The best artisanal bakeries in Budapest every foodie must try

Everyone loves fresh bread and sweet pastry – especially since baking and experimenting with sourdough at home became the unofficial pastime of 2020. But what makes good bread? Ever since Pixar movie Ratatouille, we know that it’s not the smell, not the look, but the sound of the crust. Keeping that in mind, we followed that almighty symphony of crackle to the best bakeries in Budapest. And what we found is the best thing since sliced bread: the coolest artisanal bakeries in town. With a bit heftier price tags than what the locals are used to, these unique little bakeries are surely worth a bite.

Here’s the breadcrumb trail to find them.

1. Arán bakery – where the Irish sourdough is called Paddy

We all love a good story that starts with someone dreaming big and making those dreams come true. The owners of Arán did just that. They traveled near and far to collect all there is to know about baking, then they came back to Budapest and opened their bakery with the know-how they brought home. A piece of sourdough also traveled back with them from Dublin. They named it Paddy and have used it ever since as the vital ingredient to their heavenly baked goods. And before you ask, the name Arán also came from Ireland: it means bread.

All Arán goodies are made from Hungarian flour and quality ingredients. From plain and whole-wheat bread to more elaborate seasonal variations, such as miso-sesame and multi-seeded rye, you will surely find your favorite on their weekly menu. And if you crave for something other than bread, choose from their selection of sweet or savory pastries. Make sure to try cruffin, the love child of muffin and croissant, and give yourself to the mouthwatering flavors of the sweet filling hidden in the crispy crust

Specialty: Dreaming of breakfast in bed with the best sourdough bread in town? We have some good news for you! Arán has recently started its delivery service so that you can enjoy fresh bread at yourdoorstep. And if mumbling on a crust wakes your inner baker, you can get a piece of Paddy and try baking bread yourself ­– for free.

Summary of
Arán Bakery

Opening hours

monday 07:30:00 –
tuesday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
wednesday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
thursday 07:30:00 –
friday 07:30:00 –
saturday 08:00:00 –
sunday 08:00:00 –

Price Range

$

Web Address

https://aranbakery.hu/home/

Social Media

Address

Budapest, Wesselényi u. 23, 1077 Magyarország

2. nor/ma – where the scent of cinnamon and cardamom fills the air

If you’re ready to jump a bit further up North on the culinary map, nor/ma bakery is your place. Way before you spot the minimalist industrial façade and huge windows, the smell of freshly-baked bread with the unmistakable spicy scent of cardamom and cinnamon will make your mouth water. Step in and you will instantly feel yourself in Copenhagen. If you take one more step, you can even tag along and peek into the open kitchen to see how the pastries are made.

Focused on artisanal values and organic ingredients, everything at nor/ma is a piece of art. On the counter, you can find loaves after loaves of sourdough and rye bread in perfect crispy freshness. Those with a sweet tooth will have a hard time picking their favorite from the abundance of Nordic-inspired sweet and spicy pastries. What are you waiting for? Go Dane for a day and enjoy hygge in one of the best bakeries of Budapest.

Specialty: If you are in for a Danish treat, go for the rye bread and choose a cardamom roll as a side.

Summary of
nor/ma Bakery

Opening hours

monday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
tuesday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
wednesday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
thursday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
friday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
saturday 08:00:00 – 18:00:00
su closed.

Price Range

$

Social Media

Address

Budapest, Kecskeméti u. 11, 1053 Magyarország

3. Freyja – where the story is all about croissants

Who wouldn’t love a bakery specialized in croissants? That’s right, Freyja even advertises itself as ‘the croissant story’ and not without a reason. Their croissants are surely worth many stories. On our hunt for the best bakeries in Budapest, Freyja is the second where the owner took a Danish detour for the perfect recipe. Surprising as this direction may sound, as we thought France was the home of croissants, it is definitely working for Freyja. Their secret is using sourdough – the recurring theme of artisanal bakeries in Budapest.

Made with organic ingredients and prepared for no less than 4 days, Freyja’s croissant selection goes from the traditional buttery ones to the more flavorsome pistachio and milk chocolate and pecan praline ones, and they don’t stop there. You will have a hard time choosing just one (or two), especially that the menu is constantly colored with seasonal variations. If you are not one of those that eat the dessert first, go for the prosciutto crudo/goat cheese/fig marmalade creation and enjoy the ride to salty croissant-land.

Specialty: Once your sugar overdose reached its peak, ask for a salty sourdough ciabatta and take it home – your hungry future self will thank you for it the next morning. On weekends, you can also enjoy Freyja’s hearty croissant-centered brunches.

Summary of
Freyja

Opening hours

monday 08:00:00 – 15:00:00
tuesday 08:00:00 – 15:00:00
wednesday 08:00:00 – 15:00:00
thursday 08:00:00 – 15:00:00
friday 08:00:00 –
saturday 08:00:00 – 14:00:00
sunday 08:00:00 – 14:00:00

Price Range

$$

Web Address

https://freyjacroissant.hu/?fbclid=IwAR0GH4JJHW4MVTUb9dSEIRSFvJUTsMoWfWlzQbUE5LSuElfKgC89DiQnR1Y

Social Media

Address

Budapest, Szövetség u. 10-12, 1074 Magyarország

4. Butter Brothers – where all good things are made with butter

Hidden one street behind the pedestrian Ráday utca, Butter Brothers is definitely worth stepping off the tourist track. Ever since this cozy little place opened its doors in 2012, it confidently stands out as one of the highest quality bakeries in Budapest, loved by locals and tourists alike.

Peek in and get instantly overwhelmed by their selection of flaky croissants, buttery buns, crunchy cookies, chocolaty brownies, freshly baked bread, baguettes, and all kinds of savory pastries. Shall I go on? Butter Brothers also offers great coffee  – made from their special coffee beans. And unlike most bakeries in town, they serve a seasonal ‘soup of the day’. Grab it and one of their heavenly oven treats, and you got yourself a full lunch.

Specialty: If you want to try Hungarians’ number one pastry, the good old chocolate roll (‘kakaós csiga’), Butter Brothers may well be the best bakery for it in Budapest.

Summary of
Butter Brothers

Opening hours

monday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
tuesday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
wednesday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
thursday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
friday 07:00:00 – 19:00:00
saturday 08:00:00 – 14:00:00
su closed.

Price Range

$$

Web Address

https://www.butter-brothers.com/hello-en.html

Social Media

Address

Budapest, Lónyay u. 22, 1093 Magyarország

Q & A

What are the best bakeries in Budapest?

The best artisan bakeries in Budapest are Arán, nor/ma, Freyja, and Butter Brothers.

What is a cruffin?

A special pastry combining all that is good in a muffin and a croissant. You can try the best cruffins of Budapest in the Arán bakery.

What is sourdough bread?

Sourdough bread is a type of bread made with fermented dough, which gives the bread a slightly sour taste. You can find the best sourdough bread in Budapest’s artisanal bakeries: Arán, nor/ma, Freyja, and Butter Brothers