Anyway, De Place is a smallish bar, black walls and floors, white plastic chairs and tables. There’s a street level and an upstairs, which boasts two billiard tables and an electronic dart board for the more active drinkers. It’s only been open since April 2010, and there is now karaoke several nights a week.

At the present time, Happy Hour runs from 8 till 11 PM, with Guinness priced at 790 forints for a korso, and with clear and colored spirits close behind at around 590 forints. Not bad.

De Place is located in what we used to call an  ‘urban area in transition’ in the US real estate market, which means you’ll find some sparkling brand new places side by side with some rasty old falling down hulks. But at least the neighborhood still has character.

Of course, when I say ‘character,’ you know what I mean, right? At night there are herds of Budapest’s young males and females, smoking and drinking beer from the cans on the streets and generally loitering and lingering and hanging out in the area..

Neon lights from other establishments on the street are somewhat garish and just a little too bright for comfort. But if you feel like braving the neighborhood’s less salubrious aspects, De Place could be okay as a starting point for the night’s revelries. Check it out, you might like it. Of course, on the other hand, “Dis might not be De Place.”

Words by Gary Lukatch for XpatLoop.com