Don’t miss out on these historical coffeehouses when visiting Budapest
Who doesn’t like a fresh cup of coffee in the morning? We promise you that visiting one of these historical coffeehouses in Budapest will be a life-long experience.
The History of Coffeehouses
The tradition of going to coffeehouses is present in almost every European country. Just think of Italy, Austria, France or England… However, the tradition of drinking coffee comes from the Islamic world. The Turks introduced coffee in Hungary during the Ottoman wars (1521–1718). The first coffeehouse in Hungary opened in 1714. Cavesieder Blasius, also known as Balázs Kávéfőző, was selling coffee on the streets from a tray hanging from his neck. His business was not going too well though, so he decided to open his coffeehouse in Pest in 1714. Unfortunately, this coffeehouse does not operate anymore, but here are some astonishing cafes that you can still visit in Budapest:
New York Café
The New York Café is one of the most iconic coffeehouses in Budapest. It was designed by Alajos Hauszmann and it opened in 1894. In the beginning, the building functioned as an insurance company’s headquarters. In the 20th century, the café became an important meeting place for significant Hungarian writers and poets. The café has a great selection of traditional meals, as well as coffee specialities. You can choose from hot chocolates and classic coffees, and you can even try Hungarian coffee which has black sour cherry, pálinka, chilli and brown sugar. It is a combination of Hungarikums that you can learn more about HERE
Café Gerbeaud
Café Gerbeaud was built in Gründerzeit style and was first opened in 1858 by Henrik Kugler. Later, a chocolate maker inherited the café that popularised Katzenzungen and Cherry Queen in Hungary. The posh atmosphere quickly gained the attention and appreciation of the upper classes. Among the famous guests were Franz Liszt and Empress Elizabeth of Austria. To this day, Café Gerbeaud has a great selection of meals, coffee, cake and chocolate specialities.
Central Café
Central Café is located in Lipótváros, it was established in 1887 by Ullman Lajos Erényi. The coffeehouse was technologically advanced for its time, it had modern electrical lightning, a ventilation system and heating as well. Similarly to the other coffeehouses mentioned in the article, Central Café was a meeting point for the cultural elite and university students. It was a place for heated intellectual debates and discussion of ideas. The café has a wide range of food and drink specialities. In addition to that, Central Café also has a great selection of the finest champagnes.