Café· Erzsébetváros
New York Café
The 1894 writers' haunt, all twisted columns, marble, frescoes and chandeliers. Worth a visit in its own right, even if just for one coffee.
Collection · Budapest
Where to eat in Budapest
9 placesFreeUpdated November 5, 2026
The grand cafés New York, Gerbeaud, Centrál and Ruszwurm, Hungarian cooking at Gundel and Menza, the Great Market Hall, and Jewish Quarter nights at Szimpla and Gozsdu.
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Places in this collection
9 places
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Café· Belváros
Gerbeaud
The grand patisserie on Vörösmarty Square since 1858, with wood-panelled, stuccoed salons. Try the Dobos and Esterházy cakes, two pillars of Hungarian baking.
Café· Belváros
Centrál Café
An 1887 literary café near the university, high-ceilinged with marble tables, good for a slow breakfast, lunch or an afternoon with the newspaper.
Café· Castle District
Ruszwurm
Budapest's oldest patisserie, open since 1827 a few steps from Matthias Church. It's tiny, keeps its Biedermeier furniture, and is known for its custard-cream krémes.
Restaurant· City Park
Gundel
Hungary's landmark restaurant, by the City Park zoo since 1894. It gave its name to Gundel pancakes, filled with walnuts and finished with chocolate sauce.
Restaurant· Terézváros
Menza
A 1970s-styled retro restaurant on Liszt Ferenc Square serving Hungarian classics like goulash and chicken paprikash, on a pedestrian square lined with terraces.
- Essential
Shopping· Ferencváros
Great Market Hall
An 1897 iron hall under a Zsolnay-tiled roof by Liberty Bridge. Paprika, salami and pickles fill the ground floor; the upstairs gallery has lángos stalls and embroidery.
Special place· Jewish Quarter
Szimpla Kert
The original ruin bar, a derelict building filled with mismatched furniture, plants and an old Trabant. On Sunday mornings it hosts a farmers' market.
Special place· Jewish Quarter
Gozsdu Courtyard
A chain of seven linked courtyards cutting through the Jewish Quarter from Király to Dob Street, packed with terraces and bars, with a Sunday antiques market.
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Before you go
How to eat well in Budapest
What to order
Goulash (gulyás) is a soup, not a stew. Also try chicken paprikash, deep-fried lángos with sour cream and cheese, and Dobos cake or chimney cake for dessert.
Take the cafés slowly
New York Café often has a queue at the door; it's shortest first thing in the morning. Centrál and Gerbeaud are calmer and serve breakfast.
The market is closed on Sundays
The Great Market Hall opens Monday to Saturday. For lunch, head up to the first-floor gallery, where the lángos and home-cooking stalls are.
Ruin bars
Szimpla Kert and Gozsdu Courtyard come alive after 9 pm. On Sunday mornings Szimpla hosts a quieter, family-friendly farmers' market.
Checked on November 4, 2026. Opening hours and tickets can change, so check each place’s website before you go.
