“Celebrated every year, the Hungarian Revolution of 15 March 1848 had several iconic locations around Pest. Among the lesser-known are the Landerer printing house and Táncsics prison, but most associate the dramatic events of 173 years ago with the steps of the National Museum – and the Pilvax, where firebrand poet Sándor Petofi and his revolutionaries gathered. Yet this iconic café had attracted young thinkers before the course of history was changed over an espresso or two…”

“The place has now returned to its roots and reopened as a cafe-restaurant so that the historic site can regain its original function.”

“Considered as the main hub of the 1848 Revolution, the Pilvax Café was the setting where the city’s zealous artists and intellectuals regularly got together to exchange opinions about life in Hungary under the Habsburg regime. This politically heated movement was soon joined by talented Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi, who shared equally fervent views with this ardent coffeehouse crowd, and here the Magyar wordsmith first delivered his poetic masterpiece crying out for Hungarian freedom, the “National Song”. On the morning of March 15th, the dissidents gathered at the Pilvax to rally onto the streets of Budapest, spreading their outlook and loudly reciting the 12 Points, a list of demands that was previously compiled at the café.”