Budapest is not only full of cafés and ruin pubs, but elegant and tranquil tea houses as well. We have a quite diverse lineup presented here, from traditional Chinese tearooms to old favourites with beanbag lounges, and classic tea houses as well. We visited these places for a pot of tea and tried everything from authentic black, green, white and red teas to funky tea cocktails and fruit concoctions. We also learnt about tea culture and saw that this tradition is thriving here in Budapest.
1/9
Big Ben Teahouse
Big Ben is one of the oldest, still operating, teahouses in Budapest. Its simple parlour welcomes those who would like to talk or rendezvous while enjoying some fine tea and cookies. There are no beanbags or private sections, as the interior’s style is more “English” with small tables and classic decorations. They have more than 100 types of tea including more traditional teas (Oolong, Assam, Sencha) and real, flavoured dessert teas and fruit infusions like the drinks with fantasy names like “raspberry-cherry compote” or “fruity honey wine.” They also have seasonal offers – in the winter spicier drinks are a must, while in the summer the citrus teas are more popular.
We tried some real specialties. The half-litre (!) tea cocktails (850 Ft) are superb. We tried a mint, cinnamon, ginger delicacy called “Marokko;” a milky, honey and nutmeg version called “Indian tea punch;” and a green tea punch. With these hearty drinks and some cakes we could spend a whole evening here just talking and enjoying the atmosphere. The service is professional and very direct, so the tea house has a lot of regulars. Naturally, the thousands of tea accessories (cups, mugs, pots etc) are all available for purchase.
Price: from 620 Ft / pot
2/9
Mozaik Teaház és Kávézó (Closed)
Mozaik is a staple at the party-end of Király Street with many heading there for its all-day breakfast or its leisurely atmosphere. Here you can work and sip hot tea or decadent hot chocolates at your own pace. The upstairs area has a tea house vibe, but the place is more diverse with relaxed food options (baguettes, eggs, home-made cakes etc.) as well as coffees and fresh juices. The tea we love the most is the fruit tea, which is made from dried fruit pieces. The cantaloupe tea we tried was divine - and you can even eat the soft fruit pieces after they've bathed in water. They also have a huge selection of green, black, white, red and herbal teas - in fact they have 120 types of tea in total. They also sell tea for those who wish to take their favorite home. Another great thing about Mozaik is their street-side terrace that's open in the warmer months.
Price: from 790 Ft / pot
3/9
Flying Bird Tea House
The Chinese teahouse in Kazinczy Street represents a whole different spirit, atmosphere and tea culture than the other places mentioned in our article. With no flashy signs or huge advertisements Flying Bird is a hidden urban relaxation zone. Instead of flavoured teas with fantasy names, they offer high quality Chinese and Taiwanese brews, from light white teas to the dark, strong flavoured, caffeine-packed Sheng Puerth. As we step into the little shop, a homely atmosphere immediately overcomes us. The high cabinets resemble bookshelves, packed with accessories for Chinese tea séances. These are all purchasable: cups and pots in various sizes and materials and so forth. As we step in further, we find the “counter,” which resembles a small laboratory. Here is where our teas are made in the spirit of a strict tea ceremony. The teapots are preheated, then drenched in hot water. A tea saint receives a splash from our tea as well – ours was a small figure of a Chinese philosopher, but they have tigers, tortoises and dragons too.
The rules apply only to the preparation of tea, because in other ways Flying Bird is a bohemian place where everything comes together by oriental chaos. In the shop’s gallery section, we can find a traditionally furnished Chinese tea salon. The owners are real fanatics and speak the language of teas fluently – they know how hot the water is just by the sound of the kettle. They also taught us that some tea types need to soak only for 10-20 seconds. They hold workshops and tea ceremony courses and if you would like to learn more about the world of teas, one of these might be a good idea.
Price: from 960 Ft / brew
4/9
Vörös Oroszlán Teahouse
Vörös Oroszlán is probably one of Budapest's most famous and iconic tea houses. Students, tourists, locals - the place attracts everyone. One of the best parts (aside from the vast assortment of teas) are the booths where you can either sit around on the floor at low table (no shoes!!), or choose a booth filled with beanbags and lounge around - an awesome way to study or catch up with friends.
With regard to the teas they have a huge selection of black, green, white and fruit teas, as well as specialties like the summer tea cocktail. They have a shop selling everything you need to make delightful teas at home: tea sets, mugs, filters, paper and loose-leaf tea plus much more. For those wanting to stray from the place's specialty they also have hot chocolate made with real ingredients - for instance the flavoured versions use real almonds, cinnamon and so on, ice tea with fresh fruit, fresh juices, yummy food and more. There's Wi-Fi so you can come for a tea and stay as long as you want. On Mondays there's even an astrologist who comes at 4pm and does free readings for anyone that fancies seeing what's in their stars.
One thing this place really tries to be pedantic about is the water; they only use really pure, filtered water to make sure that every cup of tea is just right. Do try it.
Price: from 740 Ft / pot
Teaház a Vörös Oroszlánhoz (closed)
Address: 1061 Budapest, 8 Jókai Square
5/9
CDFŰ Kultúrpince
CDFŰ opened in 98 as a fusion of one of the first CD stores in Budapest and an underground tea house. Although the reputation of this cultural reference point has declined in the recent years, the current owners are working to put the place back on the city's culture-map once again. Although they have left the CDs behind, we can still drink high quality tea in the charming, cool cellar. Currently there is not a great variety of teas but the selection will soon expand. Until then, we can recommend the popular fruity 'Sport Cup,' which is known for its revitalising quality.
They also do fresh fruit smoothies (580-650 Ft) and coffees, we can also order some delicious hot pitas (890-1290 Ft) with fresh salad, and even with a soup for an additional 100 forints. In addition to drinking tea, we can also play darts with their professional equipment (!) for free. Although 6pm might seem rather late for opening on weekdays, tea and darts lovers will soon be able to drop in to CDFŰ from 4pm.
Price: 520 Ft / pot
Address: 1053 Budapest, Fejér György Street 1.
Open: Monday – Thursday 6pm - midnight, Friday – Saturday 4pm - midnight
6/9
1000 TEA
While Váci Street is crowded with touristy trinket shops and overpriced Hungarian restaurants, there's an oasis within the hubbub that can be easy to miss. Enter 1000 Tea via an archway and reach a quaint, sunlit courtyard with greenery and a tea house that as is authentic as they come. In moments you'll be transported to Bali, Ceylon or Japan. This place has been here almost two decades and has carved out a reputation as a haven for those seeking a traditional tea experience. There are about 150 types of tea here - and the team shy away from flavoured, coloured tea and infusions, preferring to stick to the authentic tea. They also pay attention to using the authentic serving traditions of the various tea growing cultures of the world. They pay special attention to making sure what they serve is of excellent quality and never more than a year old.
Amid the beautiful setting and the tranquil, meditative world music there are decorative tea sets, as well as loose-leaf tea that you can buy. There's a shoe-free area where you sit on the floor, which would be cool for a first date or study session, and in summer the terrace on the courtyard is open to enjoy the sun. This is a tea-lovers paradise nestled in busy Budapest. Real aficionados must visit.
Price: from 650 Ft / pot
7/9
BUBU Bubble Tea
BUBU Bubble Tea is one of the few places that does not have traditional black and fruit teas in its selection, but instead offers colourful drinks dotted with tapioca and fruit bubbles, which are known as bubble tea. This unique, Asian tea variety is already well-known in the world’s major cities, but in Budapest it still receives dubious glances. Not far from Ferenciek Square, we too tried the bubbly beverage (500-580 Ft), for which we have to choose a base, a flavour and toppings. We can choose from a total of 26 different flavors, including classic flavors like strawberry or black tea, but we should not be afraid to try the more extreme options like the chocolate-biscuit or coffee-coconut-milk combinations. In addition to popping fruity bubbles and jelly strips, we can also choose tapioca bubbles for toppings, which we can sip up through an extremely wide drinking straw.
Our visit is accompanied by pleasant Asian pop music. If we drop by the small, cheerful shop feeling hungry, we can also eat salad (400 Ft), sandwiches (550 Ft) or sushi (690-1250 Ft), even in a menu (600-1600 Ft). All in all, BUBU is a must-visit for Asia fans and for people who like to try out new, sometimes surprising trends.
Price: 500 Ft – small, 580 Ft – large
Address: 1052 Budapest, Petőfi Sándor Street 6.
Open: Monday – Friday 10am – 9pm, Saturday – Sunday 11am – 8pm
8/9
Darjeeling Teahouse
We can find Darjeeling Teahouse near the Grand Boulevard on Wesselényi Street. The place has been open for 8 years now whether guests are thirsty for tea, hungry for breakfast, or workers on their laptops who prefer quiet spots to busy cafes. The whole tea house is characterised by eclecticism. We can take a look, and even smell, all their teas if we can't choose from the endless options on the menu. They are not afraid of more extreme flavours either like mint melon or jasmine figs. We received our order in a small pot, optionally with sugar, honey or without sweetener.
The good news is that all their teas are available for takeaway too. In spring and summer they even have iced versions. On the ground floor, we can sit at regular tables, while on the gallery we can have our tea while resting on pillows. In good weather they plan to open a terrace, which is a rare extra for a tea house. We did not really understand the little false evergreens performed on pan flute in the background as we drank our chai latte, but to tell the truth, the whole thing was so funny that it immediately brightened our day.
Price: from 660 Ft / pot
Address: 1077 Budapest, Wesselényi Street 47.
Open: Monday - Saturday 8am - 10pm, Sunday 8am - 9pm
9/9
ITee Café
ITee is close to Móricz Zsigmond Square and the mysterious lights, nice wood surfaces and the somewhat secluded gallery section took took our breath away. Not to mention the small pond (!) in the middle of the tea house, filled with koi carps. The drink menu offers us more than 90 types of tea, and if we look carefully, we can come across some rather special brews such as the creamy teas made with cocoa beans, Puerh (Chinese “old” tea), or the Lapsang Souchong - which can even be used to marinate meat because of its spicy, smoky flavour.
When not drinking tea, we can also munch on cookies, cake or sandwiches. ITee is a perfect choice when it comes to intimate rendezvous or quiet conversations, especially if we can snag a table on the gallery.
Price: 740 Ft / pot
Address: 1114 Budapest, Villányi Street 12.
Open: Monday – Friday 1pm - 11pm, Saturday – Sunday 3pm - 11pm
