The stories below Erika Balogh, Drawing on the personal recollections of Miklós Fenyő’s widow, the article recalls the role played by the Dunapark Café in Miklós Fenyő’s life.
Who was Miklós Fenyő?
Miklós Fenyő A leading figure in Hungarian popular music, a singer, songwriter and musician whose name has been associated with the Hungarian rock and roll scene for generations. Alongside his musical career, he has been involved in musicals, concerts and cultural projects, including the story of *Made in Hungária*. An important venue in his life was the iconic café on Pozsonyi út, the Dunapark, to which he had personal and communal memories spanning decades.
What did the Dunapark Café mean to you and Miklós? Did you have any special connection to it?
– It was mainly Miklós who had a strong attachment to the place, as he’d been coming here since the 1970s. He and his friends from the neighbourhood always used to In Dunapark They’d meet up, have a good chat, have a few drinks, and often organise poker nights. Often late at night, even after a gig, this was where they’d meet up with their mates; they’d get together, have a drink, and then, as closing time approached, carry the „party” on at one of their flats, where they’d play poker until dawn. He had a steady circle of friends, and this was definitely their regular hangout.
„He had a close-knit group of friends, and this was definitely their regular haunt.”
Later, in the 90s, I was also part of his life and we came here together to have breakfast, to have lunch. I remember we ordered scrambled eggs with mushrooms for breakfast. That was the first time I’d ever had scrambled eggs with mushrooms, and I really liked them. I went on to make our breakfast like that at home too; it was a regular dish.
Do you have any personal memories or short stories that particularly capture the experience of the Dunapark Café?
– I can’t recall any specific stories at the moment, but I can certainly say that the most important stages of his career began right here. This is where he organised all his meetings, and this is where the agreements were finalised. This is where the brainstorming and negotiations took place. It’s fair to say that great things were born in this café: the Made in Hungary He held all his discussions relating to the film here, and also met with the guests of the Fenyő concerts to work out the songs. The author of the original *Made in Hungária* musical, which premiered at the József Attila Theatre, To István Tasnádi He also spoke here about his life story, which István used as the basis for writing the play’s script.
„It is fair to say that great things were born in the coffee house.”
Furthermore, whenever a TV company approached him for an interview, those were filmed here too. Many of his TV appearances are linked to Dunapark. He also gave almost all of his interviews to journalists here.
If I remember correctly, when the smoking ban came into force, you were still allowed to smoke upstairs for a while; at that time, we always stayed upstairs because of this, as he was a smoker. And when the weather was nice, we always went to the on the terrace. We were last here in October last year; we sat towards the back on the right-hand side on the ground floor, and at the time they were filming a talk-style promotional video with him for his book.
In your opinion, what gives such an iconic building or venue its true value in the life of this part of the city?
– I believe this is a very important and iconic venue, the most significant feature of which is that it is a legendary institution for the neighbourhood – and perhaps even beyond – serving as a cultural and community centre that evokes an upper-middle-class atmosphere. Architecturally, it is also a masterpiece. Béla Hofstätter and Ferenc Domány design. The descriptions reveal that a special ventilation system was installed to channel fresh air from the Danube.
Dunapark House, the most elegant apartment block, which is the neighbourhood’s landmark building and café.
So it is its very appearance and the legend that has grown up around it that give it its value.
What message would you like to convey to Dunapark’s future visitors and readers?
– I’d just like to say that we should strive to preserve the value of Dunapark for many, many decades to come, as it is an integral part of the neighbourhood’s character and, above all, its atmosphere. As for the menu, I think it would be good to return to a more classic style than the last one. Miklós would certainly be delighted if the Dunapark neon sign were to be put back on the roof.
Is there any thought or memory connected with Miklós that you would like to share in this publication?
– As a point of interest, I could also tell readers what Miklós liked to eat and drink. During the day, he would always ask for a coffee; he liked it served in a larger glass as an espresso, with hot water on the side. He would pour the water into his coffee himself, in whatever proportion he fancied. He always gave me the little biscuit that came with his coffee, which I ate with great pleasure. He never ate sweets.
– As well as his coffee, he always ordered a tomato drink and the spices on the side. He would season it to his own taste and really enjoyed it. In the evenings, he usually drank white wine diluted with soda water.
– One more thing: he was fascinated by the building’s history. He collected photos of it. We even have several old photos of the building in our flat, dating back to the 1940s. He also tracked down the original blueprints, which revealed that there used to be a sun terrace on the roof for residents’ use, and there were even showers back then. If I remember correctly, they’d even planned to include a cinema within the building.
Even as a small child, he used to gaze in wonder at this palace. It had always been his great dream to have a flat in this building. Over the past 25 years, we’ve moved closer and closer to it; first we lived opposite it at 49 Pozsonyi Street, then around 2006 we moved to number 40, Tamás Major his flat. In 2010, he managed to buy a beautiful home here at 38 Pozsonyi Street, overlooking the Danube. So, I think Miklós and Dunapark were clearly a perfect match.
„Miklós and Dunapark were clearly a perfect match.”
The interview With Erika Balogh, It was taken with Miklós Fenyő’s widow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long has Miklós Fenyő been associated with the Dunapark Café?
According to Erika Balogh’s recollections, Miklós Fenyő had been visiting Dunapark regularly since the 1970s. He used to meet friends from the neighbourhood there, and it later became an important venue in both his professional and personal life.
What role did Dunapark play in Miklós Fenyő’s work?
Numerous professional meetings, consultations and creative discussions were held at Dunapark. According to Erika Balogh’s recollections, several important discussions and the preparations for cultural projects also took place here.
Why was the Dunapark House important to Miklós Fenyő?
He loved not only the café, but the building itself. He collected old photographs of it, researched the original architectural plans, and had had a special connection with the Dunapark House ever since his childhood.
Why is the Dunapark Café considered a special place?
For generations, Dunapark has been one of Újlipótváros’s key meeting places, playing a cultural and community role in the life of the district.
Come and discover the revamped Dunapark Café!
Further articles on Pozsonyi út and Újlipótváros can be found at Life in Bratislava You’ll find it on the page.