Cup of coffee with heart foam art
Cup of coffee with heart foam art

Coffee for every occasion – The best cafés in Budapest

Exploring a city is best with coffee, so we’ve collected the top cafés in Budapest from speciality coffee corners to elegant café houses and beyond.

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Coffee for every occasion – The best cafés in Budapest

No city break or weekend getaway is complete without a few stops for freshly-grounded coffee. It’s no different in the Hungarian capital. Be it your morning fuel before exploring Budapest from the top, an afternoon coffee break after munching on the tastiest Hungarian dishes, or the much-needed evening caffeine kick before you hit a local ruin pub, finding the best coffee is key. In that sentiment, we’ve roamed around the inner city and collected the best cafés in Budapest from the hip speciality coffee places to the classic café houses and all things in between. Follow us on our hunt for the strongest espresso and the creamiest cappuccino in town. Sneak peek: we’ve also included a few thematic cafés for pet lovers and Harry Potter fans, so read on and discover them all!

Cups of coffee in Budapest cafés
Cups of coffee in Budapest cafés

Taste the best speciality coffee brewed in Budapest

Let’s start with the newest wave of cafés in Budapest, the exclusive circle of the hip and chic, aka the tiny nooks, serving the best speciality coffee in town. Catching up with the Western trend, the last few years have seen the opening of more and more speciality coffee houses in the inner city of Budapest, bringing the contemporary coffee culture from London or even Australia.

My Little Melbourne & Brew Bar

My Little Melbourne's terrace at Madách tér, Budapest
My Little Melbourne’s terrace at Madách tér, Budapest

The first of these is My Little Melbourne & Brew Bar located in the heart of Budapest, right under the arcades of Madách tér. Contrary to its tiny venue of altogether 35 square meters (plus its cozy terrace), My Little Melbourne is famous near and far for its great variety of coffee served hot or cold – even as ice cream. Alternatively, you can ask for a cold brew or an espresso tonic, accompanied by a delicious cake or bun.

Summary of
My Little Melbourne & Brew Bar

Opening hours
monday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
tuesday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
wednesday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
thursday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
friday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
saturday 08:00:00 – 18:00:00
sunday 08:00:00 – 18:00:00
Price Range
$$
Social Media
Address
Budapest, Madách Imre út 3, 1075

Espresso Embassy

The amazing interior of Espressi Embassy in Budapest
The amazing interior of Espressi Embassy in Budapest

The next on our list of artisanal coffee shops has to be Espresso Embassy at 15 Arany János Street. Always ready with strong and fresh coffee, the baristas at this place will prepare quality espresso-based drinks to your heart’s content. They have everything from filter coffee to flat white, and some true caffeine kickers, like a triple latte (3 single espressos with steamed milk) and quad cortado (2 double espressos and steamed milk). Don’t forget to ask for a piece of their organic cakes as your afternoon snack.

Summary of
Espresso Embassy

Opening hours
monday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
tuesday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
wednesday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
thursday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
friday 07:30:00 – 18:00:00
saturday 08:00:00 – 18:00:00
sunday 08:00:00 – 18:00:00
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
Budapest, Arany János u. 15, 1051

Fekete brew&food bar

The inner yard of Fekete specialty café in Budapest
The inner yard of Fekete specialty café in Budapest

No speciality cafe list in Budapest can be complete without Fekete. Hidden in the inside yard of an early 20th-century residential building, this coffee shop and brunch place has a unique atmosphere, bringing third-wave, organic coffee, latte art, and homemade cakes to Astoria. Frequented by the students of the nearby university and tourists alike, Fekete is, without doubt, a must-try café when it comes to quality coffee in Budapest.

TIP: If you don’t want to get annoyed looks from the professional barista behind the counter, don’t ask for sugar to your usual pour when entering an artisanal coffee shop. Let them recommend the speciality of the house and enjoy the unique flavors and aromas.

Summary of
Fekete brew&food bar

Opening hours
Every Day
08:00:00 – 07:00:00
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
Budapest, Múzeum krt. 5, 1053 Hungary

Immerse yourself in the turn-of-the-century chic of classic cafés

If you’re more traditional when it comes to coffee, you came to the right place. In the early 20th century Budapest was famous for its elegant cafes, frequented by the elite of the city from prominent statespersons to dazzling literary figures. Although the 1900s are long gone, the remnants of the classic café culture in Budapest are still present, offering the old glory of the past amid their gilded antique walls.

Parisi Passage Café

The luxurious interior of the Parisi Passage Café & Brasserie in Budapest, Hungary
The luxurious interior of the Parisi Passage Café & Brasserie in Budapest, Hungary

Probably the most luxurious of them all is the Parisi Passage Café & Brasserie in the passage area of the recently reopened Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest. Upon entering the grand doors at 10 Ferenciek tere, you will instantly feel transported back in time. Take a break, sip your coffee slowly, and take in every little detail of the breathtaking interior.

Summary of
Parisi Passage Café

Opening hours
Every Day
08:00:00 – 17:00:00
Price Range
$$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1053 Budapest, Ferenciek tere 10.

New York Café Budapest

The grandiose walls and gilded pillars of the iconic New York Café in Budapest
The grandiose walls and gilded pillars of the iconic New York Café in Budapest

The next stop on your fin-de-siècle coffee tour has to be New York Café Budapest, the grandiose place that earned the title “the most beautiful coffee house in the world”. With marble walls, gilded pillars, and grand frescos all around, you will feel like an aristocrat from the late 19th century. The history of the 126-year-old café is legendary, full of fables about Hungarian literary figures writing their iconic pieces while sipping their coffee and smoking their cigars. Although smoking is not allowed inside anymore, you can immerse yourself in the mouthwatering looks and flavors of eminent Hungarian desserts, like Dobos cake, Somlói sponge cake, or Rákóczi cottage cake.

Summary of
New York Café Budapest

Opening hours
Every Day
08:00:00 – 00:00:00
Price Range
$$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1073 Budapest Erzsébet krt. 9-11

Gerbeaud

Gerbeaud Café and Cake House at Vörösmarty tér, Budapes
Gerbeaud Café and Cake House at Vörösmarty tér, Budapes

Now that we’ve mentioned Hungarian cakes, we cannot leave out Gerbeaud from our selection of the most prominent cafés in Budapest. With not any less impressive interior than the other two described above, this exquisite café claims the luxurious look and feel with stuccos, chandeliers and wooden walls. Located at the main stage of Christmas markets in Budapest, Vörösmarty tér, Gerbeaud is named after the Swiss confectioner Emil Gerbeaud who invented one of Hungary’s most important delicacies to date, the layered cake with walnut and apricot filling, covered in dark chocolate, namely zserbó

TIP: Unlike the tiny speciality coffee nooks of Budapest, the classic cafés usually boast spacious interiors, and are able to serve dozens upon dozens of people with their delicacies at once. Yet, if you’re visiting during rush hours, you may want to reserve a table in advance.

Summary of
Gerbeaud

Opening hours
monday 09:00:00 – 19:00:00
tuesday 09:00:00 – 19:00:00
wednesday 09:00:00 – 19:00:00
thursday 09:00:00 – 19:00:00
friday 09:00:00 – 21:00:00
saturday 09:00:00 – 21:00:00
sunday 09:00:00 – 19:00:00
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
Budapest, Vörösmarty tér 7-8, 1051

Explore cafés with a theme in Budapest

Now that you’ve seen it all from the classic coffee houses to the contemporary brews, it’s time to discover the best thematic cafés in Budapest. You can expect cats, chameleons, wizards, and coffee from all four corners of the world. Take your pick and get caffeinated!

Café Frei

Interior of the Café Frei in Váci utca, Budapest
Interior of the Café Frei in Váci utca, Budapest

Offering a special journey into the world of coffee, Café Frei has everything planet Earth has to offer on the coffee front from Italy to the Middle East, from Venezuela to Japan. Strictly brewed from freshly-roasted, hand-sorted coffee beans, the delicious drinks of Café Frei can be found at many corners of Budapest, from the airport to the main shopping street, Váci utca. They also serve divine variations on hot chocolate, lush lemonades and flavorsome tea rarities.

Flying Broomstick

Butterbeer and cocktail at the Flying Broomstick Magical Experience Coffee Shop in Budapest
Butterbeer and cocktail at the Flying Broomstick Magical Experience Coffee Shop in Budapest

If you want to venture even further and taste the iconic hot drinks of the wizarding world, you have to visit the Flying Broomstick Magical Experience Coffee Shop while in Budapest. Besides your usual coffee picks, they also brew magical potions and butterbeer, and for the lion-hearted, magical cocktails straight from Diagon Alley – or even Knockturn Alley. Flying Broomstick is a bit further from the usual tourist spots of the inner city of Budapest, but it’s worth finding your way in.

Summary of
Flying Broomstick

Opening hours
wednesday 12:00:00 – 21:00:00
thursday 12:00:00 – 21:00:00
friday 12:00:00 – 21:00:00
saturday 12:00:00 – 21:00:00
sunday 12:00:00 – 21:00:00
mo tu closed.
Price Range
$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
Budapest, Pacsirtamező u. 36, 1034

Zoo Café

A tasty caramel latte in the company of Gesztenye, the Ball Python
A tasty caramel latte in the company of Gesztenye, the Ball Python

Do you need more four-legged friends in your life? In Zoo Café, you can meet all kinds of pets you’ve always dreamed (or feared?) of. Sit back, order a coffee, and request to see a hedgehog, a hamster or a bunny within arm’s reach. You can also check out chatty parrots, chilled chameleons or even freakish spiders – if that’s your cup of tea. It’s also a popular birthday party scene for kids, so make sure to reserve a table before arriving.

Tip

For cat lovers, we also recommend CatCafé Budapest, or as they call themselves, “the PURRfect place to be” if you crave cat company. They have 15 kittens roaming around the place from majestic maine coons to cuddly rescue cats.

Summary of
Zoo Café

Opening hours
Every Day
10:00:00 – 22:00:00
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1053 Budapest, Fejér György u. 3.

If you’ve tried all the best coffees in town and you’re still craving more sweetness, you must explore the artisanal bakery scenery of Budapest, offering the crustiest bread and sweetest pastry in the city. And if you need to wash it all off with another local delicacy, don’t miss out on Hungarian wine while in Budapest.

Q & A

What are the best cafés in Budapest?
Depending on your preferences, there are many excellent cafés in Budapest, ranging from classic ones, such as Parisi Passage Café, New York Café, or Gerbeaud, to new-wave specialty coffee corners, like Fekete, Espresso Embassy, or My Little Melbourne. Alternatively, you can check out thematic cafés, like Café Frei, Zoo Café, or Flying Broomstick Coffee Shop.
What can you eat in a café in Budapest?
Besides hot and cold drinks, most cafés in Budapest serve homemade cakes, buns, and cookies often with Hungarian delicacies on their menus as well. More and more of them also offer sandwiches and breakfast or brunch options. The classic café houses, like Gerbeaud, often have their own delicious cake creations, like zserbó.
Are there specialty coffee places in Budapest?
Yes, there are more and more new wave coffee havens serving specialty brew in Budapest, such as Espresso Embassy at Arany János utca, My Little Melbourne at Madách tér, and Fekete at Astoria
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