Coffee Blogging from Budapest

Posted by 5M Coffee Admin

June 2, 2008

We’ve just returned from our first day in Budapest, sampling a few of the many cafe’s and restaurants recommended to us through contacts at TMC as well as various guidebooks and online resources.

The cafe scene here is amazing. There is no shortage of places to choose from, with prices to meet all budgets. From chain stores to independents, Budapest has the scene covered.

The local currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF or Ft) and it is roughly pegged to the Euro at €1 = 250 Ft (At the time of writing this was equivalent to £1 = 310 Ft)

Hungary is better noted for its selection of cakes and pastries which serve as a perfect complement to a decent coffee.

First stop was Gerbeaud, an icon in Budapest, located on Vorosmarty Ter, directly above the M1 Metro Station and only seconds from Vaci Utca, the main pedestrianised street on the Pest side of the Danube. The service was surprisingly good (I had read mixed reports) and the meals hearty. Not the cheapest food to be found, it is highly recommended and I can see myself returning later in the trip to sample more of the cakes and pastries from their range.

Later in the day we dropped in to Coffeeshop Company on Vaci Utca. This is an Austrian based chain store with a global reach. They have a vibrant menu catering for all tastes with a range of coffee blends as well as a good selection of bagels and iced drinks. The drinks were all served in Paper Cups (with the exception of the ice-blended range which was served in plastic). The coffee was decent and better than what can usually be found in the UK chain cafes’.

Tomorrow we head for Buda to check out Koruna Kafehaz and Ruszwurm (time permitting).

Prices (as at 02 June)

Gerbeaud – Latte – 750 Ft

Coffeeshop Company – Latte – 500 Ft