A little bit of Hogwarts in Budapest: Repülő Seprű Café review

ELTE English in the Media Specialisation

Apr 28

Legends say that there is a place hidden in the third district of Budapest, away from the hectic ways of the city centre and the curious eyes of muggles, where witches and wizards can meet in peace and practice magic in a welcoming, warm environment. Let us visit Repülő Seprű Café and experience what it is like to be in the wizarding world for a few hours – even if you never got your letter.

You will not need secret spells or passwords in order to enter Repülő Seprű. However, once you enter, a long staircase will lead you underground before you can experience the place fully – beware if you are part of Voldemort's army, the stairs might just turn around and make you escort yourself out. But for those who arrived in order to experience the magic world with an open heart and pure intentions, a cheerful wizard's greeting is waiting at the bottom of the stairs, encouraging them to make themselves comfortable and change into their school uniform – black and red cloaks, of course.

*After 15 years of persistent waiting, I finally got into Gryffindor. Photo by: Dorottya Csikai*

As you change into your cloak, a small ball hits your forehead mid-air: congratulations, you caught the Golden Snitch! You have a talent for Quidditch. High-five your wizard friends, but be very quiet! Mandrakes are sleeping in pots near the entrance, and you do not want to disturb them – their high-pitched screams fill the entire café within a second. You can also see the Sorting Hat, judging you from a distance. He already wants to put you in House Slytherin, but maybe by showing him how well the Gryffindor colours fit you, he will change his mind. If you want to be on the safe side, however, do not even approach him: just take the sorting quiz on the official website as you sit down at your table. You will see some Cornish Pixies above your head, but that is quite usual around here. Do not worry: they have enough space in their cage to fly around, and are surprisingly well-behaved.

*Cornish Pixies in their not-so-natural habitat. Photo by: Dorottya Csikai*

Although the atmosphere gets more and more relaxing, there is not much time to waste. Just like you cannot stand in front of the Mirror of Erised forever, you cannot stay in this magical pub too long, either. The latter has a rather simple explanation, though: Repülő Seprű is a popular destination, so the duration of your stay is only 90 minutes by default. Of course, this is just a recommendation by the owners, you can request shorter or longer periods of time as well, just be sure to notify the staff via owl post beforehand (or just borrow Hermoine's Time Turner). Speaking of which, you might want to plan ahead to get a table – the café is often fully booked for weeks ahead.

Finally, it is time for you to enjoy a butterbeer or an interesting potion (you can choose smoking, yet cold drinks that look like science experiments gone right), or you can just stick to a safe, classic cappuccino – both are tasty and will not disappoint even the strictest coffee experts.

As for the food, you must keep in mind that Repülő Seprű is mainly a café, so the variety is not as versatile as one of the Great Hall feasts at the beginning of the school term. But that does not mean that you cannot enjoy a good appetizer (sandwich spreads containing cheese, eggplant or meat, served with baguette), some warm soup (onion or the HP classic: pumpkin), a good sandwich or pasta dish and a side salad to get your daily serving of vegetables. You can even balance out the healthiness by choosing from three different types of desserts afterwards. Pro tip: pick the cheesecake if you want to enjoy a big slice of sweetness, and pick one of the soufflés for a small yet dense treat!

*Pumpkin soup, two coffees and a shy cheesecake hiding behind a candle. Photo by: Dorottya Csikai.*

But where is the actual magic, you might ask. Well, just as you are finishing your meal, a young, well-dressed man appears, and grabs everyone's attention in a serious tone. He addresses the name of the class he teaches at Hogwarts, and by doing so, he takes every customer to a quick magic lesson by the power of words. His spells can do much more, however, than just playing on the imagination: he performs card tricks and involves his students in the process. Before he leaves, he warns everyone about the upcoming exams. The witches and wizards thank him for his lesson, returning to the conversations they had at their tables, and eventually asking for the bill.

For Harry Potter fans, Repülő Seprű Café is definitely a bucket list-worthy place to visit. The staff is friendly and customer-centered, the food is delicious, and the surprising details and mini magic shows create a very particular feeling of excitement and wonder, similar to what you probably have felt when you have first read or seen Harry Potter.

Article by: Dorottya Csikai

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