Budapest's best cafes are often its oldest - with long traditions of serving up warming beverages and delicious bites, interiors that recall the romance of 19th century Europe, and reputations for attracting creative and intellectual personalities, these coffee house will transport you into a more decadent time. Stop by a Budapest cafe to while away a rainy afternoon, break up your sightseeing with a traditional confection, or sip a cappuccino to cure your jetlag. A visit to one of these historic coffee houses will add to your fond memories of Budapest.
Művész
Kerry Kubilius, licensed to About.com
Művész, or Artist, cafe is located near the Budapest State Opera House. Established in 1898, this coffee house captures that historic time in its wrought-iron and marble furnishings. Two revolving cases at the front of the store that advertise the day's fresh dessert offerings will have you oggling the possibilities even before you sit down to order from the extensive drinks menu.
Andrássy út 29
9:00 am to 12:00 am daily
Gerbeaud
CC BY-NC yuichi.sakuraba
Gerbeaud is both coffee house and confectionery with over 150 years of operation under its belt. When you visit Gerbeaud, do indulge your sweet tooth. The cognac-soaked cherry cake is this cafe's classic dish, created by its founder in the 19th century. Your sugar-coma inducing dessert can be enjoyed in the luxurious surroundings Gerbeaud is known for, or have it boxed up to savor later.
Vörösmarty tér 7
9:00 am to 9:00 pm daily
Central Cafe
CC BY-Nc-SA edporras
Central Cafe has a romantic past. Known as an important meeting place for intellectuals and creative thinkers between the two world wars, it was closed by the communists in the 20th century. It was, however, the first of the grand Budapest coffee houses to reopen its doors and now welcomes locals and visitors alike to be transported back in time with classic confections and sparkling surroundings.
Károlyi Mihály utca 9
8:00 am to 12:00 am daily
Lukács Cafe
CC BY-NC-SA jophan
Lukács fate was also determined by communists, who took it over and used it as a meeting place. Lukács has not enjoyed the same victorious revival as other Budapest historic cafes. However, you can still enjoy cakes and coffees here and get a feel for why it has managed to remain as one of Budapest's oldest cafes.
Andrássy út 70
9:00 am to 8:00 pm on weekdays 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on weekends
New York Cafe
CC BY-NC-SA dalbera
New York Cafe has occupied a section of the ground floor of the New York Palace luxury hotel on the Grand Boulevard for over a century. This historic cafe is famous for being a gathering spot for some of the greatest creative minds of the late 19th and early 20th century. It was reopened in 2006 and maintains its turn-of-the-century opulence.
Erzsébet körút 9-11
10:00 am to 12:00 am daily
Ruszwurm
CC BY-NC-ND gabrilu
Ruszwurm is Budapest's oldest coffee house and was opened in the late 1820s! Once a bakery patronized by royalty, Ruszwurm's reputation has refused to diminish in its almost 200 years of existence. Its location in the Castle District of Budapest can make it difficult to get a table in the small cafe during the high season - Ruszwurm is a popular tourist attraction.
Szentháromság utca 7
10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily; close Wednesdays
