Rooftop Roundup

Budapest's nightlife is expanding again according to an article on the Hungarian portal Index. More themed bars are coming, and even more or on their way. Budacast contributor Ágnes Emri has a roundup of chillin' rooftop joints (and more) that you can enjoy in Budapest as the summer winds down.

First of all, a place called the Grund opened in the beginning of the summer season, in the shady memorial corner of a new apartment complex in the Józsefváros neighborhood of the city. The original socialist no-frills residential block was kept here with an additional romantic twist resulting in a ruin-garden style pub with fooseball and dance floor.

The terrace of Grund looks onto a construction site, and the previous socialist architecture is kept with just enough renovation to make the tourist forget about the slums and the reality of poverty not so far away. This bar is located here only temporarily, and will move to its final spot next year, next to a restaurant and concert hall.

On the terrace of the department store Skála Metro, Kópé Terasz has opened. This bar does not continue the industrial, alternative trend. The Kópé terrace, is more of a mainstream place, it goes for a beach feel with its plastic chairs, overlooking the sea of people rushing between the Nyugati train station and the Westend City Center shopping mall.

The night spot, Mumus, has yet to be opened. The Mumus demonstrates the retro industrial design, with street art on the walls. The interior is cleaned up, but is still purposely run-down and rugged. The bar is built up from old furniture pieces and fake crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling. One room is reserved for exhibitions and the garden area is decorated with barrels lit from the inside.

Finally, a bar called Lokál is due to open in September. It is meant to be the meeting point for civil activists and artists and will be run by volunteers. To finance the pub, a vegetarian restaurant will open with it as well as a café. This project is only in the planning stage, however, but looks promising.

In any case, there is a lot to be discovered in the night of the city.

Viszlát!

Ági