Learn to Mix Cocktails Like a Pro: Exclusive Mixology Masterclass at The Poet Bar
Anantara New York Palace Budapest's attraction lies not only with the distinguished New York Café or exclusive White Salon Restaurant, they also have a range of special experiences for curious guests.
The bar is located right upstairs from New York Café, sharing its elegant ambience which lends a special tang to any cocktail you might care to sip here - but the two-hour course offers you a lot more than that.
For a unique Budapest experience, this workshop will instruct you in how to mix the iconic cocktails available at their bar. Led by a professional bartender, participants are also encouraged to taste the specials.
Poet Bar and Hotel Anantara's magic
Set in the beating heart of Budapest, the Anantara Hotel building dates back all the way to 1894. An imposing structure designed by the architects Alajos Hauszmann, Flóris Korb and Kálmán Giergl, the building was fully restored in 2006 to its original charm.
After New York Café, perhaps the most alluring place inside is The Poet Bar, named in honor of the legandary Nyugat Literary Magazine, which operated on the top floor of the building back in the day.
The bar commands a stunning view of the Café below, heightening the atmosphere even further. With a more intimate and cozy vibe, the bar is your perfect choice for that special cocktail and a memorable get-together.
Café Hungária (currently restored to its original New York moniker) in 1954, Fortepan/Album083
The Mixology Masterclass Experience
At the outset, a brief introduction gives an overview of the bar's history as well as the basics of mixing a cocktail. We learn what tools a bartender will use, and gradually put the theory into practice. Our bartender will present three iconic beverages during the evening.
The first is the classic Whisky Sour, one of the first and best-known cocktails, and remarkably easy to make even for beginners.
Next up is the Poet Presso, a local take on the Espresso Martini. This is a really classy, coffee-infused cocktail.
Finally, we get to the Romantical Punch, a revamp of the Pornstar Martini that brings a perfect finish to this cocktail lineup: a tangy, fruity and uniquely refreshing drink. Especially the way they shake it at The Poet Bar.
But really the best thing about this course is getting to mix all these drinks ourselves.
Close of the day: Sundown Ceremony at Anantara lobby
Just as the Mastercourse concludes at 6PM, there's a Sundown Ceremony just starting in the hotel lobby.
The performance features a bartender mixing cocktails to live music, and offering tasters to all those gathered at the lobby.
Live music adds a great touch to this cocktail experience. Rom'Art Ensemble aren't just here for the Ceremony, they play all day for the visitors of New York Café. Band leader József Hankó talked to us about Gypsy-style café music and entertainment in an interview a year ago now.
Mixology Masterclass is a course in perfect harmony with The Poet Bar's historical elegance and Budapest's vibrant cocktail culture.
