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.
Belvárosi Auguszt Cukrászda
A city-centre branch of the Auguszt family confectionery, a Budapest pastry business founded in 1870, serving traditional and modern cakes.
At a glance
- Type
- Family confectionery
- Area
- Belváros, Budapest, Hungary
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open 5 days a week (closed Monday, Sunday) · 10:00–18:00
- Official site
- auguszt.hu
Good to know
- Cakes to eat in or take away
- Family business since 1870
Why we recommend it
Auguszt is one of the oldest family confectionery businesses in Budapest, and its city-centre shop on Kossuth Lajos utca is a convenient place to try classic Hungarian cakes without the crowds of the grand cafés. The family story began in 1870, when Elek Auguszt applied for a confectionery licence in Buda and opened a small shop in the Tabán district. His son József trained as a confectioner and won a gold medal at the 1896 Millennium Exhibition for a sculpture made of sugar.
The family's history mirrors the upheavals of the 20th century. A bomb destroyed their Krisztina tér shop during the siege of Budapest in 1945; it reopened in 1947, but the business was nationalised in 1951 and the family was moved out of the capital. No Auguszt shop operated between 1951 and 1956, but the family returned to the trade, and today Auguszt runs several shops in the city, including a pavilion in Farkasrét, a shop on Fény utca near Széll Kálmán tér and a café in the garden of the Hungarian National Museum.
The counters hold a mix of traditional and modern handmade cakes and pastries. Each shop publishes its own cake menu on the official website, and the range changes with the seasons, so it is worth checking what is on offer before you go. Cakes can be eaten in the shop with coffee or packed to take away, and the business also takes orders for celebration cakes. The atmosphere is calm and local rather than grand.
The Belvárosi shop is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00, and closed on Sundays and Mondays, so plan a visit during the week. Prices are moderate, lower than at the most famous cafés. It suits anyone with a sweet tooth, families and visitors who want a quiet pause between sights. If you are planning a picnic or a hotel-room treat, cakes packed to take away travel well for a short walk.
Kossuth Lajos utca is the main street leading from Elisabeth Bridge to Astoria. The shop is a short walk from Astoria on metro line M2 and Ferenciek tere on M3, and the Hungarian National Museum, the Dohány Street Synagogue and Váci utca are all within easy walking distance.
Belvárosi Auguszt Cukrászda FAQs
When is the shop open?
Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00; closed on Sundays and Mondays.
How old is the Auguszt business?
It dates back to 1870, when Elek Auguszt opened a shop in Buda.
What does the shop sell?
Traditional and modern handmade cakes and pastries; each shop's menu is on the official website.
Can you take cakes away?
Yes, cakes can be eaten in or taken away.
Are there other Auguszt shops?
Yes, including shops on Fény utca and in Farkasrét, and a café in the Hungarian National Museum garden.
Is it expensive?
Prices are moderate, lower than at the grand historic cafés.
What is the nearest metro station?
Astoria on M2 or Ferenciek tere on M3.
How do you contact the shop?
By phone on +36 1 337 6379 or by email at [email protected].