A DAY IN BUDAPEST – RECOMMENDED BY DAVID

BEGIN THE DAY WITH A RELAXING VISIT TO ONE OF BUDAPEST’S ICONIC TURKISH THERMAL BATHS. START ON THE PEST SIDE AND TAKE A LEISURELY WALK ACROSS THE ELIZABETH BRIDGE, ENJOYING PANORAMIC VIEWS OF GELLÉRT HILL AND THE CASTLE DISTRICT. JUST ON THE BUDA SIDE OF THE BRIDGE LIES RUDAS THERMAL BATH, WHERE A FEW UNHURRIED HOURS IN THE HISTORIC POOLS SET AN IDEAL TONE FOR THE DAY.

AFTER YOUR BATH, HEAD TO CAPHE BY HAI NAM FOR A VIETNAMESE-INSPIRED BRUNCH. THE CAFÉ IS A SHORT WALK ALONG BARTÓK BÉLA ÚT, A CHARMING BOULEVARD KNOWN FOR ITS GALLERIES, CAFÉS, AND SMALL BOUTIQUE SHOPS. THE WALK ITSELF IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE, THOUGH THE AREA IS ALSO EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY TRAM OR BUS.

FROM THERE, CONTINUE TOWARD VÁRKERT BAZÁR, LOCATED BELOW THE CASTLE DISTRICT BETWEEN THE ELIZABETH AND CHAIN BRIDGES. THE AREA OFFERS BEAUTIFUL VIEWS ACROSS THE DANUBE TOWARD PEST AND IS IDEAL FOR A RELAXED STROLL. MAKE YOUR WAY TOWARD THE CHAIN BRIDGE TO RETURN TO PEST, AND CONSIDER STOPPING AT ZHAO ZHOU, WIDELY REGARDED AS THE CITY’S BEST TEA HOUSE, OR BORTÁRSASÁG, AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO EXPLORE HUNGARIAN WINES.

FOR DINNER, THOSE INTERESTED IN TRADITIONAL HUNGARIAN CUISINE SHOULD VISIT ROSENSTEIN RESTAURANT, NOW RUN BY THE SECOND GENERATION OF THE ROSENSTEIN FAMILY, LED BY ROBI AND HIS TEAM. FOR A LIGHTER OPTION, GOLI—RUN BY PETRA AND PÉTER—OFFERS SEASONAL, FLAVORFUL, AND WHOLESOME MIDDLE EASTERN DISHES.