Kocsis Irma: A tour of our Locals. (A very quick one) - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1993)

Akácfa Büfé Acacia Snack-Bar

VII. Dohány utca 56

On the corner of Akácfa utca and Dohány utca, with premises opening onto both streets and a little connecting door beside the lavatories. It has no distinctive characteristics. It is a smoky pub that has been running smoothly for a long time in a pleasant neighbourhood. In Dohány utca, not far from the Bástya cinema, there is a magic shop with a little old lady sitting behind the porcelain statuettes of Lenin jumbled up with the sea- shells. I think they’re listening to the sound of the sea.

Szövetség ütcai Borozó The Wine-Tavern of Szövetség ütca

VII. Szövetség utca 2

Rather depressing place. When I last dropped in it was packed with scruffs, and the choice was between cheap red and cheap white. Csonti in the Kis Pilseni once asked me: “Ever been to the Bilge?”

“You mean the cellar down in Szövetség utca?”

“Yes.”

Others have asked since: “D’you know where the Bilge Bar’s at, hey?"

Looks as though it’s a famous place.

Murányi ütcai Pince The Wine-Cellar of Murányi utca

VII. Murányi utca 41

An undistinguished cellar pub. But there is a bench at the bottom of the staircase leading down, and an old couple sit there sometimes, like Henry Moore’s statue, the Royal Couple. This is their favourite haunt. The Moorányi.

36