Black Dog Pub

1111 Budapest, Lágymányosi utca 12.

Next to BME (a.k.a. Budapest University of Technology and Economics), not too far from Móricz Zsigmond körtér lie quite a few pubs, all suitable for the semi-professional barfly to spend a memorable (as in ‘you won’t remember a thing’) night. Why would you choose this particular pub? Because it works. It has its own fan page, own website and full house all night. I don’t think there’s need for more evidence here, your honour.

The Black Dog Pub is in - this is probably why they allowed themselves to close up for overhauling, because they knew they would open again to the satisfaction of their customers. Most corners are furnished with comfy chairs and sofas, with matching tables. The walls and ceiling are covered in smoke-resistant yellow wallpaper, to which the chandeliers add a misty glow. All along the walls, in their little frames hang countless photos, not even half-remembered memories from a long-gone era (was it the industrial revolution?). What’s not covered in photos, supports several shelves that play host to objects of all sorts, such as old soda-water bottles, kettles, radios, hats, a Routemaster, clocks, a model aeroplane, a globe and all the paraffin-burners anyone will ever need.

Nota bene, the barman is a nice enough chap, even when he isn’t smiling (some mix-up with the beer mugs).

The interior takes after the English Pub, the Lasko beer is nice and Slovenian, the TVs showed a Hungarian football match, the speakers roared American rock, and the Doberman on the trade-sign is itself a rather German breed. Still, in this multi-national/cultural cavalcade, we didn’t feel out of place, not for a second.