Pedál café

Second in the line of pubs we visit is the one named (ever so aptly) Pedál. It is right next to the Great Market Hall* on Pipa utca (pipe street), just off Fővám tér - where the trams 2, 47 and 49 have their stations.

To squeeze myself through a tiny doorway and enter a high room has a funny déjà-vu feeling about it. A nice long bar greets me, and I can almost remember sitting there the night before. There is something remarkably ‘80s about the interior, the tiles, the wooden bar or benches along the walls – all touched with a love for the retro, but refurbished so you won’t feel quite out of place with a laptop either. The lights are dim, it’s neither dark nor too light – ideal for a meeting point for uni students to study, converse or spend time between classes.

Come here around 3pm, you will find a café. Check the place again 8-ish as some tables get joined together, making room for larger groups talking loudly, as there’s more beer ordered than cappuccino: the place is undergoing a swift change from café to pub.

The prices are fair, 5cl (about 2oz) of palinka for HUF650, draught beer ranging between HUF320-690, bottled beers from HUF390, 5cl of liquor between HUF310-950. They offer organic palinkas, wines and coffee as well, along with a few snacks – sandwiches, scones (well, the Hungarian equivalent) and the like.

There’s also a host of magazines and newspapers and Wi-Fi connection; great service with attentive waiters ready to help with whatever you need.

I found Pedál a nice place to go to on a Friday night, there is little critique I could come up with… except that it is certainly not a place for non-smokers (alas, this too will change come July). The place preserved something from the recent past, recovered bits from earlier and managed to merge all this with the modern. I say, let your bike rest while you enjoy a beer or two.

*which is a hall not only great, but also market.