The best places for lemonade in Budapest

What is it? Before Communist-era international fairs were moved out to Kőbánya in 1974, they were held here, on the eastern fringe of City Park. This distinctive building, its shape a five-pointed star when seen from space, was the information booth. Unsatisfied with the free-market economy post-’89 and the globalised furnishings that came with it, Pántlika founder Viktor Papp dusted down his finest childhood knick-knacks, sourced chairs from Balaton outdoor cinemas, and created this temple to the 1960s. It’s not all gaudy colours and signs advertising long-lost drink brands – the fare here is excellent, the lemonades arguably the best in town.

Why we love it A perfectly poured Pilsner, a flatbread stuffed with pulled pork and a celery pálinka grappa can all be enjoyed surrounding by greenery and the signage of a bygone era. But come here for the lemonade alone, jam-packed with fresh fruit in a half-litre glass, your tall spoon barely able to touch the bottom for all the slices of orange and lemon in the mix. Two types of melon, mango and passion-fruit number among the varieties.

Time Out tip: City Park has been transformed into a major cultural retreat in recent years – combine your visit with a look at the House of Music Hungary or enjoy the age-old pleasures of a soak at the Széchenyi Baths. Rising up behind Pántlika, a tethered balloon offers panoramic views of Budapest all year round.

Address: Hermina út, 1146 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Wed, Sun 11.30am-11pm, Thur 11.30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11.30am-1am

Expect to pay: Classic lemonade (5dl) Ft 1,990 (€5.50). Other flavours (5dl) Ft 2,190 (€6)

What is it? A mainstay on the Római embankment since 2010 – note the foundation date on the Gypsy caravan that doubles up as the bar counter – Fellini has brought cyclists, couples, dog-walkers and film lovers to this attractive shoreline where Roman centurions once gazed. Choose between a Danube-facing deckchair and table space in the shade, and, in terms of lemonade, five varieties including Classic.

Why we love it Flopping into a stripy deckchair here is a classic Budapest experience, the sound only broken by the undertow of the occasional kayak-canoeing team or a dog leaping into the river after a stick. The lemonades make the trek here worthwhile, too, the winning option a toss-up between mango and lavender.

Time Out tip: Though great efforts have been made to combat the problem, packing mosquito spray would be a wise move on summer evenings.

Address: Kossuth Lajos üdülőpart 5, 1039 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Thur noon-midnight, Fri noon-midnight, Sat-Sun 10am-midnight

Expect to pay: Homemade lemonade (4dl) Ft 1,550 (€4.30) + refundable glass deposit Ft 500 (€1.40)

What is it? Kabin perches around the halfway point of the long Újpest railway bridge that links north Pest with the Népsziget peninsula with Óbuda over the murky Danube. This gives it a Crusoe-esque feel, particularly as Népsziget is known by locals as Mosquito Island, the abandoned domain of solitary fishermen and boatbuilders until discovered by Budapest’s bohemian cycling fraternity who set up this successful riverside bar.

Affordable drinks are poured into K-logo’d glasses, while burgers sizzle in the grill cabin alongside. It feels as far away from Budapest as you can get without being in Slovakia.

Why we love it A recent event staged here – Sunset Yoga with Lemonade – tells you much about the Kabin crowd and, indeed, the quality of its lemonade. This comes in two sizes, in classic and fruit-flavoured versions, the tattooed and pierced barkeep listing the varieties in English should you ask.

Time Out tip: Unless you’re the Classic type, fruits of the forest (erdei gyümölcs) would be a wise choice of lemonade here, its bright colours matching the sun’s rays over the Danube in summer. And, as it proclaims on the board dedicated purely to lemonades, it’s freshly squeezed. Don’t forget to claim your deposit back on the glass.

Address: Népsziget, 1044 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Fri noon-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm

Expect to pay: Large classic lemonade (5dl) Ft 1,500 (€4.20); 3dl Ft 900/€2.50). Fruit-flavoured Ft 1,600/1,000 (€4.50/2.75), both + refundable glass deposit Ft 500 (€1.40)

What is it? The Crowne Plaza Budapest has been built into Nyugati station, in anticipation of future Euro interconnectivity by rail. It’s also integral to the Westend mall, but the fare at its in-house café/restaurant Axis towers above the offerings in the chain outlets within. Seasonal cuisine based on sustainable ingredients features on a menu renewed quarterly, gourmet teas, signature cocktails and speciality lemonades the stand-outs on the drinks list.

Why we love it Sustainability and seasonal ingredients are paramount here, and not only reflected in the dishes. The crowd-pleasers among the drinks are the homemade lemonades, most notably the raspberry and strawberry versions, but in colder weather, more unique flavours such as pear or yuzu cascara lemonade come into play.

Time Out tip: Referred to as ‘coffee cherry’, cascara is the dried fruit pulp surrounding coffee beans, the taste sweet rather than conveying the bitterness of coffee. Its use in drinks, lemonade in particular, make it naturally caffeinated, zingy and refreshing.

Address: Váci út 1-3, 1132 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 8am-11pm

Expect to pay: Lemonade Ft 1,700 (€4.75). Cascara lemonade Ft 1,800 (€5)

What is it? A heritage landmark on the edge of the City Park: Gundel Kert is attached to Budapest’s most legendary restaurant, echoing the city’s Golden Age of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Gundel is happy to play up to this legacy but isn’t resting on its laurels, offering superior versions of Hungarian favourites, and luxurious drinks you can sip in the verdant shade of its attached garden. Live music sets the mood in the evenings.

Why we love it Apart from being a family-friendly place to relax by day and a cosy, elegant rendezvous spot in the evenings, the lemonade here is made from homemade syrup and comes in flavours such as acacia, strawberry with fresh basil, and cherry with lemongrass.

Time Out tip: On balmy summer evenings, the world and his wife wants a table in the garden, so do the sensible thing and book online. If you’re here with the kids, playful details help any visit along, particularly if you’re coming from the zoo next door. Check ahead for any storm warnings, in which case the garden won’t be in operation.

Address: Gundel Károly út 4, 1146 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-10pm (daytime menu until 6pm, dinner menu from 6pm)

Expect to pay: Gundel lemonade with homemade syrup Ft 2,275 (€6.35)

What is it? Sprawled out by the Danube alongside Fellini (see above), ‘Uncle Sun’ provides another reason to head up to the Római embankment in summer – aside from the pool complex and narrow section of shoreline designated for swimming in the Danube. Everything here is a cut above the competition next door, the deckchairs made of wood not standard acrylic material, the burgers prepared on a wood-fired grill – and the lemonades a soupçon fruitier.

Why we love it While Fellini feels bohemian, Nap bácsi gives you the impression that it’s the first day of your vacation and you’re about to christen the spine of your holiday read. Order up a passion-fruit or cucumber-and-mint lemonade, find a free deckchair and start on the first chapter.

Time Out tip: The menu here goes way beyond burgers – this is a good place to sample classic Balkan grilled meat, csepavcsicsi, aka ćevapčići. While not patch on what you’ll be served should you sail down the Danube from here to Belgrade, it’s still a carnivorous delight, served, naturally, with the classic pepper-and-aubergine condiment of ajvar.

Address: Kossuth Lajos üdülőpart 9, 1039 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 2pm-11pm

Expect to pay: Lemonades (4dl) Ft 1,200-1,400 (€3.40-3.90) + refundable glass deposit Ft 500 (€1.40)

What is it? The Fény utca branch of the venerable Auguszt empire is one of the classics of its kind on the Buda side, where lemonade is not a separate attraction, but integral to the ritual of cake, coffee and slow afternoons. The Auguszt dynasty has been continuing the Budapest confectionery tradition for more than 150 years, and its location near Széll Kálmán tér knows exactly what customers expect from an old-fashioned, yet lively pastry shop: homemade cakes, ice cream, coffee, fresh lemonade and a cosy garden area.

Why we love it In this peaceful Buda pastry shop, a slice of cake is almost a given with a glass of homemade lemonade, an ideal slowdown after a morning at the market or the Mammut mall alongside. The lemonade comes in several flavours, which you can order by the glass or the jug. For the full Auguszt experience, choose a fruit or lemon cake and sit amid the huge foliage.

Time Out tip: Note that this Buda branch closes in the height of summer, from July 21 to August 17 – but the garden stays open until October.

Address: Fény utca 8, 1024 Budapest

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8.30am-6pm. Closed Sun-Mon

What is it? A rooftop bar atop a little-known hotel tucked away down a narrow downtown side street. ‘Memorise’ might even be the best name for this hidden gem, a panoramic spot to remember for its signature cocktails and romantic meals, generally patronised by hotel guests and those in the know. What’s on offer is high-quality, including the seven types of lemonade.

Why we love it You don’t have to elbow your way in for views the symbolic wings of Lady Liberty crowning Gellért Hill on the skyline nor the spires of historic churches. You’ll probably have much of this bar to yourselves, its excellent service, too, meaning that the drinks keep coming quickly as the sun thinks about setting over the horizon.

Time Out tip: The blueberry-orange-and-ginger lemonade is a winner, fruity and zingy at the same time. Note that drinks here aren’t particularly cheap, and come with a 15% service charge slapped on top.

Address: Bástya utca 33, 1056 Budapest

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm

Expect to pay: Lemonades Ft 2,000-2,300 (€5.60-6.40) + 15% service charge

What is it? The Bereg Embassy is a garden bar and café in Buda, tucked away in the courtyard of the Swan House, a few minutes’ walk from Széll Kálmán tér, set at a completely different rhythm to the constant motion of Buda’s main transport hub nearby. For all that, Bereg doesn’t go all folksy or lose itself in an overly elaborate concept – rather, it’s a friendly, shaded urban haven where the garden, lights, casual hospitality, and fresh, delicious food and drink all create an alluring atmosphere.

Why we love it Bereg is one of the best lost worlds listed here, where you suddenly find yourself in an inner courtyard, under greenery, among strings of lights. Time passes satisfyingly. Returning guests also highlight this quieter character: you can just as easily sit here with friends for lingering conversations as you can with a book for a more relaxed late afternoon tout seul/e. The lemonade, packed with fruit, is particularly well suited to this hideaway atmosphere.

Time Out tip: Lemonade comes in five flavours including sugar-free. Lavender is a bit of a rarity but you really can’t go wrong with the classic, homemade variety.

Address: Batthyány utca 49B, 1015 Budapest.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 4pm-11pm. Closed Sun (Sun-Tue in winter)

Expect to pay: Lemonade Ft 1,490 (€4.15)

What is it? The long-established Majorka guards the gateway to Városmajor park, a favoured Buda meeting place to drop in after work or a game of tennis. Many a relationship has been sparked over drinks here, ideally on the shaded terrace, romantically illuminated with lanterns come the evening. Among the delicious snacks and cold drinks, an enticing array of lemonades delves into the exotic fruit basket and herb garden.

Why we love it The lemonades here really are something special – where else would you find pomegranate-and-rosemary or elderflower-and-cucumber? And there’s no half-measures at Majorka, either, only half-litres of summer refreshment in a glass.

Time Out tip: Don’t just think of Majorka as an afternoon spot – you can have breakfast here every day between 9am and 11.30am, sometimes in the presence of a morning DJ. Afterwards, the head up to the Buda hills by the cogwheel railway, the lower station right next door.

Address: Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 16, 1126 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Wed, Sun 9am-midnight, Thur-Sat 9am-1am

Expect to pay: Matcha lemonades Ft 1,850 (€5.15). Pomegranate-and-rosemary lemonade Ft 2,100 (€5.85)