DESTINATIONGOLF . TRAVEL
Budapest Opera House
As we wander the streets , it doesn ’ t take us long to realise that Budapesters are keen coffee drinkers , with tiny glasses of strong espresso consumed throughout the day . Café life was an essential part of the social scene in Budapest long before it had made an appearance in Paris or Vienna , and while many of the late 19th-century coffee houses in the city are long gone , some still uphold the fine tradition , retaining much of their period charm and elegance .
A night at the Hungarian State Opera House to catch an opera , ballet , concert or Budapest Philharmonic performance is a must-do Budapest cultural experience . Completed in 1884 and designed by the famous architect Miklós Ybl , this magnificent neo-Renaissance building is a delight to the eye and ear . Ticket prices are surprisingly affordable , but if you can ’ t make a performance then be sure to take a guided tour .
Take for example , Café Gerbeaud which has been a fashionable meeting place for the city ’ s elite , on the west side of Pest ’ s busiest square since 1858 . Café Ruszwurm ( established in 1827 ) is one of the oldest traditional cafés and confectioner ’ s in Budapest and the perfect place for coffee and mouth-watering pastries when visiting the medieval Castle District . Its specialties include famous cakes such as Dobos Torte , Esterházy and Goosleg .
When people think of Hungarian food , two things inevitably spring to mind : paprika and goulash . Traditionally a peasant dish , goulash is a soup served with beef , finely sliced vegetables and plenty of paprika . It was also favoured by royalty and greatly relished by Emperor Franz Joseph . It is at the heart of any decent restaurant menu , and , indeed an invaluable part of life . As the Hungarian saying goes : “ One may replace one ’ s wife , but one cherishes goulash forever .” Goulash is traditionally accompanied with a bacon or pork crackling scone called pogácsa . Other typical restaurant dishes include cold soups , such as wild cherry or fresh tomato with vodka , game dishes , stuffed cabbage , goose liver pâté , and fish soup made with carp , sour cream and paprika .
A Budapest tram trundles over Independence Bridge
Sunset in Budapest
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