Marlou

It took a while for Hungary to hop on the natural wine train, but this global trend is now charging full steam ahead, especially among younger winemakers and consumers. The definition is hazy, but natural wines refer to those made with little intervention, for example without selected yeasts and with only a minimal amount of sulfites. Marlou, a pioneer of the genre in Budapest, has an excellent selection of Hungarian labels, some from the famous Tokaj region, others from France given that the owner, Jean-Julien Ricard, is French.

The hip, high-ceilinged space hides behind the Budapest Opera – more than a century ago, this side street was known for its high-traffic brothels – and features bare bricks, neon lights, and a wall blanketed in wines. The daily selections often include orange and sparkling wines and there’s a slim food menu with nibbles. My only issue with Marlou is its price points, which at €7-11 per glass render these wines inaccessible to most locals in Budapest.