Best cafés and bakeries in Budapest
The cafés and bakeries in Budapest became extremely well-known throughout Europe at the end of World War I. Nowadays, Budapest houses some of the best bakeries and coffee houses in the Old Continent thanks to the Hungarians' passion for sweet food.
Among the many pastry shops and cafés, there are a few that stand out not only for the quality of their desserts but also for their rich history and practice.
Café Gerbeaud
Vörösmarty tér. See map.
Gerbeaud is legendary. The Café was founded in 1858 by Henrik Kugler and since then its pastries and cakes have become increasingly well-known. This traditional coffee house seats up to 300 people in its many saloons and its terrace also has the same capacity.
A cup of coffee, a hot chocolate, or a slice of cake costs approximately 750 Ft (US$ 1.90). If you want something a little cheaper, there are also products for around 300 Ft (US$ 0.80).
Boscolo Budapest
Erzsébet körút 9-11. See map.
The New York Café was one of the most renowned and striking coffee houses in Budapest. It was inaugurated in 1894 and closed in 2001 for the construction of the Boscolo Hotel.
In 2006, the Café was restored to its original splendor, which had survived for over 100 years. Nowadays, the hotel and bistro are both beautifully decorated. A coffee costs between 800 and 1,000 Ft (US$ 2.60). We recommend their refreshing ice cream sundae for 1,800 Ft (US$ 4.60)!
Centrál Café (Centrál Kávéház)
Károlyi Mihály utca 9. See map.
Budapest's Centrál Café is one of the oldest cafés and restaurants in Budapest. In the past, many artists, poets, and writers met in this café to share and discuss ideas. However, it was closed down during the Communist regime, but coinciding with the fall of the Soviet Union, the Café reopened. It's slightly cheaper than the other two previously mentioned.
