Gekko Pub and Bánya Club

Gekko Pub, 40 Tudor Vladimirescu Street. A Street, a place where I found new friends, and collected hundreds of memories. How can I describe this place as the best? Maybe by cheerful music, nice drinks, familiar faces talking at the bar tables, the counter, the football table, and dartboard. Loud laughter, friendly smiles and frequent “Hi!” and “How are you?” shouts. Entertaining karaoke parties where unique and colourful personalities show us their singing talent, creating an amazing atmosphere and encouraging others to sing, which is fun and liberating. Exciting and interesting quiz nights, when anyone can show their knowledge—alone or in groups—in subjects such as geography, history, languages, literature, mathematics, culture, etc. Smaller concerts and events with the contribution of famous or up-and-coming music bands, singers and DJs; thoughtful bartenders that welcome you back and greet you in a friendly way when they see you again.

This is just a fraction of the reasons why this place is close to my heart. When I became a student at Partium Christian University, most of the time, if we wanted to go out with friends, we chose Gekko Pub, because we heard from former students that this was—and still is—a friendly, colourful place with good parties and an amazing atmosphere. The parties are really good indeed, and famous DJs often perform there. The Bánya Club is the home to parties that you can attend in the basement-like room of Gekko Pub. Even if this place is a bit small, most people enjoy the place and its atmosphere.

However, Gekko Pub is colourful and homelike not just in the evening but during the daytime as well. When I meet an acquaintance or a friend that I haven’t seen in a long time, we often go there to have a delicious tea, coffee, or soft drink. There aren’t many people in the afternoon, so people can talk calmly and with ease about anything and can also pay attention to each other more easily. ‘Gekko Nights’ are not just for entertainment but also for making friendships. I met a lot of people there who I still maintain a good relationship with, even today, and with whom we sometimes look back on shared ‘Gekko Experiences’.

Every time I step into Gekko Pub, I feel like I’m home. Before anyone gets the wrong idea, the feeling of home is not due to alcohol consumption and partying, but to the decoration, the murals, old and colourful objects hanging on the walls, and to the friendly staff. Gekko is known as a ‘ruin pub’, where retro and modern blend together giving a unique atmosphere to the place and creating a feeling of time-travelling. There are no empty, uncoloured walls. Each wall is decorated with something that grabs one's attention. There’s also a piano, but I'm not sure if it still works. What I am sure about is that every single object makes this place more beautiful and cosier. To all visitors of the city, and to you, dear Reader, I can only recommend Gekko Pub and attest that people can have wonderful memories once they enter this place. It is definitely worth a visit once.

By Petra Nyéki

Photos: Tamás Petrus and Tamás Orosz

 

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