New York Café – The most beautiful café in the world
One of Budapest’s iconic, must-visit venues, where historical heritage, a stunning square and live music come together with a coffee-house atmosphere – an experience well worth seeing, experiencing and capturing on camera.
9–11 Erzsébet körút, Budapest, 7th District.
We welcome guests throughout our opening hours without the need for a booking, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Breakfast · Coffee and dessert · Lunch · Dinner · Live music
WE LOOK FORWARD TO
Mon–Wed 7.00–24.00 · Thu–Sun 7.00–01.00 Discover the world of the New York Café from breakfast until late in the evening
PERIOD
BETWEEN 7 AND 9 AM AND AFTER 10 PM There may be delays during the day
FOR A COFFEE
WE WELCOME ALL GUESTS WITH OPEN ARMS Coffee, cakes, breakfast, lunch or dinner
IN HIS HEART
M2 METRO · TRAMS 4–6 Blaha Lujza Square
Now --:-- there is – Both the breakfast menu and the all-day menu are available.Cakes, desserts, coffee and drinks are available.Our full menu is available right up until closing time.We are closed.
Our breakfast classics are available until 11.00 are available to order, and our cakes, desserts, speciality coffees and drinks are on offer all day. The hot food counter opens at 12:00.Breakfast finished at 11.00, and the The hot food kitchen opens at 12.00. In the meantime, you can choose from our cakes, desserts, speciality coffees and drinks.Please select our traditional Hungarian dishes, as well as our light and international dishes, from our selection of cakes, desserts, speciality coffees and drinks. We also serve our breakfast classics all day long, right up until closing time.Every day between 7.00 and 23.00 We look forward to seeing you — in the meantime, you can browse the menu.
Guests arriving without a table booking should currently expect longer waiting times than usual.Guests arriving without a table booking do not currently need to expect long waiting times.
The New York Café is one of Budapest’s best-known historic cafés and an iconic landmark, often described as the most beautiful café in the world. The marble columns, frescoes, gilded details and chandeliers create such a unique spatial experience that it captivates visitors the moment they step inside.
With a history stretching back more than 130 years, its literary heritage and stunning interiors, the New York Café has now become one of Budapest’s must-visit attractions – a place that is not only worth seeing and experiencing, but also worth capturing on camera.
NEW YORK CAFÉ – MORE THAN JUST A COFFEE SHOP
A historic place that is still alive today
The New York Café offers a historic setting where live music meets the modern café and dining experience. From morning until late in the evening, you’re welcome to pop in for a coffee, a pastry, breakfast, lunch or dinner, whilst the live music and the hustle and bustle of the café keep alive the social life that has defined the character of this place for over a century.
The gilded interior, the monumental space, the live music and the guest experience all combine to make the New York Café one of Budapest’s most special meeting places. Here, you can not only admire one of Budapest’s best-known historic squares: you can also become part of it, and take the memory home with you in the form of photographs, stories and a lasting experience.
Not only can you visit one of Budapest’s best-known historic squares – you can also become part of it.
The richly decorated interior still evokes the atmosphere that made the New York Café one of Budapest’s best-known historic cafés and an iconic photo spot.
OUR HISTORY
The History of the New York Café -
A key at the bottom of the Danube
According to legend, when the New York Café opened in 1894, the key to the café was thrown into the Danube so that it could never be closed. The story has become one of the best-known legends of Budapest’s coffee house culture – and more than 130 years later, the New York Café still welcomes guests in the heart of Budapest.
The café opened in 1894 on the ground floor of the New York Palace, which was built to designs by Alajos Hauszmann, with the collaboration of Flóris Korb and Kálmán Giergl. It soon became a meeting place for writers, poets and artists, and one of the defining cultural centres of turn-of-the-century Budapest. More than 130 years later, café life is still in full swing here: the historic heritage and the modern guest experience complement one another.
GASTRONOMY
Hungarian flavours, with a contemporary coffee house twist
The cuisine at the New York Café carries on Hungarian coffee-house traditions with a contemporary twist. Our menu brings together classic Hungarian flavours, internationally inspired dishes, coffee-house favourites and signature desserts – all of this comes together to create a complete experience in the palace’s spectacular, photo-worthy spaces.
Our culinary concept András Wolf, Corporate Chef manages, whilst the professional management of the kitchen is the responsibility of Zoltán Szűcs, Executive Chef ensures. Their shared aim is to create a culinary experience that is worthy of the New York Café’s unique atmosphere, whilst also being contemporary, appealing and memorable.
Live music in the world’s most beautiful café
Live music still fills the atmosphere at the New York Café today. The melodies from the piano accompany the café experience throughout the day, whilst the Roma music show brings a special energy to this historic venue.
This is one of the reasons why New York is not just a sight to behold, but an experience to be lived: visitors don’t just look at the café, they are immersed in its atmosphere.
NEW YORK PALACE
White Salon Restaurant
If you’re looking for a more intimate dining experience than the lively atmosphere of the New York Café, the White Salon Restaurant Every day between 6.00 pm and 11.00 pm, it welcomes guests with its à la carte menu on the upper floor of the New York Palota. The lounge offers a unique view of the café’s interior, whilst the gastronomic experience takes centre stage in this elegant, understated setting.
Special venues, special occasions
A coffee house experience or a private event?
Gallery – New York Café – White Salon Lunch
The New York Café’s gallery offers a more relaxed, intimate setting for lunch. Here, our guests can choose from the White Salon Lunch menu and the café menu, whilst enjoying a unique view of the historic interior – making the spatial experience part of the visit even at lunchtime.
For groups of more than 10 people or private events
We accept table bookings for up to 10 people in the café. For larger groups, or for corporate or private events, our staff will be happy to help you find a suitable venue and package on the New York Palota events page.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The New York Café is at once a historic café, a tourist attraction and a place where visitors can enjoy a memorable dining experience. Thanks to the New York Palace’s stunning interior, its literary heritage, live music and culinary experience, many visitors consider it one of Budapest’s unmissable destinations.
Yes, as part of the guest experience, many people take photos in the café. Please be mindful of other guests’ peace and quiet, keep walkways clear, and do not disturb the staff whilst taking photos.
Instagram: @newyork_cafe_budapest
Facebook: @NewYorkCafeBudapest
TikTok: @newyorkcafebudapest
Between 7.00 and 18.00, it is not necessary to book a table in advance, but online bookings are still available during this period. We accommodate guests arriving without a booking on a first-come, first-served basis.
After 6.00 pm, during dinner time, we recommend booking in advance. Reservations can only be made online via the New York Café website; it is not possible to book a table by telephone or in person.
Waiting times depend on current visitor numbers. If you can be flexible with your plans, it’s worth to arrive early in the morning or late in the evening the most waiting times between 10.00 and 13.00 can be expected during this period.
Yes. When making a booking, please let us know the occasion in advance in the ‘comments’ section of the booking form. Our waiting staff will also be happy to assist you with birthday desserts and cakes.
Yes. You can request a gift voucher in person from Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm, or by email at cafehouse@cafeandevent.eu at the email address.
There is no compulsory dress code, however, we ask our guests to dress in a manner befitting the elegant surroundings of this historic café. Please avoid beachwear and flip-flops.
During peak periods and on busier days, it’s worth 1–2 weeks earlier book the table in advance to increase your chances of getting your preferred time.
We accept table bookings for up to 10 people. For larger groups, our events team will help you find the right venue in the function rooms at the New York Café or the New York Palace.
The New York Café is the New York Palace’s iconic, richly decorated historic café, which welcomes guests from morning until late in the evening. The White Salon Restaurant is a separate restaurant operating within the same building; it is open between 18:00 and 23:00, offering an à la carte menu, and can only be visited by prior table booking.
White Salon Restaurant
The New York Café is situated at 9–11 Erzsébet Boulevard, Next to Blaha Lujza Square is located, making it easily accessible from the By the M2 underground line, and by tram lines 4 and 6. The café is a few minutes’ walk from the stop.
We look forward to seeing you at the New York Café
One of Budapest’s iconic, must-visit meeting places since 1894 – a historic square, live music, photo-worthy details and a coffee-house experience every day.
9–11 Erzsébet körút, Budapest 1073.
