And now for part 2 of my shopping tour in Budapest…

Nanushka’s store is a feast for the eyes indeed. From the stylish palette to the elegant tailoring, this womenswear label is definitely a must for uncomplicated fashion. Nanushka is the childhood nickname of the designer Sandra Sandor (who studied at the illustrious London College of Fashion). Her style is definitely urban but, with an edge, featuring pieces that will not date easily…which is always a godsend. You can find the store at Bécsi u. 3

After spotting a cool streetstyler (who turned out to be the person running the store, Wonderlab is a definite place to pick up a few cool pieces to spruce up your wardrobe. Home to over 30 designers, this little store provides everything you need to get your wardrobe up to date! From menswear, womenswear, bags, footwear, dog accessories, home décor…the sky is the limit here at Wonderlab! You can find them at Veres Pálné u. 3

Paloma is a concept store that probably has the most magnificent entrance I have ever seen…talk about drama! Love the steps! This courtyard themed collection of small shops is wonderful to investigate and worth the effort of finding. With around 50 local designers sharing space in showrooms, this little courtyard packs a punch indeed! And if you are like me and you always need a bit of a snack in between, paired with good coffee then you can try Auguszt Cukrászda, situated on the ground floor. You can find Paloma at Kossuth Lajos u. 14

Rododendron is a stop every art lover should have on their map. I managed to pick up two wonderful photographs here. The focus is on local designers and this is a good space (with a gallery feel to it) to discover the more modern side to Budapest. And if you want some good coffee then nip next door into Kontakt Specialty coffee. You can find them at Semmelweis u. 19
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As you may have guessed, I was definitely focusing on local talent on this trip. I did not need the high street. Another wonderful store is NUBU. With its quiet sophistication, this label specialises in minimalistic design. Founded in 2007 by Judit Graham, this label has gone from strength to strength, especially after two other designers (Adél Kovács and Anett Hajdú ) joined in 2011. With local success the brand has already been very present in both Asia and the US. You can find them at Andrássy út 13 

What could be more satisfying than walking through a city and discovering new stores and fashion? Absolutely nothing! These are my tips for when you are visiting the city:

You can try something different at Szputnyik . At this store, there are wonderful vintage pieces that hang side by side with new, contemporary clothes. The idea is that by buying vintage, you are in essence being ‘green’ in that you are recycling them. Ba adding new, fashionable pieces to your vintage find, you are able to create a fresh look, with a definite throwback quality. You can find them at Dohány u. 20

Mono is contemporary and urban all rolled into one. This multi-brand shop features  small-series creations of Hungarian designers in a very cool store that will not disappoint anyone looking for something special and limited. You can find them at Kossuth Lajos u. 20

My next stop would have to be Lollipop Factory where this store has been delivering autonomous fashion since 2003. I love the craziness of it all, the design (focusing on Hungarian designers) and  the prices that won’t bring tears to your eyes. You can find them at Magyar u. 18
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Hats…hats and more hats! I think there is nothing more elegant or fashion-forward than wearing a well-crafted hat. It finishes off an outfit and in bad weather can literally save your hair. And, when you are in Budapest, be sure to pop in at Valeria Fazekas. This hat store is jam-packed with so many wonderful creations, you could literally go crazy. This designer, who graduated from the Budapest Institute of Applied Arts (today Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design), is not one to shy away from clever forms and bright colour. If hats are not your thing, she also does scarves and tops. You can find the store at v50, Váci u

Nothing like browsing through a few pictures from such trip to take you back to those wondeful days. In an age where we so easily digest information and images, it is good to reflect on these moments and think about what was going on in this city. When I arrived in Budapest, it was the time that the refugee crisis was at its peak in europe. Thousands had arrived at the central train station and were not even offered water. When I was sightseeing, I walked around a corner and straight into a protest. I had never seen so many armed policemen with dogs. The right wing extremists were on the other street side, gathered at a bar and the tension and aggression was palpable. It was hard to believe that a few streets away, life was normal and here, people were so angry about the refugees seeking an escape out of their turmoil. Of course, this followed me the entire day and made me feel many things. I was sad that in such a day and age, people had forgotten about kindness and offering help to those in need. I was also speechless at the open hostility that was shown in the city, considering that we are all, in some way or form, refugees. We all want our lives to be better and even though we may not have been forced to flee, we are all wanting a safe, happy existence. 
When I stumbled upon a wedding (which is captured below as the couple exited the cathedral), I had to smile at the open hope that was represented in this moment. I had to think to myself that even though the city was in divided, there were still two people willing to take a risk and pledge their commitment so publicly. As the crowd cheered, I had to think about one of my favourite quotes from Oscar Wilde...'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars'.

Borbíróság is a quaint and yet very full restaurant that offers not only a lively atmosphere but, also some wonderful food. I immediately loved the small menu (large menus tend to scare me a bit because I am Libran and making decisions when I am faced with too many options, is a nightmare).
They tend to specialise in duck, so if you are there, then give the duck with sweet potato and sage a try. From the starters, I would highly recommend the scallops, squid pasta with mango chutney and pistachio as this very brave combination offers a blast of flavour. I did not have the duck but, opted instead for the veal fillet, which came with roasted goose liver, fresh spinach, dried tomato and potatoes. A wonderful dish that was not too heavy so that I had place for dessert (the chocolate soufflé and macaron).  
But, don’t let a big meal scare you off…there are wine events you can visit and to accompany these tastings, you can opt for the simpler wine ‘bites’ that come in three variations. Borbirosag, found at Csarnok tér 5 in Budapest is a wonderful place to try if you don’t want to feel like a tourist…and let’s face it…we all want that!
​Photograph credit: tfoodie.com

Over the next two posts I wanted to share my impressions taken in this amazing city...this is a place where cultures collide, where the people are unbelievably friendly, where the food is good...no, really good and there is more than enough to see! Hope you all enjoy the photo spread...

My apologies for the lack of posts...I have been acclimatising...from South Africa in spring, to autumn in Switzerland. There is a definite frostiness in the air here but, thankfully the trees are putting on a rather spectacular show this year, making the drop in temperature more bearable.

But, onwards and forwards...time for another post from the trip to Budapest. This time it is fine dining at Babel, a restaurant that ticked all the right boxes indeed. Normally, you should never judge a book by its cover. In the case of Babel, you can. It tastes as good as it looks, which is often not the case. Sometimes, it can be a bitter disappointment eating in a well decorated venue, only to discover that the food is not at all good. At Babel, the service, food and drinks are all marvellous, making you wish you could visit it twice on your visit to this city that is making a name for itself on the culinary map.

Priding itself on its strong Hungarian culture, the restaurant boasts an extensive list of local wines, making it a must if you are sitting down for a long meal.  There is an enormous 9 course tasting menu, but, if you are not that brave the equally amazing 6 course menu will not disappoint. From the mackerel (paired with beetroot, horseradish and chamomile), to the short ribs (with red cabbage and cottage cheese), there is more than enough to make any diner smile with pleasure...and then came dessert!

When I arrived in Budapest, I wanted to meet interesting people. I wanted to see what the fashion industry was like and when I wandered into a store and met Eszter, it was a wonderful experience indeed. She invited me over to her apartment, the epicentre of her designs for her label, Celeni. It is a contemporary womens fashion company that focuses on Hungarian history, modern design and attention to material and detail. In her atelier, she showed me around the new ideas she had brewing for the next collection and introduced me to her dog, who was incredibly shy but, devastatingly stylish. I had to admit that the fur pieces sprung out when we went through the collection and of course, the clever tailoring. After an espresso I was out the door, impressed at the hosipitality and friendship so easily offered to a stranger from Switzerland who was curious enough to accept an invitation from such an incredible lady. We expect great things from Eszter, so visit her webpage for more wonderful surprises:  www.celeni.hu
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It is the start of a new week and what could be more fitting than a summer outfit that could stop traffic? Budapest has so many wonderfully elegant women running across this ancient city, and case in point, our new face. Love the croppped jacket, the full skirt and the blush bag. Teamed with swept-up hair and cool-as-hell sunglasses, she is so gorgeous, managing to keep the look grounded with her colourful flats. Thank you Ildiko for posing for me and introducing me to your concept store, Wonderlab...more about this in a later post! 

Meeting a fellow blogger can be an eye-opener, especially in a city you have never visited before. On a summer's day, Viktoria met me for drinks where we chatted about blogging, Budapest and of course, all things fashionable. It is always wonderful getting in touch with someone living in the city you are visiting. It offers a perspective and numerous tips that cannot be found in tourist guides. Thank you, Viktoria, for taking the time to meet me and for all your advice not only regarding blogging, but also about your city, Budapest.

Her amazing blog, 11 Ground, that has a slice of fashion and lifestlye  can be found at: http://11ground.blog.hu//