SELECT Magazine 2020 Collection | Page 12

ITINERARY A PERFECT DAY by Seth Coleman BUDAPEST Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest Hungarian Parliament building Kakaos Csiga or Cocoa Snails 9:41 AM 7:46 AM Wake up surrounded by the Art Nouveau elegance of the Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest, an architectural gem located a few blocks from the Danube in the center of the city. Thanks to booking your stay through our agency, you can enjoy complimentary breakfast for two at the Párisi Passage Café, where they serve Hungarian delicacies and premium coffee in the magnificent atrium of this historic building. 10 | SELE C T · 2 02 0 Budapest is a walking city, and there’s no better place to begin your explorations than the 5th district, the heart of Pest, which forms a semicircle against the river. Be sure to admire one of the finest examples of Hungarian Art Nouveau in the city — the former Royal Postal Savings Bank and current National Bank of Hungary. Take it slow in this neighborhood, appreciating the intricate iron gates of the entrances and the nature- inspired artistry of the façades. 12:48 PM 11:15 AM Afterward, you’ll no doubt be hungry. Head to Espresso Embassy, with its vaulted ceilings and friendly service, for a cup from one of their award-winning baristas. If you’re feeling peckish, grab a kakaós csiga — similar to a cinnamon roll but improved with chocolate — for a classic Hungarian snack. From the Embassy, swing by the majestic Parliament building; it’s a bit large for a modest Central European country, but it was built in an era when the Kingdom of Hungary stretched from the Adriatic to present-day Romania. After working up an appetite, backtrack up the street and hit Cafe Kör for lunch. The roasted duck leg with mashed potatoes and purple cabbage is a local favorite, but you really can’t go wrong with the rotating menu of classic Hungarian dishes. And since Hungary is a land of soups, be sure not to miss their vegetable soup of the day.