In part fueled by tourism, Budapest's cafes, bars, and restaurants are quickly mirroring those in other big cities around the world. At the same time, establishments uniquely rooted in Hungary and dating back to the Communist-era (1947-1989) are fast disappearing. The bars below are some of the last vestiges of a previous epoch — go visit these time warps before they vanish. And, please, don't complain about the quality of the wine, that's beside the point here.
If you're looking to immerse yourself in a deeply local, Communist-era neighborhood cafe and bar (eszpresszó), I can't think of a better place than Bambi on the Buda side. What makes Bambi the real deal? It isn’t trying to show off an artificial (retro), unremembered past – it’s a genuine throwback.