Hearty breakfasts and brunches in Budapest’s bar quarter – we visit Christie’s Urban Bistro

Krisztina Sallai-Tóth and her husband run hostels in the area, so it seemed an obvious idea to open a breakfast and brunch place, where their guests can start the day. Not wanting to compromise on quality, they create as many items as possible at home for the varied menu, while also offering vegan diners a broad alternative.

With its two-storey mini-gallery, this tasteful bistro the size of a small flat respectfully hides away in the bustle of Király utca. From the outside, you couldn’t tell the wide range of food offer. We started with the farmer’s breakfast (fried eggs, fried sausage, cooked ham, potato pancakes, fried tomatoes, roast peppers, sourdough bread), for which the pancakes are made at home, and the bread comes from the Minerva bakery.

The menu also features other breakfast dishes, including ’fancy’ and English, plus traditional and vegan omelettes (HUF 890-1,890), and French toast (HUF 1,790-2,290). Of the sandwiches, there’s a version of pastrami on rye, here with cheese, sauerkraut and caramelised onions, the Reuben with hot pastrami, homemade 1000-island dressing and cheese, and a vegan version (HUF 2,990) of the pastrami sandwich with smoked marinated tofu.

Toasted shrimp are the most expensive dish (with mango avocado ragout, garlic toast and homemade 1000 island dressing, HUF 3,990). The lemon-parsley-oregano flavour of the shrimp was super, but the mint-and-mango avocado mixture served alongside would also serve as a stand-alone dish.

We would single out Christie’s homemade tomato jam, but all the homemade sauces are decent. Vegans will also have a field day, with meat-like jackfruit often preferred.

All in all, if you start the day here with a good breakfast, you may be back for lunch as well.

Christie’s Urban Bistro
1077 Budapest, Király utca 53
Current opening hours: Tue-Sun 8am-6pm