The Nanushka Founder’s Guide to Budapest, From Hungarian Galleries to Their Café

Where are you originally from, and how long have you lived in this city?

I was born and raised in Budapest. I lived abroad for a little while when I was a young child and during my university years, but I always knew I wanted to return and live in Budapest close to my family. 

What are some of your favorite neighborhoods, and where do you find yourself spending the most time? 

I grew up on the Buda side in the Castle District, which is one of my favorite neighborhoods with its magical little streets, hidden nooks, and incredible history. Currently, I live on the other side, Pest, right by the river very close to the Parliament. It’s a great neighborhood, as it has a lot of small cafés and bakeries, and it’s always nice to have a walk along the river surrounded by all the historical buildings with my son, Samu, and our Bedlington terrier, Ginie. 

One of the most special characteristics of Budapest is each of the districts has a different feeling to them. I love architecture, so I often take long walks through the 13th district to admire the Bauhaus buildings. The first district has traditional cobblestone streets that lead into beautiful parts with the most magical lookout points to both the Pest and Buda sides.

What does a typical day look like for you? 

I have a small child, so my days are very much about routine these days. Samu, my son, is an early riser, so we start our day at 5 a.m. with breakfast and some morning play, sometimes a morning walk. By 10 a.m. usually, I’m in the office and have a full day of meetings and work. The Nanushka HQ is located in the Buda Hills, and we have a beautiful view of the castle. I leave around 5 p.m. so I can spend my evening with my family. Sometimes, Samu comes to the office with me, as we have a little playroom for him next to my office, which is great. I can spend more time with him this way. 

If you had to create the perfect afternoon for someone visiting the city with a limited amount of time, which area would you send them to, and what would their afternoon entail? 

I would definitely start in the castle and the surrounding area to explore the rich history of the city and have and experience the amazing view from Fisherman’s Bastion. We would take the funicular down and walk through the bridge to the Pest side to Vörösmarty Square, where Café Gerbeaud is located for some great Hungarian dessert as an afternoon treat.

Nanushka stores are always a prime visit spot for fashion people while traveling. What features do you find special about the Budapest flagship store?

The Budapest flagship store houses our biggest café—it’s much more than a store. When we created it with my husband and CEO of Nanushka, Peter Baldaszti, we wanted to create a space that resembles home. It’s inviting, and anyone can step in without the pressure of buying something. It’s a place where people can just sit with a nice cup of coffee or matcha and meet new people. It’s about our community.