POSTCARD FROM... Budapest
SANDRA SANDOR, FOUNDER OF NANUSHKA, ON THE PLACES SHE ESCAPES TO IN THE HUNGARIAN CIT Y SHE CALLS HOME
STYLE SPOTS Aeron is an appointmentonly boutique. It’s a young Hungarian brand – contemporary, cool tailoring. And, for beauty products, Madison Perfumery is a classic-looking store with really special fragrances.
VINTAGE TREASURES Just a 15-minute drive outside Budapest, Ecseri is a great flea market. I visit on Saturday mornings to browse beautiful vintage ceramics, furniture and antique jewellery.
THE ARTS I like to explore ceramics by Júlia Néma, and Zsolnay, who uses a unique, iridescent glaze – no one has managed to replicate it. Möbelkunst, just outside the city centre, is where
I go for classic mid-century Hungarianstyle furniture. I recommend Falk Miksa street, too, for work by local artists.
BEAUTY RETREAT You must visit the Gellért spa. It’s an old-school Hungarian Turkish bath – people visit for its healing thermal waters. Just take a swimsuit; they have everything else. It’s affordable, too (from around £15.50). For something more luxurious, I recommend the custom Omorovicza facial at the Four Seasons.
CULTURE TRIP For Hungarian art, visit Géza Gorka Ceramics Museum, while Kieselbach Gallery is the best in the city for photography. There is also the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, with work by international artists (it’s a beautiful modernist building, too).
I’m into architecture, so I go on long walks in the 13th district and just admire the amazing Bauhaus buildings.
GREAT TASTE My favourite spot for a late Sunday lunch is Bistró Déryné, a classic restaurant with soups and meat dishes. Order túrógombóc: a cottage cheese dumpling dessert (it sounds bizarre, I know). For something elegant, I love Felix, which is quite close to the castle district. It’s in an ex-casino
– a historic building – serving greatquality, contemporary cuisine.