Mammut is really two malls in one — twin buildings linked by a glass bridge just off Széll Kálmán tér on the Buda side, with 300-plus shops, a multiplex cinema and a bowling alley. It’s where Buda locals actually shop, less touristy than the Váci utca area. Practical tip: the Fény utca market sits right next door, so combine your mall run with fresh produce and a lángos from the market stalls.
The Rubik’s Cube is a simple toy that has entertained millions over years. In Erzsébetváros (7th District of Budapest) you’ll find a tribute to this in the form of a 3D Rubik’s…
A community house in District VIII that is bar, venue and headquarters for a cluster of Hungarian NGOs and grassroots groups, from Roma rights to refugee support. Come for a cheap drink, a concert or a talk and see civil-society Budapest in action.
A coworking and community hub for people building social and environmental projects, hosting events, incubators and a network of changemakers. A window into Budapest’s growing social-enterprise scene.
An opulent palace hotel on the Grand Boulevard, home to the jaw-dropping New York Cafe, once called the most beautiful cafe in the world. Gilded, grand and a destination in itself.
The first cafe in Budapest founded and run by people with disabilities, its name meaning Never Give Up. Around 90% of the team are differently-abled, and it doubles as a cultural venue; proceeds fund advocacy for disabled and Roma communities. Warm, welcoming and fully accessible.
A wonderfully bohemian townhouse hotel in an old aristocratic mansion, each room designed with a local artist and hung with their work, plus a members’-club buzz. Creative, characterful and unlike anywhere else in the city.
A polished design hostel with dorms and private rooms right in the heart of the ruin-bar quarter, with a sociable common area. The affordable, meet-people base in the middle of the nightlife.
A handsome four-star built around a restored early-1900s bathhouse in the Jewish Quarter, with a spa, a rooftop pool and garden and elegant Art Nouveau touches. Comfortable, central and full of character.
A sleek adults-only design hotel right at the Buda end of the Chain Bridge, with a rooftop bar gazing across the river to Parliament. Small, stylish and superbly located for both banks.