Budapest Café Culture – What to Know

After spending a week mooching around the stunning city of Budapest. I have explored in depth many cafés or Kafehasz in the Hungarian capital. I am sharing my findings as they had mixed results. So that when you go on a city break you can optimize by visiting the best ones to fit your style, taste and budget.

Budapest cafés are almost a character themselves. An historic backdrop of the city´s culture. This tradition began around the time of the Ottoman empire in the 16th century. These cafés became meeting places, living rooms and writing corners for poets and authors over the centuries.

New York Café Budapest

Probably the most famous Café in the city. Referred to as The Most Beautiful Cafe in the World. This café in on the ground floor of a Hotel. The Hotel Anantara New York Palace Budapest – 5 Star is located on a main boulevard in Budapest. You can stay there to make a luxurious city break extra special. You can also book online to dine inside the historic Café.

Due to its popularity, there is a 30 euros per table minimum spend. (yes even for a coffee). Booking ahead is essential too. When I visited I booked my table online. When I arrived rather than having coffee and cake. I chose to have dinner inside the café. The selection of food and drinks is quite varied.

As many people come in just to take photos and there is a constant flow of waiter and people passing your table. There isn´t a lot of space on the table either. I didn´t enjoy the experience too much. It was expensive and not very relaxing.

2 smallish main courses + 1 drink per person 30,000 forint (82 euros)

Without doubt the interior decoration in the Art Deco style is stunning. Personally I would just take a photo of this from the hotel lobby without actually having to dine there. Unless you are really keen to spend a longer amount of time there. The tables towards the back will have less disruption that the ones in the centre or a the front.

To get into the Kafehaz culture of Budapest there are many other spots to choose…..

Gerloczy Café & Restaurant

For coffee and cake I would recommend the Gerloczy Café. This is also set inside a charming hotel. Its on a quaint square of the same name, just off important boulevards in the city. With a charming terrace area it feels more select and historic. I actually stayed at the Gerloczy Boutique Hotel Budapest and found it to be well located and charming.

Both the café and restaurant here are worthwhile, whether you choose a sweet snack, a brunch menu or a dinner on one of the evenings when the have live music. The waiters here were courteous and helpful.

During the late 19th Century there were 500 grand Kafehaz in Budapest

Muvesz

Now my favourite of all the cafés we visited while in Budapest was Muvesz. This was busy with Hungarian locals and people who had finished work. Set opposite the Opera on the upscale shopping street Andrássy Utca, no 29. It dates back to 1898 and conserves its original décor, chandeliers and furnishings.

This was a poets corner and hang out for the literary and intellectual crowd. Of course artists performing in the Opera House across the road would gravitate to this meeting place too. Often the Coffee houses were places to keep warm and have good lighting, especially for struggling writers and artists.

For a coffee, a tea and two cakes the total came to 9500 Forint (25 euros) Service included

The best selling cakes at Muvesz are

Chestnut-cherry slice
Sacher cake Alain Ducasseg
Double hazelnut cake
Esterházy slice – made with buttercream, walnut or almond meringue and a dash of cognac.

Gerbeaud

Set in amongst the busy shopping district. Gerbeaud was the poshest place on my list. Refined and frequented by well heeled locals, this business began in 1858. Inside it was quite and relaxing, I also notice that the tables are well spaced.

For a coffee, a tea and two cakes the total came to 16400 Forint (45 euros) Service included

An insider hack is to get the cakes to take away as the prices are lower. As you can see below, the price labels show the price to eat in or take away. Here one of their most famous bakes is the Dobos Cake for example. Which costs 2090 Huf / 5 euros to takeaway vs 4350 Huf / 12 euros to eat in.

Central Grand Café

I actually dined at the Centrál Kávéház several times during my stay in Budapest. Some evenings they offer Live music, but I really appreciated their extensive menu and friendly waiters.

This is really well located on Károlyi utca 9 (close to Ferenciek ter) off one of the main roads through the city.

Gresham Palace – Lobby Bar at Four Seasons

Not strictly a Kafehasz however I am including it due to the architectural style of the building. To have a drink in their lobby bar is wonderful as you can sit to contemplate the iron domed ceiling. (You can visit the bar even if you arent a hotel guest)

This was built in 1904 as Luxury Apartments, Insurance Offices and Retail Shops. Gresham Palace is located next to teh Danube riverbank and very close to the Chain Bridge. Sadly it was severely damaged in the 2nd World War.

In 1999 the building was carefully restored and became Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest

Szamos

Founded by Mátyás Szamos in 1930´s, this confectioner is known for marzipan figures. You can spot some in the top left of this photo below. Now you can find different Szamos shops in Budapest and other Hungarian towns.

I visited the Muzeum Cukraszda in Szentendre to taste some of the delicious cakes by Szamos bakery.

Best Kafehaz Cakes

After a lot of delicious research the most traditional and delicious cakes to order in Budapest are as follows:

Meggy Sour Cherry – my personal favourite
Estzercake – Especially in Muvesz
Dobos – at Gerbeaud, Szamos or Muvesz.

Budapest Bakeries – Pekseg to Go

Local in Budapest head to Kafehaz as a treat nowadays. They are more likely to get Pekseg on their way to work. These affordable bakes are sold each morning. People take these pastries to their office or home as they start the day. I tried the ones from these stall inside the Central Market Hall.

On another day I picked up pastries from Croccante (they have several shops around the city). 2 pastries cost me 1600 forint / 4 euros.