Larger Corvin Terrace Cha-Cha-Cha reopen

Budapest awakes from winter sleep

Budapest’s lively summer nightlife scene goes into hibernation every winter, but this year the green shoots of new life are already visible.

Constant infrastructure changes to the capital have also spelt bad news for the city’s revellers. West Balkán closed at the end of 2007 because of the construction of Corvin Promenade. The youth centre on Almássy tér had to close for good because it was sold, as was the alternative Sark bar on Klauzál tér. Cha-Cha-Cha, located in the Kálvin tér metro underpass, had to close in spring 2007 because of the construction of metro line 4.

Old favourite in new location

Now, however, there is a ray of hope. Two venues re-opened their doors last Thursday: Cha-Cha-Cha is back at two locations: Bajcsy Zsilinszky út 63, near Nyugati railway station, and – not to lose the underground feeling – in the subway of the metro station at Deák Ferenc tér where the Transport Museum is located.

There are also bar owners who don’t want to yield to nature: under the motto “Who says that a roof terrace can only attract guests in summer?” the owners of the bar on the roof of the Corvin department store (on Blaha Lujza tér) have decided to reopen. This only seems a bold step at first glance because in reality they have simply expanded the covered part of the bar on the upper floor. The roof terrace itself is still closed for the time being.

The owner of Majorka ( Városmajor Park) in Buda has been more daring. He wrapped his garden venue in a tent, put up some outdoor heaters, and the winter version of his bar was ready to go.