The 5 Best Coffeehouses in Budapest

By Tas TobiasLast updated: Mar. 9, 2023

Like Vienna, Budapest enjoyed a thriving coffeehouse culture during the Austro Hungarian Empire — around the turn of the 20th century, more than 500 cafés swarmed across Budapest. Apart from low-priced caffeine, coffeehouses offered a home away from home to the city's fast-growing populace. These high-ceilinged spaces were also central to social life: Many artists and journalists camped out for the whole day, even directing their mail to their favored café.

Most coffeehouses have long since disappeared but a few are still around (or have reopened), drawing a tourist-heavy crowd. If you're curious about the contemporary "coffeehouses" of Budapest, drop by some of the top specialty coffee shops, too.

#1 Café Gerbeaud

Gerbeaud is a historic pastry shop and café in Budapest's downtown. It was Swiss-Hungarian patissier Emil Gerbeaud, who, after taking over the business in 1884, revolutionized the Hungarian confectionery industry with inventive sweets and pastries.

#2 New York Café

Budapest's New York Café is a historic coffeehouse on the ground floor of the New York Palace, a grand 1894 building and today home to a five-star hotel. The café's fame harks back to the pre-war days, when renowned Hungarian journalists, artists, and entertainers spent wild nights here fueled by cigarettes and alcohol. Countless stories of their debauchery have become part of Budapest’s collective memory.

#3 Matild Café & Cabaret

Matild is a grand coffeehouse in downtown Budapest, right in the city center. The spacious, two-story space has been beautifully restored recently with Art Nouveau and classical details to bring alive the ambiance of Budapest’s pre-war coffeehouse culture. Opened in 1901, Belvárosi Kávéház, its original name, was frequented by a well-to-do crowd, then it drew a more literary clientele in the 1950s (the venue was later converted into a restaurant and a night club).

#4 Central Cafe

Central is one of the few remaining coffeehouses dating back to Budapest’s golden era, before WWI. At the time, the city was swarming with cafés like Central that stayed open around the clock and attracted artists who've spent endless caffeine-fueled hours working and socializing under the sky-high ceilings. Today, one of Central's walls is blanketed in framed photos of prominent writers, poets, and editors who were once regulars.

#5 Gerlóczy Cafe

Gerlóczy is a snug café and restaurant tucked away on an unusually quiet pocket of Budapest's downtown. The charming square outside the restaurant, surrounded by elegant pre-war buildings, is a well-kept secret of this otherwise tourist-heavy neighborhood. Gerlóczy's interior evokes French bistro vibes, featuring small round tables, leather banquettes, and a high ceiling. In the warm months, the outdoor terrace is especially enjoyable.

Rankings are based on a combination of food/drink, atmosphere, service, and price. To remain unbiased, I visit all places incognito and pay for my own meals and drinks. I also never accept money in exchange for coverage. But this means I must rely on readers to support my work. If you've enjoyed this article, please consider making a one-time payment (PayPal) or becoming an Offbeat Patron.