Coffe has always been an an integral part of Hungarian culture from the 1850’s. With the rise of the Hungarian middle class, coffe houses has popped up in Budapest with an incredible speed. They served several purposes. They were the main place for information exchange, people chatted here about politics, everyday life. For artists, – especially poets – coffe houses served as a second home, many masterpieces were born in the somke fields of these cafés.
By today many have disappeared – destroyed in WWII or simply changed profile. During the past several years there has been a Renaissance of these places, many people opt to sit in such places rather than a fast food restaurant. You can feel the history, have a very good coffe and dessert or even shoot a funky selfie.
These 3 are the most popular among tourists – we can say for well deserved reasons.
The New York Café opened on October 23rd 1894, and has been part of Budapest history, but is still associated with Hungarian literature – being one of the favourite places of Hungary’s famous poets.
Today it is located in the New york Palace, built in eclectic Italian Renaissance-style. The glamorous café has won the title of „the most beautiful café in the world” in 2011!
The menu recalls the multicultural cuisine of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Classic dishes like Beef Goulash, Fishermen Soup, Chicken Leg Paprikash-style, Wiener Schnitzel and Grilled Foie Gras are served along with famous desserts such as Dobos, Sacher and Eszterházy cake.
The Gerbeaud, an iconic café and pastry shop in Budapest’s downtown is definitely one of the most famous gastronomic assets of Hungary.
The Gerbeaud legend began with Kugler Henrik 160 years ago. Than in 1884 Swiss patissier Emil Gerbeaud transformed it into a confectionery famed for its inventive sweets like the konyakmeggy, a brandied sour cherry enclosed by a chocolate shell, and “macskanyelv,” a milk chocolate shaped like a cat’s tongue (both of them are still produced).
Gerbeaud also makes some of the best traditional Hungarian (or Austro-Hungarian) pastries such as Dobos, Esterházy cake, krémes, and the namesake Gerbeaud cake. The last one, known here as ‘zserbó szelet’, has layers of sweet yeast cake, jam and ground walnuts topped with chocolate glaze.
Gerbeaud is located inside a gleaming white, lavishly-decorated Renaissance Revival building with crystal chandeliers, marble-topped tables, and cherrywood paneling.
The Centrál Coffee House was opened in 1887, and was the center of various Hungarian literature and scientific streams throughout the 19th and 20th century. Between 1890 and 1945, well-known writers, poets and protectors gathered here to edit literary journals, and it was an important meeting point for scientists, composers and artists, as well.
Nowadays it is still both a popular catering spot of great quality, as well as a venue for social and cultural programs. The 132-year-old Centrál Coffee House wishes to recreate the atmosphere of an era which everyone refers to as the golden age of Hungarian gastronomy.
For the favourite of the locals in Budapest, look for a Frei Café 🙂