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Romance in the Heart of Budapest’s Castle District

And from the early ’80s onward, the cheerful and colorful café turned into a sanctuary escape for those who were dealing with their bleak Communist everyday lives.

At the start of their café, they only had the traditional things one would expect at such an establishment; coffee and pastries. Which would seem adequate enough, if it weren’t for the insistence of the guests who frequented regularly. They persistently urged the owners to make food as well, which led to their inception of the first couple of menus introduced at their once-upon-a-time café.

Life During Communist Hungary: A Cultural Haven

To quote Ilona directly from the restaurant’s website,

“It’s worth talking not just about weekend evenings and Sunday lunches, but also about weekdays as well. Back then, people had much more time and lived more calmly. You could drive into the Castle District, even on weekdays, the young and old came, sat with us, had coffee and talked.

Traffic was not only limited to dinner or lunch, but life was always going on. And who visited? We can safely say that Pierrot was one of the centers of political, cultural, and social life at the time.”

She goes on to explain that when they first began, they were both nervous given the economy at the time. But soon, after college students started frequenting the place and spreading the news to all their friends, parents and grandparents, the couple had more clientele than any restaurant or café at the time could have ever dreamed of receiving. And the dream for the Communist imprisoned Hungarians was the fact that this place not only served things like club sandwiches and Campari, but imported beers and things of the like.

Amazingly enough, doctors who were important at the time in the country, and even a well-known historian would frequent Pierrot during that dark time in Hungarian history. They would gather around at the café and talk to the owners about the changes in the country’s regime, and they were excited and gleeful to be a part of that period and conversation. Most interesting of all was that the state’s security never looked into the hot spot. In fact, they didn’t even want to know about it – which might be the most surprising fact of all.

Celebrity Haven: Hollywood Meets Budapest

At the time, apparently an English guide book on Budapest was quoted as stating,

“Pierrot is an enclave in the heart of Central European communism, with a peaceful atmosphere…”

Ilona goes on to say from the article on their website,

“I don’t know which movie he was filming, but Anthony Perkins was here for weeks. They used to rent the Pierrot for days and the whole team stayed there. Christopher Plummer also visited here when he was filming… [and] Adolph Green, the author of ‘Singing in the Rain’ often played our piano.”

The article goes on to describe,

“Marcello Mastroianni and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau have visited the Pierrot, which is perhaps less surprising in light of the fact that the Canadian ambassador from Budapest and his wife could be found there practically any evening.”

Needless to say, Pierrot has a fascinating history and is a part of it as well. Not many can attest to having become a capitalist success while immersed in a very anti-capitalist society and nation.

The Décor and Vibe

Upon entering Pierrot the first and most notable thing about the restaurant is the romantic atmosphere. You can’t help but feel the need to be on a date with someone special when you come here. And although I was alone while visiting the restaurant, I didn’t feel too out of place. Given that I was there to sample their delicious food, write an article and take photos and video, my distraction overlapped the need to be holding hands with someone over candlelight.

The small indoor restaurant was cozy, yet elegant. Refined and sophisticated, yet not intimidating and welcoming. The pianist at the far end of the restaurant playing classic tunes added class, ambiance and casual enjoyment. The walls, which are covered with the names, photos and signatures of celebrities, adds an even cooler and unique touch to the restaurant’s character.

Exquisite Cuisine Worth the Splurge

Let’s talk about the exquisite food that Pierrot has on offer. Given that this place started out as a coffee/dessert shop, you would never think it would evolve into the chic dining experience it’s become.

With a selection of delicious wines to start off with, you can’t beat a good “bor” before and while you eat.

The Tasting Experience

Appetizers: An eye-catching presentation of their goose liver pâté. While it’s not a classic Hungarian dish, Hungarian restaurants that are more upscale do tend to serve this often on their appetizers list, simply to highlight sophistication in an otherwise underrated eastern European country.

Soup Course: Pheasant consommé, which of course the waiter poured directly into my bowl in front of me. Just adding a little more class to the situation, if the rest before this wasn’t enough.

Entrées: I chose beef tenderloin with mushrooms in a red wine sauce with au gratin potatoes underneath. Followed by Bécsi Szelet, which is the Hungarian name and version of Wienerschnitzel.

Desserts: The first of the two that I had was a chocolate soufflé, which I could smell immediately as they set it down in front of me. The fragrance was just as delicious as the taste itself.

The crème brûlée followed, and once again with the popping colors of fruit on the side, it added that desire to eat from the sight of it before that very first bite.

I topped off the evening with a little liquor – a cognac, which made me feel fancy and sophisticated, if the ambiance for the evening hadn’t done a good enough job of that already.

My evening ended at Pierrot with getting to sing alongside the pianist, and it was truly the pièce de résistance of the whole night.

A Splurge-Worthy Experience in Budapest’s Heart

Overall, my takeaway of this historic restaurant is that it is a small gem, with an incredible past, outstanding food, friendly wait staff, and soft and classy vibes.

While the prices are steep (in the neighborhood of $21 for appetizers, and $38-$54 for entrées), a one-time experience here is definitely worth the cost. Do book a reservation in advance, and take your one and only here to share a couple of hours together in one of the most romantic and lovely settings you’ll find in Budapest.

Just make sure that when you book your reservation, you let them know that Lisa sent you!