This year Budapest is living the renaissance of promising ice-cream parlors – although the more places pop up, the higher expectations become. Luckily there’s a lot to choose from, as the selection stretches from retro classics to new-wave venues. We honestly hope that the truly tasty frosty treats – occasionally a bit pricier – will win out over the overly sweetened options, boosted with bulking agents and artificial colorants, that are pretty, but low-quality. We included many stations in our tour-de-ice cream, and it seems like Budapest is full of pleasant places offering this cool treat.
1/17
Gelateria Pomo D’oro
The newest member of the Via Italia family of Arany János Street is a fixed point on the list of ice-cream lovers. The flavors vary regularly, but they always offer a few permanent favorites, such as the raspberry-basil, the fior di latte, or pistachio, all of which normally sell out by the end of each day. There is always a chance to try different tastes with a small spoon, and you can also mix two different flavors in one scoop.
Price: 330 forints per scoop
Recommendation: Sette veli, pistachio, gorgonzola-pear, salty caramel
2/17
Gustolato Budapest (Closed)
The newest unit of the bustling area of the Basilica is a breakfast spot, a café, a chocolate store, a restaurant, and an ice-cream shop under the same roof. Just like everything in Gustolato, the quality of their ice creams is truly high. They represent a more natural line; the frosty fruity treats are more sour than sweet, and a more natural and neutral taste characterizes the nutty types, too. If you wish, they can hold your ice cream under the chocolate fountain found by the counter, which glazes your scoops with a lovely chocolate layer that cools down in a second.
Price: 450 forints for 1 scoop, 700 HUF for two scoops, 950 HUF for 3 scoops
Recommendations: coconut, almond, mango
3/17
Moritz Eis (Closed)
This beloved brand that originated in Belgrade arrived to Budapest with two units in downtown; you can now find the minimalist ice-cream shops enhanced with a clean whitewashed design on Hajós Street and on Hollán Ernő Street. Here tasting is not optional, but almost obligatory, as the Moritz ice creams hold a different experience than usual classic types, so those who grew up on vanilla-chocolate combos might need some persuasion about this new-wave style. They experimented with about 140 flavors, so countless combinations are expected in the near future. One scoop is 7 dkg, which is a pretty filling portion.
Prize: 600 forints for 1 scoop, 1,000 forints for 2 scoops
Recommendations: gingery orange, cinnamon rice, peanut, pistachio, caramel, raspberry-banana
4/17
Damniczki Confectionery
The name Damniczki is truly popular among sweet tooths in Székesfehérvár, and this ice-cream manufacturer – standing strong for 25 years now – now finally moved to Hercegprímás Street in Budapest. Balázs Damniczki makes the frosty treats free of any colorants, foaming agents, and aromas, and guests can choose from 48 flavors, which is a curiosity in itself. We recommend Damniczki mostly for their surprising and extreme salty flavors.
Price: 350 forints per scoop
Recommendation: salty, buttery corn, pumpkin seed, creamy fig, dill-yogurt cucumber
Damniczki Facebook
5/17
Erdős és Fiai Confectionery
Erdős és fiai (Erdős and Sons) on Etele Square is one of the best ice-cream stations of the Buda side; on weekends there are long twisting lines of folks waiting for the frosty treats. We love it because in addition to retro classics, we also find a more sophisticated, gourmet line of ice creams, enabling both the retro-hearted and experimental people to find something to their liking.
Price: 280 forints per scoop
Recommendations: meselinzer (Hungarian honey biscuit), pecan, peanut wafer, apple cider, kreol (chocolate with tropical fruits)
6/17
Desszert.Neked
Desszert.Neked also joined the ice-cream sellers’ scene in 2016 with their tasty frosty treats. Their ice creams are truly high-quality; they have a perfect consistency, and all flavors behind the counter are truly tasty. If you really crave some sweets, before or after devouring an ice cream you can also make a macaron disappear.
Price: 300 forints per scoop
Recommendations: chocolate cookie, passion fruit, strawberry
7/17
Piazza Budapest (Closed)
Terasz, the laid-back locale of Március 15. Square, now features a truly sweet ice-cream stand, so besides a frosty fröccs or an Aperol spritz, guests can now munch on some ice cream during these sizzling hot summer days, on a nice evening, or even during the matches of EURO 2016. They are very considerate towards people with dietary intolerances, so they carefully display which diets allow their treats. You can choose among ten different flavors – well, if you can actually make this difficult decision.
Price: 300 forints per scoop
Recommendations: mango-coconut, mint-lemon, cinnamon
8/17
Artigiana Gelati
This ice-cream parlor on Csaba Street has been offering original Italian ice creams since 1990, so various generations grew up devouring their treats. Artigiana Gelati is a beloved spot among residents of Budapest. Besides regular types, they also offer ice creams made of rice milk for people with lactose intolerance, or for people on a special diet. They always entice with more than 20 flavors in the counter.
Price: 400 forints per scoop
Recommendations: pistachio, lúdláb (chocolate sponge cake with cherries), Nutella and cream, raspberry-white chocolate
9/17
Émile
This imposing ice-cream shop of Rózsadomb is a member of the Gerbeaud family, so it is only natural that in the summer, besides sweets and cakes, they also offer upscale ice creams. While hanging out in one of the most gorgeous gardens of Buda, we can order ice-cream cups (2,250 HUF), but of course we can also try the legendary flavors as individual scoops, too. It is truly pleasant to spend some time in Orló Street’s garden, and trying their ice cream is a must!
Price: 350 forints per scoop
Recommendations: chocolate, calamondin lime, walnut, raspberry, coffee
10/17
Valdocco Astoria Fagylaltozó és Cukrászda
Valdocco, found near Astoria, is small but charming. Everyone on Museum Avenue munches on the ice creams of confectioner István Rusics, which is not surprising, as these treats are outstanding in both their flavor and consistency. Sweet-toothed customers can ask for a special ice-cream cone lined with colorful sprinkles.
Price: 170 forints per regular scoop, 300 forints per extra-large scoop
Recommendations: pistachio, cottage cheese, Tokaji wine, chocolate
11/17
Dolce Intervallo
Dolce Intervallo is a modest mini-confectionery on Szív Street, mostly known by people who live nearby and pass by each day, although it is definitely worthwhile to take a turn off of Andrássy Avenue to try their amazing artisanal ice creams that manage to stay simple and traditional despite today’s new-wave trends, which makes them truly adorable. At Dolce Intervallo, guests can even get an ice-cream pass.
Price: 220 forints per scoop (200 forints with a pass)
Recommendations: raspberry, sport bar (Hungarian rum-chocolate), pear
12/17
Gelarto Rosa & Gelarto Bistro
Devoring delicious ice creams while sitting on the steps of the Basilica is a pleasant way to pass some time, and for that, a frosty treat from the “rosy parlor” is a perfect choice. Their ice creams and sorbets are not just pretty, but also truly tasty. It is a pleasure in and of itself to watch as they make our ice creams rose-shaped with their spades. Gelarto Rosa’s brother, the Gelarto Bistro, is also found on Hercegprímás Street, where they offer salty ice cream concoctions with their dishes, in flavors like paprika, green pea, and pesto.
Price: 600 forints for 2 flavors, 700 forints for 3 flavors, 800 forints for 4 flavors
Recommendations: mango, cinnamon plum, lavender-white chocolate, lemon-basil
13/17
Nándory Confectionery
The beloved confectionery of Ráday Street was once named Varga at the time of its opening in 1957. Their cakes keep winning competitions, and they are definitely one of the best in town – and so are their ice creams. The “Ice Cream of the Year” in 2016 was their treat named Vezúv, which is a caramel-dark chocolate pairing with cherry sauce. It is highly recommended!
Price: 250 forints per scoop (half a scoop is 130 forints)
Recommendations: vanilla, Vezúv, rum-walnut
14/17
Daubner Confectionery
Daubner is mostly loved for their perfect cakes and salty treats, although they also rock ice creams, and their prices are modest. The legendary confectionery of Óbuda promises a truly retro experience; they do not compete with any of the overthought cake shops and confectioneries, they simply offer excellent ice creams for an excellent price.
Price: 200 forints per scoop
Recommendations: orange truffle, Somlói (Hungarian sponge cake), creamy almond
15/17
Kedveskrém - Balassi Bálint utca
Kedveskrém is every kid’s favorite due to the lovely design, and fantasy figures that tell stories about the perfect ice creams found behind the counter. Besides bringing some fun into everyone’s day, they also pay great attention to quality: the flavors are excellent, so it is worthwhile to drop by if you’re ever nearby.
Recommendations: honey sesame seed, cranberry, banana, Earl Grey
16/17
Mamo Gelato
Mamo moved to Ráday Street in the spring of 2014 with Italian machines, ingredients, and ideas. Since then, they have also opened a unit in Kígyó Street, and already gathered a big group of fans. They love using chocolates and biscuits for making ice creams, so don’t be surprised if the decoration in the counter is a whole pack of Oreos.
Price: 590 forints for 2 flavors, 750 forints for 3 flavors, 1,000 forints for 4 flavors
Recommendations: cheesecake, Kinder Bueno, peach
17/17
KIOSK
KIOSK is famous for their sweet concoctions and ice creams that come in cups. Instead of a usual three scoops-whipped cream-roletti combo, they offer stylish and sexy sweet dessert combinations, such as strawberry and vanilla ice cream with vanilla sous-vide strawberry, citrus sponge cake, and prosecco sabaglion, glazed with sugar webs and freeze-dried strawberries, and sprinkled with matcha green tea.
Price: 2,350 forints per ice cream cup
