Best Hungarian Places in NYC
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New York City is a melting pot of various cultures. The Hungarian community is scattered all over the city and is among the plethora of cultures that make themselves known in the area. However, most of the Hungarian hotspots can be found in one place: Manhattan.
You’re likely to find a wide variety of Hungarian restaurants, shops, and organizations in Yorkville, on the Upper East Side of New York City. We have included the most relevant establishments and shops you should visit while in New York.
Hungarian Pastry Shop
If you’re looking for a good old-fashioned Dobos cake or meggyes rétes, head to Amsterdam Avenue between 111th and Amsterdam Street and find the Hungarian Pastry Shop, which is located opposite St. John’s the Divine.
This establishment has served Hungarian pastries to generations of students and authors. Philip Binioris, the son of Peter Binioris, and his family have owned the shop for over 30 years. It has a European-style atmosphere, offers a variety of Hungarian pastries, and has free coffee refills.
Bartók Plaque
On the north side of 57th Street between 9th and 8th Avenues, there’s a small plaque that shows the face of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. Bartók moved to New York following the Nazi occupation of Budapest in 1940.
The composer Bartókand his wife had a hard time in New York due to the small stipend they received from Columbia University. They were tasked with transcribing the university’s extensive collection of Croatian and Serbian folk music for several years. The statue of Bartókwas unveiled on March 15, 1928, and over 15,000 people attended the unveiling.
Budapest Cafe
Located on 2nd Avenue between 85th and 84th Streets, Budapest Cafe, formerly known as Andre’s Cafe, is a tiny cafe that serves authentic Hungarian dishes.This place offers a wide range of comfort food, such as goulash soup, chicken paprikash, and savory Kratt. In addition, the restaurant’s bakery section features various pastries and cakes. One of the most popular items in the restaurant is the chocolate sponge cake known as Rig Jancsi.
KEYBAR
The bar KEYBAR was founded by Gyula and Attila, both of whom have extensive experience in the hospitality industry. It’s located in the East Village.
This is a popular meeting point for the Hungarian community in New York. On its Facebook page, KEYBAR states that it’s a jewelry-box-sized nightclub serving various beverages and signature shots.
It is also an excellent place for international customers who come in for the great music and stay for the ambiance.
The First Hungarian Reformed Church of New York
The Hungarian Reformed Church New York is located on East 69th St. in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It was founded in 1895 and established to serve the Hungarian community in the city. During this time, there was a robust Hungarian presence in the area.
The church was designed by Emery Roth, who was born in Hungary. Although the original immigrants’ descendants have moved to other areas, the church still offers services in English and Hungarian at 11 am on Sundays.
Kossuth Statue
On March 15th, the city’s Hungarian community celebrates the country’s independence day by holding a ceremony at the Lajos Kossuth monument on Riverside Drive. This year’s event features a bronze sculpture depicting the struggle for independence.
The large-scale figure of Kossuth, which is topped with pink granite, motions to two men standing at the base. According to the park’s website, the two men represent the old regime and the new republic.
The Hungarian House
The Hungarian House, located in Yorkville’s former Hungarian quarter, has been serving as a cultural center for the area’s Hungarian community for over 40 years.
The Hungarian House is ultimately operated by various non-profit organizations. Some of these include the American Hungarian Library, the Hungarian Scout Association, and the Széchenyi Istvan Society.
Although they mainly hold online events, they also host community programs that feature Hungarian folk dance exhibitions and educational programs.
What Is The Best Way To Get Around NYC?
If there is one thing you want to avoid doing in New York City, it is driving. There are better ideas than renting a car or driving yours around the area. Below are a few of the ideal ways you can navigate New York.
Taxi
A popular way for locals and tourists to get around the city is in a yellow taxi. The vehicle can be easily recognized due to its bright yellow exterior and the yellow light on its roof. These taxis are the only ones legally allowed to pick up passengers in response to a street hail.
Bus
In New York, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has a fleet of over 6,000 buses. These types of transportation are commonly used to meet the needs of commuters. They are divided into two categories: express and local.
The former focuses on serving the areas of Manhattan that are more frequently used by commuters, while the latter is more focused on serving the outer boroughs.
Subway
Getting around New York City is simple with the New York Subway. This transportation system, which spans 36 lines, is the largest in the world in terms of its number of stations. It’s also one of the busiest in the country. The subway system operates twenty-four hours daily, serving four of New York’s five boroughs.
Rail
Aside from the subway, a variety of passenger railway lines run throughout the city. These are mainly commuter lines designed to bring people from the outer boroughs into the city.
These include the Staten Island Railway, the New Jersey Transit, the Port Authority TransHudson, and the Long Island Railroad.
Chauffeur
Hiring a New York car service to chauffeur you around is the best choice out of all of these. It costs less than taking a taxi from place to place, and it still gets you there in a reasonable amount of time!
