? We can help you make a decision. Just watch these videos about Hungary and there will be no more doubts. We promise! 

The latestest image videoclip about Hungary:

Budapest from the sky:

A great video about Budapest:

Pictures of Hungary turned into a videoclip. 
A bit long, but it is worth watching it:

BUDAPEST IN 1938, BABY!

We just can't get enough of this video! Simply amazing!
It was filmed in 1938. If you have 8 minutes, please do take the time to watch it!
Enjoy!