Nearly a century and a half of bubbles, craftsmanship, and Budapest flair awaits beneath the streets of Budafok. The Törley Collection and Visitor Center opens its historic cellars only on set dates, guiding guests through 140 years of sparkling wine history the Törley way. Individual visitors can join only during announced programs; for any other date, check the group visit option. Want in? Call ahead—slots fill up fast.
The headline event is the Törley Cellar Walk on Saturday, 2025.12.13, in Budapest, with additional museum visiting windows throughout December. The Törley Collection shines a light on the brand’s long story, tracing the path from founder József Törley (1858–1907) to today’s sleek, international standards, and the culture that grew up around Hungarian sparkling wine. Expect museum displays, a guided cellar stroll, and a deep dive into the tradition and experimentation that shaped Törley’s fizz.
Key December Dates
Lock in these time frames if you’re planning a visit:
– 2025.12.08 – 2025.12.13: Visit the Törley Museum
– 2025.12.15 – 2025.12.20: Visit the Törley Museum
– 2025.12.13: Törley Cellar Walk, Budapest
These are the only windows for individual visitors. Anything else? Go via the group menu and arrange a private slot.
Stay Next Door in Boutique Comfort
On the grounds of the Törley Event Center, a boutique hotel blends a historical exterior with a modern interior. Rooms are just steps from the event halls—maximum convenience if you’re pairing a cellar tour with a function or simply want to stay on-site. It’s tailored for guests who want the experience without the commute.
Spiritual Quiet in Budatétény
A local spiritual center in Budatétény invites anyone seeking renewal—individuals or groups, younger or older, Catholic or not. Rooted in Verbite missionary spirituality, its doors are open to all who seek support. If you’re mixing wine culture with a slower day of reflection, this is a calm counterpoint within reach of Budafok’s heritage zones.
Eat and Drink Like a Local
Budafok and nearby neighborhoods are stacked with personality. A few standouts:
– An early 20th-century inn originally built by restaurateur Károly Kleofász in 1910–1911 as “Villatelep-Beszálló Vendéglő” kept horses fed in the backyard and regulars fed inside; renamed “Kméhling Vendéglő” in 1939, the place ran under the Kméhling family until nationalization.
– Borköltők Társasága Pince Étterem delivers comfort and flavor in air-conditioned rooms and an outdoor space. It’s accessible, ready for large private events, and offers room rentals plus catering.
– Záborszky Winery (Záborszky Pincészet) “Wine City” is a rarity even by European standards: a skansen-like Wine Street where you can walk past ten Hungarian wine regions—Badacsony, Balatonboglár, Eger, Etyek-Buda, Mecsek-Alja, Somló, Sopron, Szekszárd, Tokaj-Hegyalja, and Villány—and see facades echoing regional cellar fronts. Twelve more major wine regions roll on video.
– A self-service spot on Kossuth Lajos Street in Budafok dishes up soups, stews, mains, and desserts with homestyle flavors, plus a rotating Chef’s Special so you can build your own daily menu.
Törley Tradition Lives On
The Törley Order upholds the founder’s legacy: promoting the reputation of Hungarian sparkling wine and the Törley name, guarding tradition and quality, and spreading the culture of enjoying sparkling wine. That guardianship is echoed across labels within the Törley group.
Hungaria: Sparkling, Styled, Restless
Hungaria, born in 1955 and nurtured under the Törley umbrella, pairs passion and experimentation with rigorous craft. The brand’s constant reinvention, meticulous processes grounded in decades of expertise, and adoption of modern international methods have made it shorthand for exclusivity and high quality. The result: sparkling wines that feel timely without losing the classic core.
Wineries and Tables Worth Knowing
– György Villa draws whites from Etyek-Buda and reds from Villány, aiming to showcase clean, fruit-forward varietal character.
– István Tanya Restaurant (István Tanya Vendéglő), open since 1999 on cobblestoned Magdolna Street, seats 30 inside, 30 in a heated winter garden, and 40 under a giant chestnut in summer. There’s a 60-seat private room for weddings, reunions, company parties, and birthdays, plus the muscle to handle 80–150-guest events off-site. Expect Hungarian and international classics done right.
– Katona Winery (Katona Borház) bottles the sun, golden clusters, spring energy, and generous soil—clean, fruity wines with fine acidity. Founded in 1996, Katona farms 45 hectares on the southern shore of Lake Balaton in the Balatonboglár wine region, plus 1 hectare in Tokaj-Hegyalja since 2006. Grapes are processed and aged in the Boglár cellar until bottling, though some wines travel to their Budafok cellar for further treatment and bottling before sale.
– Kerkyra Greek Taverna (Kerkyra Görög Taverna) in Campona serves traditional Greek fare: chicken and lamb gyros, souvlaki, roast lamb, moussaka, salads, grilled meats and seafood, and a lineup of desserts and pastries that match the savory plates.
Plan, Book, Go
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so call before you go. Add it to your bucket list, set alerts, and lock in your December plan. For 22nd District program tourism and the national events calendar, check local listings—and make sure that Saturday, 2025.12.13, is the day you descend into Budapest’s sparkling underworld at Törley.
