Franz Liszt Square, Budapest

Anchored by the Academy of Music, the Franz List Square is ideal for meetings, short strolls, a great coffee, lunch, or dinner. Popular with locals and tourists alike, especially on summer evenings, this leafy, relaxed pedestrian area is surrounded by restaurants and cafés like the famous Menza (known for its traditional Hungarian favorites and nice wine), the bright, wood-floored Café Vian (praised for its perfect food and service, plus live music), Seasons Bistro (one of Budapest's best kept secrets), Incognito (good for drinks and chill), Korhely faloda és daloda (known to make meat-eaters extremely pleased), etc.

Franz Liszt's statue in the center of the square captures both the essence of the famous composer and the size of his hands, which alludes to his skill on the piano. which allude to his skill on the piano. Unveiled in 1986, it is the work of prize-winning sculptor László Marton, who also sculpted the Little Princess statue on the Danube promenade. Other artworks in the square include a bronze statue to Hungarian poet Endre Ady and a very unusual work dedicated to Sir Georg Solti, a Hungarian-born conductor and a long-serving music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

On the corner of Andrassy ut 45, there is also a place called the Irok Boltja ("Writer's Bookshop"), where you can find some of the best literary events in Budapest. It is definitely a meeting place for famous and not so famous writers, people who love to read, and even just the curious.