The London Lounge

I will be in Budapest on Friday for a few days - do you have any recommendations?

Thank you,

Raphael

I recommend that you stay at Le Meridien and that you order the Tornados Rossini in the restaurant at the same.

Go and see the major attractions (Castle Hill, St. Istfan's), but also - provided you have time - check out Acquincum.

The best baths are unquestionably the Szechenyi. Don't miss them - skip the Gellert if pressed for time.

If you're going to Vass, stop by the handmade glove store next door.

Forgot to say that you have to go to the Cafe Gerbaud.

Thank you, Bendict!

I was not a the le Meridien, but it surely is a fantastic hotel. Café Gerabaud is marvelous. Budapest in general is very similar to Vienna - don't you think so?

I visited Vass, but I was a bit disappointed. The staff, a woman at her late 30ies or beginning 40ies, was far away of being friendly and she seems to me a bit bored and tight-lipped. I mean, I knew what I was looking for as I visited their homepage before. When I asked for a model they had online, she just repeated that they do not have all models at the shop and they will only " measure my feet with the models that are available in the shop".
As Vass "measured" shoes are very cheap compared to other bespoke shoes they have to save the money somewhere. Firstly, they have considerably lower labour costs on Hungaria (not in Budapest - almost everything there is only a little cheaper or equaly priced as in Germany). Secondly, one can choose a model - this also diminishes the costs respectably. Thirdly, I was wondering if they do create a complete new last for every customer or whether they change existing last to fit the customer. So I asked here but she was unable to give me a precise answer. Vass produces a lot of shoes each year, and according to themselves, they are only produced by a limited number of Vass craftsmen... So how could they produce so many individual lasts for their "measured" customers? To change an already existing RTW last to fit the customers feet needs less time - so I assume that the Vass shoes are not bespoke shoes but Made to Measure shoes.

What do you think / know?

Gentleman,

I will be in Budapest at the end of next week for four weeks. I will have enough time to search for artisans there. However, any addresses of craftsmen are highly appreciated.

Do you know any other shoemaker than VASS in Budapest? There have to be others!

Thank you in advance

Raphael