Café
New York Café
A lavish 19th-century café on the Grand Boulevard, with gilded ceilings, frescoes and marble columns, open from breakfast until late evening.
Centrál Grand Café & Bar
A literary café near the University Library, open since 1887, with all-day breakfasts, Hungarian cakes and live piano music twice a day.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic literary café
- Area
- Belváros, Budapest, Hungary
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- centralgrandcafe.hu
Good to know
- All-day breakfast
- Live piano music
- Cocktails
- Online booking
Why we recommend it
The Centrál is one of the classic coffee houses of Budapest, opened in 1887 on Károlyi utca in the inner city, close to the University Library and the Eötvös Loránd University buildings. When it opened, it was among the most modern cafés in the city, with electric lighting, ventilation and heating. Its location made it a natural meeting place for writers, academics and students, and it has a strong literary history: the writer Frigyes Karinthy is said to have developed his idea of six degrees of separation here, and Gyula Krúdy wrote some of his stories at its tables.
Today it operates as Centrál Grand Café & Bar, continuing that tradition as a café, restaurant and bar. It is less theatrical than the New York Café, and it is a comfortable place to sit for a long time with a book, a newspaper or a laptop. The café also appears in the 2017 film Atomic Blonde.
The menu is strong on breakfast and brunch, which is served all day: eggs Benedict and other egg dishes, house pastries and good coffee. Later in the day you can order Hungarian dishes such as goulash soup and chicken paprikash, classic cakes including Dobos and Esterházy torte, and cocktails, aperitifs and wine in the evening. Live music, usually piano or a piano duo with violin or viola, plays from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 22:00. The café also runs literary programmes for school groups, a reminder of its heritage.
It is open daily from 09:00, until 22:00 on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and until midnight from Wednesday to Saturday. Tables can be booked online through the official website, which is useful at weekends and for groups. Prices are moderate for a historic café in the centre. It suits solo travellers, couples and anyone who wants a long breakfast or an unhurried coffee in a classic setting.
Károlyi utca runs parallel to Váci utca, a few minutes from Ferenciek tere station on metro line M3. The University Church, the Hungarian National Museum and the Great Market Hall are all within ten minutes' walk, and Elisabeth Bridge leads across the river to Gellért Hill.
Centrál Grand Café & Bar FAQs
What are the opening hours?
Daily from 09:00; until 22:00 on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and until midnight from Wednesday to Saturday.
When did the Centrál open?
In 1887.
Is there live music?
Yes, usually piano or a piano duo from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 22:00.
Is breakfast served all day?
Yes, breakfast and brunch dishes are available all day.
Can you book a table?
Yes, through the official website, or by phone on +36 30 945 8058.
Which writers are linked to the café?
Frigyes Karinthy and Gyula Krúdy, among others.
What is the nearest metro station?
Ferenciek tere on metro line M3.
What is nearby?
Váci utca, the University Church, the Hungarian National Museum and the Great Market Hall.