A few weeks ago, we noticed that a new ruin pub was swiftly gaining popularity on Facebook. A cool logo, a sun-lit terrace on the cover photo: it still did not ring a bell. To our greatest surprise, Káli-Kapocs awaits its guests in Mindszentkálla (Balaton Uplands) instead of the capital. We popped in for a sports fröccs.
Every village has at least one dilapidated, smoky old bar, but it is unimaginable how they still subsist, as the regulars of these places usually get their espressos and shots on credit. The idea of Káli-Kapocs was popped out of the head of two Budapest-based friends. They have owned a house in Mindszentkálla for 10 years - there the scenery is beautiful, you can almost bite the air and the neighbours are lovely, but you have to ride or drive several kilometres for a proper cup of coffee. The thing is, you could only drink 3in1 or overpriced coffees thereabouts. The place lacked a club/pub/community space which was friendly, homely and affordable, where locals, summer residents, tourists and cyclists just crossing the village could all have a fröccs alike. Hence the name Kapocs (meaning: connection, staple).
The renovated, really stylish joint was opened following long preparations on Pentecost weekend. Friends and locals celebrated the event together - until the stock of drinks ran dry, which is a miracle in pre-season. Balázs and Miklós were happy to acknowledge that their idea of a ruin pub in Mindszentkálla has been justified.
Why does this place count as a ruin pub, when this trend is rather Budapest-specific? The interior is genuinely ruin pub-ish: renovated furniture, restored trade signs, antiqued wall surfaces, a still operable scooter on the wall, soda siphons, and colourful chairs make it all cheerful. Behind the counter, Panni - lured over to Lake Balaton from the Castro Bistro in Budapest - prepares delicious home-made syrups, professional fröccs variations and the best coffee of the region with an expert hand and a great amount of patience.
Káli-Kapocs is a bicycle- and motorbike-friendly place, which will also offer tent pitching possibilities in the backyard in high season. Why not chill out there after an exhausting, hot day of cycling, then stay the night in the yard and wake and sip your caffeinated drink under the walnut tree? Small, acoustic concerts are also planned to take place on the terraced front of Kapocs. The first concert will be that of Intim Torna Illegál at 21:00 on 20 June, in front of locals, the first fans of Kapocs and the visitors of the Káli Buli.
