TOP 10 Most Rated cafes in Budapest

Awesome artists, and a very well maintained bar/café area. The vibe is really nice and nostalgic to everyone who loves jazz music. the stage could use an overhaul, but it's really good as per now too.

The Jam Session last night at the Budapest Jazz Club was exceptional with Tamas Benyei from the Hot Jazz Band of Budapest and friends! I know Tamas from The Old Man's Pub, Lado Cafe, Mazel Tov to name just a few. It's been awhile, since the early 2000's that I've been to the Jazz Club, on my yearly sojourns from San Francisco. But in December 2025 it was happening! The joy between the musicians and fans was palpable. A newbie at the scene from the Netherlands/Dubai was amazed at what he was seeing and hearing. I was also there the night before. It seemed like the Club has mellowed into a groove, less pretensious then it's early development years, definately more chill. It's back on my regular place to go to listen to music on my Budapest stays.

They changed the menu recently: ok food, small portions and very expensive. The typical fine dining trap :((( They used to have a rocking menu, good food, good portions, acceptable prices. I wish they would bring back the previous menu with the best nachos in town. Seriously.

My favorite place to go when I am in Budapest. There's a concert every night and free jam sessions after the concert which sometimes is better than the concert itself. Great atmosphere, used to be a movie theater when I was a kid.

We had bought tickets on line for a jazz piano event. We were waiting in a table outside the concert hall with a beer. When we went in the hall, we could take with us our drinks. The bad think was for me that plates of food were coming in the hall even during the performance. Otherwise the pianist was ... jazzy mad. Good experience

A theater born as a cinema a century ago and still bearing the history of communism. We saw a play here that was a bit disturbing but overall quite good, displaying the uncomfortable truth of our day and age where the only things more uncomfortable were the chairs.

Hi! The performance was amazing. The actors/actresses were experts what the did. I totally felt like I would be in those situations. It was a super memory for me. I am sure I will come back here in the future. It's good to be cultured. I just recommend this place! Have a nice night here!

One of the best theatres in Budapest, sadly not for much longer as it falls victim of politics... I hope they can revive somewhere, sometime Go and visit them until you can

Very classic vibe! Old-School yet modern venue. Highly recommended! Parking is tricky so it is advised to arrive early.

One of the best theatres in town in terms of the plays. HUGE plus for the English subtitles. Some of the plays are hard to get tickets for after being played 300+ times. That says everything about the quality. It used to be a cinema many years ago and there isnt much incline, seats are also a bit worn - still great theatre and its highly recommended.

We went to Tiki Bar after dinner, and it was a great choice. The rum selection is genuinely impressive, and the cocktail list is huge — choosing is not easy. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and they actively guide you if you’re unsure. They even made me a custom cocktail that wasn’t on the menu, because I wanted something sugar-free, which I really appreciated. The atmosphere is very well done. When we were there, the place was decorated for Christmas, but even without that it’s clearly designed to be immersive and fun. It’s especially ideal for rum lovers, though other drinks are also available. Food is also available, but it’s more in the bar-food category — snacks, sandwiches, and similar light options rather than full meals. One important thing to note: without a reservation, getting a table is almost impossible. The crowd was mostly international, so it’s clearly a popular spot with foreigners. Overall, a lively, well-executed cocktail bar that’s worth planning ahead for.

A very authentic cocktail bar with charming décor and thoughtful details throughout. The mugs are beautiful, and the cocktails are genuinely delicious. The menu also explains, in a really clear and simple way, what level of strength and flavour you can expect from each drink, which makes choosing much easier. It does get busy, so reserving a table in advance is definitely a good idea.

The best bar in Budapest. Great Cocktails served by the friendliest and most motivatd servers i have seen in a long time. The bar is decorated accordingly acompanied with great music. A spiality of this bar are the special mugs,wich are made by an hungarian Artist.

If you’re planning to visit, make sure to reserve a table and select your duration — otherwise, they’ll automatically book you for just an hour. What’s worse is that even if the place isn’t busy, they’ll still chase you out right at the one-hour mark, which really ruins the experience. It felt more like we were being timed than welcomed. The drinks were decent, though one came filled mostly with ice, which was disappointing considering the price. But the real letdown was the service. Our server looked visibly annoyed to even speak to us, offered no greeting, no smile, no engagement, and barely checked on our table once. At the end, he still had the audacity to ask for a tip, despite providing the bare minimum of service. Overall, a place that seems to rely on ambiance but completely forgets the basics of hospitality. When you go out, you expect to be treated like a guest, not like an inconvenience. Definitely our first and last time here.

Great selection of cocktails. We tried four different ones, and each was excellent, with creative flavor combinations that worked beautifully together. What impressed us the most were the handcrafted glasses, which are also available for purchase.The prices are on the higher side, but absolutely worth it for such a unique and memorable experience.

The food was fantastic with the incorporation of their local ingredients and traditional recipes into modern international dishes. Our first visit wasn’t smooth, but I believe there were too many people. However, I believe in second chances. They redeemed themselves very well with fantastic service and more timely on delivery to the table. It’s even better than the last visit, staff remembered from the last visit. I highly recommend as I can tell they took tremendous care to be better and show their love for Hungary.

We visited Brunch Café opera twice during our trip, and both times were fantastic! The café is popular and can get busy, but it’s easy to see why. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. We tried the avocado egg, sundried tomato sandwich, and the egg omelette with goat cheese all were delicious, fresh, and beautifully prepared. The staff were friendly and attentive, making the experience even better. Brunch Café opera is definitely a must-visit in Budapest for tasty food, great service, and a cozy vibe.

The waiters were confused and not organized, and it took us 15 minutes to get an order. Once we order everything was very fast and tasted great. We got the food in less than 10 minutes, and it was great. The pancakes were amazing! Tons of Nutella and the fruits were delicious.

Today we went for brunch as a family of five and had a wonderful experience. We tried a variety of dishes, including bagels, scrambled eggs, pancakes, and toast, and everything was absolutely delicious. The menu offers a great variety of options, and the service was attentive and friendly throughout our visit. We would definitely come back and highly recommend this place for brunch.

Really nice variety of breakfast dishes and drinks! The matcha latte was tasty, and I loved that they offer lots of alternative milk options. The food and drinks were served in a very short time.

We had a tour and talked to owner. What an amazing story behind their purchase and getting into the business. Lovely people and wonderful products. Not a dining experience. A candy, confectionery business.

The cake was highly popular. I guess we are not for it as it had lots of cream but it is a cream cake so it’s only natural. It tasted good though. We just wanted to try this cafe as it has a long history. If you sit indoors, it is warm though so maybe sitting outdoors would be much better😀

Coffee shop with a lot of history. Great coffee and very nice cakes, the Ruszwurm custard cake was delicious. Avoid the lemonade; many people left it unfinished. Unfortunately, it's a popular tourist spot, so the shop is always very busy, and the service was very poor.

Good coffee and cream cake. The reason I gave it 1 star is because the service was bad. This cafe is known for its cream cake. Upon arrival I ordered 4 coffees and 4 cream cakes. We then got 4 coffees promptly and then just got 1 cream cake. I asked where the other 3 were and the server said they were sold out. Why couldn't he tell me this earlier? Secondly, this cafe is famous for cream cake, how could they sell out of such an iconic item

We came for the Kremes ( Vanilla Cream Slice) and stayed for the Almond cake. Last visit was 8yrs ago and it is exactly as we remember. Yes the wait might be long to get a table and the staff are busy, but that's because it is so good. There are lots of beautiful places to sit not too far from the cafe so if the line is long, grab it to go. We visited twice this time around and great both times

We had breakfast here today and it was such a lovely experience. There’s a great variety of options on the menu, and it honestly makes you want to come back and try everything else. What we chose was absolutely amazing — both the taste and especially the presentation were on another level. Everything looked beautiful and tasted even better. You can truly feel the care put into every detail. We will definitely be back to explore more of the menu, thankss💓

Visited Stika recently and the overall experience was very positive, even if it didn’t quite reach a full “wow” moment. The service was great, the space clean and fresh, and the staff friendly. We arrived during peak hours so things felt a bit fast-paced, which was completely understandable. The coffee was excellent. I took a dirty chai and it was perfectly balanced and my friend’s double espresso was equally well made. The freshly pressed juices were a highlight as well, especially the red juice and the apple juice, both tasting very fresh. The sandwiches were good overall. The avocado tasted slightly frozen and my sandwich wasn’t fully warm, even though the ingredients were fresh and the quality was solid. All in all, a very nice place with great drinks, friendly service and good food, definitely worth a visit, with small details that could make it even better.

Me and my partner came here for Brunch whilst visiting Budapest and it is one of the best places we have eaten during our stay. Incredible food, lovely atmosphere and fantastic staff. I had the beef sandwich and my partner had the Hungarian breakfast, clean plates all round, not a single complaint. Highly recommend to everyone

We didn’t have a table reservation (I highly recommend making one!). We arrived around 10:00 and had to wait about 15 minutes — but oh, how worth it that wait was! 🙂 We ordered the Fried Chicken Brioche and the Royal Benny, plus Hugo cocktails and coffee. The Fried Chicken Brioche was a decent option, but the sweet chilli sauce was quite dominant. If you’re a fan of sweet chilli, you’ll probably enjoy it, but personally I think there are stronger choices on the menu. It was also a bit on the greasy side, likely because of the chicken. Now, the Royal Benny — a true ninth wonder of the world! I was eating it with tears in my eyes 😄 The salmon was outstanding, the caviar had a truly memorable flavor, and that sauce… mmm! Absolutely incredible. Overall experience: 10/10. A must-visit place! Yes, you may have to wait — but it’s worth every single minute.

The location is beautifully designed, impeccably clean, and immediately inviting. The staff exemplifies professionalism—genuinely kind, attentive, and consistently courteous from start to finish. The food quality exceeded every expectation. I had the best Eggs Benedict I have ever tasted, prepared with remarkable precision and balance. Each component was fresh, well-executed, and clearly made with care. The only minor drawback was the longer wait time; however, the team proactively apologized and thanked me for my patience. Considering the restaurant was completely full and everything is cooked to order, the delay was entirely understandable. I’m truly glad to have discovered this little breakfast and brunch gem in Budapest at the very start of my trip. I will certainly return every time I have the chance.

Café Gerbeaud is a landmark café in the heart of Budapest, closely connected to the city’s imperial past. It is said that Sisi herself visited Gerbeaud, and today you can still try a dessert inspired by her taste — the elegant Sisi cake. The café is best known for its desserts: classic Hungarian cakes, refined pastries and handmade chocolates, all beautifully presented and full of flavor. Coffee and the famous hot chocolate are excellent companions to the sweets. Despite being a very popular spot, the atmosphere remains relaxed and welcoming, with efficient and friendly service. Café Gerbeaud is less about formal dining and more about enjoying a moment of history with great coffee and exceptional desserts. A perfect stop for coffee, cake and a touch of royal Budapest.

When u walk inside that cafe from the cold winter street - such a big difference. Immediately feel some atmosphere in there, nice vibe. Looks lovely, desserts are looking nice too. But we were unlucky with choice - pistachio dessert was tasty, but traditional hungarian cake Gerbeaud isn’t. Idk how people can eat it. The most unpleasant taste in our lives😹😹😹 but some people might like it. To eat in cakes cost like 4500 per slice, take away is half price like 2300 HUF per slice. The tea and cappuccino are tasty. I am not sure if I want to get back, maybe only if for take away and some other flavours. The l staff were friendly🤗

Don't miss this cafe. We loved that they'd kept the original features of the building and maintained it. The cakes are amazing, each so beautifully crafted. I had hot chocolate & it was the best I've ever had, proper hot chocolate. They have a good selection of gifts to take home, biscuits, chocolate, etc.

Well , the place is amazing , old style , you feel back in the 1920… service is very nice and attentive … but I felt betrayed : 74,93eur is the bill including 15% service and we ordered : 2 hot chocolate , 2 espresso, 1 small orange juice , 1 brioche and 1croissant …. Is the price worth the food/ service at such historical place : NO!!!!! Be aware of the price before going there.

A truly charming spot that feels like time has paused. You may wait a couple of minutes for a table, but turnover is quick. Pastries are excellent. Opt for the tasting menu to sample the range. The coffee is the star: precise extractions, smooth milk drinks, and aromatic filters. Service is warm and attentive without hovering. A lovely place to drop in for a mid-afternoon reset or an unhurried chat. Wholeheartedly recommended.

Daubner is a letdown despite the hype. The waiting line is incredibly long and chaotic, with no clear system, and the staff isn’t particularly friendly. You even have to pay extra just to sit and eat your cake there, which feels unwelcoming. Also disappointing that they don’t offer milk-free options. Expected much more from such a famous place.

See a lot of complains regarding service, but since it's the only place where I got local desserts I actually liked the taste of, I have to admit it's worth a ride from the city centre at least once. Quite a lot was available even in the evening and the queue, however long, moved pretty fast. One thing you have to consider though: they don't seem to like plastic in Budapest, so your cakes will be stacked one on top of another and only wrapped in paper. Take some kind of container with you if you have a long ride back ahead.

We ordered birds milk cake, chocolate and coconut cake and both were amazing. With high reviews and ratings here, they sure do live up to their excellent reputation. Their cakes taste delicious, and you can tell that they used fresh ingredients. It was an overall pleasant experience trying their cakes as it’s our first time in Budapest!

We recently visited Daubner Cukrászda, and I have to say, the cakes were the best I have ever tried. We sampled a variety of cakes, biscuits, and even some ice cream, and every single item was absolutely delicious. The quality and flavor were exceptional, making it well worth the trip. We will definitely come back if we visit Budapest again. Highly recommended!

We recently visited Daubner Cukrászda, and I have to say, the cakes were the best I have ever tried also We tried some ice cream, and every single item was absolutely delicious. The quality and flavor were exceptional, making it well worth the trip. We will definitely come back. Highly recommended!

We had a lovely experience at Central Café in Budapest. The Egg Benedict was absolutely delicious — perfectly poached eggs with a rich, creamy hollandaise sauce and great balance of flavors. Everything tasted fresh and beautifully prepared. For dessert, we tried a vanilla pastry with some strawberry jam and it was amazing! Light, flavorful, and the perfect sweet finish to our meal. Definitely a must-try. A special thank you to Miki, who was really nice with us. He was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. His service made our visit even more enjoyable. We would definitely come back again! 😊

Amazing place with a fantastic atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the vibe that makes you want to stay longer. The food is delicious and really well prepared, and the live music creates a wonderful mood. Special mention to our waiter, Miki, he was excellent. Super friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend this place!

We had an amazing experience at Centrál Grand Cafe & Bar. Miki was our server – very communicative, attentive, and genuinely friendly. The dishes were delicious and the prices were very reasonable for the quality. The interior is absolutely stunning, and the location is perfect. Highly recommended – we will definitely come back! ✨

We came for a late breakfast and the food and service was amazing. I had the avocado toast with perfect eggs and sliced avocado on top it was delicious. They have live piano and chello playing it is a very relaxed and calming ambiance. Miki was our server and he was fantastic! Checked in on us and fast service with a smile. We will definitely return to Central.

Loved other reviews of this place. Made booking. Came earlier, family of 5, no issues with seating. The photos do no justice, it is really very very nice and a place with great atmosphere. Spacious, high cieiling and very cosy. Waiters are very kind indeed. We had full course and Paprikash and Dobos cake are top notch. Everything else is great too. One thing to mind for reputation it stands for and exceptional services is that one would expect to be at least greeted out, rather than family of five walking out on its own as if we were in a bar... huge minus in my book.

We had a truly wonderful dining experience at the New York Café, one of the most stunning and atmospheric places we have ever visited. The setting is absolutely breathtaking, with magnificent décor that transports you to another era. The service was impeccable and the food was exceptionally delicious. The experience was elevated even more by the enchanting sounds of the violin, which perfectly complemented the elegant atmosphere. If you are visiting Budapest, this is a place you absolutely must visit. Special thanks to Floris for the outstanding service and his warm hospitality!

Today I had the pleasure – or rather, the displeasure – of visiting this cafe. I must admit, the interior is stunning, and since I was with a large group, I was pleasantly surprised that we didn't have to wait in line. However, that’s where the compliments end. The waitress took our order but seemed completely spacey. Then the endless waiting began. The staff just drifted between tables, and most of them didn't speak English. Our food arrived after 30 minutes, but the coffees were nowhere to be seen. Another half hour passed before we finally got them, except for one espresso. To make matters worse, nobody bothered to clear the dirty dishes from our table. In the end, my friend had to go to the kitchen herself to remind them about the missing espresso. The 'cherry on top' was the fine print in the menu: a 15% service charge added to the bill. With service like this, you can't even call it 'service.' Besides, nobody asked us which currency we wanted to pay in; the bill was issued in Forints, and card payments were only accepted in Forints, even though prices were also listed in Euros My advice? Admire the interior through the window, but go somewhere else for your coffee.

If you are looking to leave a restaurant feeling angry, hungry, and robbed, this is the place for you. Our experience at New York Café was an absolute fiasco costing 27,640 HUF. The only thing worth seeing is the decor, but even that was denied to us: we were tucked away in a back corner where you couldn't see anything. It felt like being seated with the coal shovelers on the Titanic while everyone else enjoyed the luxury. The service is abysmal. You have to practically hunt down the waiters just to get noticed. To make matters worse, they served our food before our drinks. After asking for the drinks again, we were told they would take 20 minutes—a blatant lie, as when the coffees finally arrived, the foam had already collapsed. This means they had been sitting there ready for ages, and no one bothered to bring them. The food was a total letdown (the 6,000+ HUF Eggs Benedict was a joke). They also charged us an unlisted supplement for non-dairy milk without any prior notice. This is a textbook tourist trap. Don't expect a human response if you complain; they just copy-paste the same generic replies to every negative review. Save your money and your dignity: Budapest has wonderful places to visit, but this definitely isn't one of them

★★★★★ 5+ Stars Highly recommended New York Café! The place is absolutely stunning, and the quality of the live musicians truly transports you back in time. The atmosphere is elegant, magical, and perfect for special occasions. A special 5+ star recognition for our waiter, K. Sandor. From the moment we arrived, he welcomed us with warmth, professionalism, and genuine kindness. He is extremely polite and clearly someone with remarkable values. We mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary, and he surprised us with a delicious cheesecake — absolutely delightful. He also thoughtfully brought us a brochure about the café’s history, which made the experience even more special. We ordered the Dubai Coffee and a latte — both were excellent and perfect for a celebration night. The menu is very extensive, and everything looks exquisite. We will definitely return — especially to be attended again by our friend K. Sandor!

After seeing it, one may understand why they call it the most beautiful café in the world. We ordered two hot chocolates and two desert's. It was quite delicious and very well presented. The only critique would be the pricing as we payed around 50 Euro's. Also the staff are quite unbothered which seems to be normal in Budapest. Otherwise a great place to visit