Listen, if there’s one place in Buda that smells like summer, is cool and yet doesn’t want to be anything more than that – it’s Valyo Harbour at the foot of the Rákóczi Bridge. It won’t flash neon lights at you, it won’t try to shove its prestige down your throat, but once you set foot there, you’ll understand why the city’s most vibrant faces flock there night after night.
When I first walked down there, it was still light. The Danube spreads out in front of you like the set of a film, wooden deckchairs, beer in hand, music in the background, but not intrusive. Suddenly you find yourself sitting with someone you’d never spoken to ten minutes before, and it’s as if you’ve always known each other.
It’s not a “tried and tested chick spot”, but a space where people are really open to each other. Not playful, but raw, sunny and honest. When the sun goes down, the lights come on, and then something magical happens: the noise of the city seems to be rolled away, and you’re left with murmurs, laughter and that strange feeling of being in the right place.
If you’re looking for a space where you can be relaxed, confident and in the loop at the same time, Valyo Coast is not an option – it’s a must. But don’t take my word for it. Go out alone one night, sit outside with a beer and watch the city let itself go. Then you’ll go back anyway.
