How do they do it in Budapest?

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Last week I had a chance to spend a few days in Budapest. It was already my fourth visit to this city and I have to say it still impresses me enormously. When it comes to the number of tourist attractions, this place can be compared to the greatest capitals of Western Europe, such as Rome or Paris. You will easily find plenty of information and tips on its historic points of interest in any touristic guide you reach for or by visiting countless websites dedicated to this amazing city. However, as my blog is specifically dedicated to sustainable living, I would like to invite you to read my own, little, subjective guide to eco-Budapest – that is, to the places that are in some way involved in eco-friendly initiatives. Maybe some of you would like to visit them in the future.

It is the first in the series of posts called „How do they do it in…” dedicated to eco-projects in the cities that I have a chance to visit – mostly in Europe but maybe also somewhere else… Meanwhile, I invite you to see the first photo story!

Printa

Address: Budapest, Rumbach Sebestyén u. 10, 1075 Hungary

Printa is a store with sustainable fashion and design, made mostly of upcycled material. Most of the things are produced by local artists in the shop’s back room. Printa offers beautiful, original clothes and accessories, as well as home decorations and equipment. The material from which these goods are made comes from second-hand shops or old equipment previously used by soldiers or sailors. Does not sound very tempting? Then check the photos to see how amazing can be things produced this way!

These handbags are made of leather obtained from old leather jackets and coats bought by the artists in second hand shops.
The oversize coats that you can see in this pic are made of old military blankets.
The material use to produce these backpacks served as a sail in its previous life.
This T-shirt is made of recycled cotton and plastic bottles.
In the store you can also find a small exhibition dedicated to zero waste lifestyle and a department with eco-friendly accessories.
You can buy, among other things, these food storage containers which are made of old wine bottles. This material is easily available in Hungary – a country which is a real winemaking empire.
And here where most of Printa’s goods are made. The store’s back room is at the same time a production site.
Prezent

Address: Dobrentei utca 16., Budapeszt 1013, Hungary

It offers clothes made in Hungary.  We saw lovely backpacks, blouses, T-shirts, hats, sacrves and many other accessories of a very high quality, many of them produced of organic, GOTS certified cotton. Prezent is also a place for all those who are fed up with cheesy souvenirs made in China and would like to buy something more durable, useful and classy. This is the place where you can buy for example original postcards and elegant wall graphics, printed on recycled paper.

While visiting the gorgeous Castle Hill, you can easily find this small cosy shop. You can recognize it by this black and white logo.
A blouse produced locally in Hungary. It is made of GOTS certified cotton.
Some eco-design in Prezent
…and some more accessories.
Napfenyes restaurants

Adresses:

1) Ferenciek tere 2 , Budapeszt, Węgry 1053

2) 1077, Rózsa u. 39

Hungarian cuisine is probably one of the tastiest and most interesting in Europe. It is famous for its hearty soups and sauces, often seasoned with paprika and, of course, exquisite wines. Unfortunately, most of their traditional dishes are based on meat. Knowing this, what can a vegetarian do, while visiting Budapest? Well, in our case a restaurant called Napfenyes turned out to be the answer. During our 5-days stay we visited this place 4 times and didn’t feel the need to look for anything else. In Napfenyes you can try Hungarian specialties in vegan versions. We ate, among other things, a vegan version of stuffed cabbage, a seitan roast served on fried potatoes with pickled cucumbers and a vegan goulash soup – made of red kidney beans and other vegetables. We also tried dishes typical for other national cusines – such as pizza, falafel and the famous French onion soup. All the meals were very filling and really delicious. In the restaurant you will also find a selection of sweets – traditional Hungarian and Austrian cakes and pastries and many other – all these made without dairy products.

Noticed in the streets of Budapest…
Drinking water fountains like this one can be found around the Castle Hill, so you can easily fill your multiple-use bottles when walking around. Their location is specified on touristic maps available next to the key historic points of interest.
I suppose this can be considered as a form of upcycling? This old piano received a second life in which it became a flowerbed.
Interesting links:

 

 

 

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