There’s a moment every evening when Budapest exhales.
The workday is over, the streets loosen up, and the light turns warm just before it disappears. It’s not late enough to commit to the night, but it’s far too early to rush home. That in-between hour has always felt important to us — even if we didn’t immediately know what to do with it.
We tried. More than once.
Different ideas, different setups, different menus. Some versions came close, others missed the mark entirely. Either it felt too much like an event, or not enough like a reason to stay. Something always felt forced — like we were asking the early evening to be something it simply isn’t.
So we stepped back.
Frenkie and the team started paying closer attention. We walked the city, sat in bars, watched how people arrived after work. What they ordered first. How long they stayed. When conversations started to flow — and when they didn’t. Slowly, a pattern emerged.
People didn’t want a big occasion.
They didn’t want a full dinner.
And they definitely didn’t want to rush.
They wanted a pause.
That’s when everything fell into place.
Apéro isn’t about inventing something new. It’s about giving space to something that already exists — the golden hour between six and nine, when the night is still unwritten. A drink that eases you in. Something small to snack on. A bar that feels social without being loud.
At Hotsy Totsy, Apéro became the answer we were searching for.
You come in after work, not dressed up for anything special. You order a glass — maybe something light, maybe something bitter, maybe bubbles. There’s food on the table, but it’s there to be shared, not planned around. You talk. With friends. With the bartender. Sometimes with someone new sitting a little closer than expected.
And suddenly, you’re no longer thinking about what’s next.
That’s when we know it’s working.
Apéro at Hotsy isn’t a strict format or a fixed menu. It’s a feeling. A rhythm that finally makes sense. Every day from 18:00 to 21:00, we keep it deliberately open — relaxed enough to stay for one, inviting enough to linger longer.
And because interaction is part of what makes this hour special, we like to give something back. Apéro at Hotsy is meant to be social — talk to the bartender, ask questions, be curious. If you do, you’ll find a small thank-you on your bill. And if the moment feels worth sharing and you post it on your socials, there’s a little extra waiting for you. Nothing forced — just our way of rewarding presence, conversation, and good energy.
After a long search, this is the version that feels right.
If you’ve ever felt that evenings deserve a better beginning, this is ours.
Come by during golden hour.
Have a drink.
Stay a little longer.
