With Nobody Else

If you're looking to chug down some big beers all by yourself, I recommend the "Cat Stone" - it made me go meow.

Macskakő Drinkbár
District I
Fiáth János utca 8
Tel: +36 1 2123196

It's an early spring day, I've just had a client meeting and am so spaced out that I'm wandering the streets like I've been sniffing glue. Then, I go to my tai chi class and become a more relaxed zombie. Still, I'm determined that I'm going to quench my thirst with a beer or two before going home. George Thorogood's song "I Drink Alone" runs through my mind.

I'm thinking Oscar's again. I walk up towards the Castle District, look in the window and the joint is not hoppin'. Hell, it's only 8pm, but I'm not staying out late. So I walk up and cross over to Fiáth János utca and the cobblestone street jogs my memory - I still haven't been to the Macskakő.

For those who don't know it, macskakő is the Hungarian word for cobblestone but literally means "cat stone". But this Macskakő is a little neighborhood bar with stained glass on its storefront window. I think it used to be a "drinkbar", sort of an Hungarian old school, slightly dubious expression for a bar, but today I can report that the Cat Stone is just a friendly local.

While it was smokey inside, I was surprised how young the crowd was on the Tuesday night I was there. The friendly lady bartender smiled and brought me a menu card as I plopped myself down on the cozy bench on one side. This is a no-nonsense neighborhood drinking hole with a tiny bar, wood paneling and wooden tables and chairs.

I started sorting out my schedule while eavesdropping on the two cute Hungarian ladies sitting next to me who were complaining about men; two young couples arrived and sat on the other side of me. One of the guys ordered a 2 liter mug of beer (Huf 1,600). I looked at it with envy as I'd already ordered my korsó of Gösser, which was still delicious.

If you're hungry, there's larded bread (zsiroskenyer) to be had, well equipped with goose liver and red onion, for just Huf 220. I did not indulge in this, but did have another beer.

I had two mugs of beer, thought about how I could strike up a conversation with the cute chicks sitting next to me ("Come here often?"), but decided I'd rather go home with my ego intact. What the hell was a tai chi zombie with two big beers in his gut going to say, anyway? At least my schedule was sorted.

My bill, including tip, was Huf 1,000.