New programme for secondary school students launching this autumn
Alongside the highly successful secondary school programmes held at Calavera and Centrál Grand Café & Bar, Eventrend Group continues its mission to engage younger generations as well.
From autumn 2026, Centrál Grand Café & Bar will also launch a new literary programme inspired by two Nobel Prize-winning figures of Hungarian literature, Imre Kertész and László Krasznahorkai, the latter of whom is a frequent guest of the café and even has his own regular table there. Through experience-based literature classes, secondary school students will be able to explore the authors' works in a more personal way, within a historic café setting complemented by gastronomic elements.
According to Zoltán Kőrössy, one of the founding owners of Eventrend Group:
It is very important for us to carry forward the heritage embodied by the history and atmosphere of Centrál Grand Café & Bar. In gastronomy, we strive to present classic favourites in a modern way, while also regularly introducing new additions to the menu - and this spring is no exception. At the same time, education is also an important part of the café’s identity, so alongside our Literary Soirée programme, we will be launching another initiative from September.
Gábor Nagy, the other founding owner of Eventrend Group, added:
For Eventrend Group, social responsibility has always been extremely important. For years, we have supported two civil organisations: SINOSZ and Lámpás '92 Foundation. At the same time, it is also a priority for us to engage younger generations. An important step in this direction is that the literary programme at Centrál Grand Café & Bar will not only continue, but also expands.
The free 45-minute interactive programme will take place every other Tuesday morning during the school term, with sessions starting at 9am and 10.30am on the upper floor of Centrál Grand Café & Bar. Secondary school groups will explore the works of the two authors through unconventional presentations led by Zsolt Lukács, while being treated to mineral water and pogácsa. At the same time, the highly popular Centrál Literary Soirée programme will also continue, already filling the café's spaces three times a week during the school term. In the future, the two programmes will run alongside each other in separate areas of the café.
The new programme launches in September 2026, and reservations can be made here.
New additions to the menu
The renewed spring menu at Centrál Grand Café & Bar also features contemporary takes on classic Hungarian dishes. Alongside the traditional goulash, guests can now try a confit duck leg version as well as a vegan alternative made with smoked tofu, sweet potato, pumpkin, celery, pointed pepper, spring onion, garlic, sweet potato crisps, coriander crisps, coriander oil, and smoked paprika oil. Both versions are rich, hearty, and full of flavour.
While not a classic coffeehouse dish, the shakshuka at Centrál Grand Café & Bar has long been one of our favourites on the menu. It has now been expanded with meatball and falafel versions, making it an even more flavourful and filling brunch option that works equally well for breakfast or lunch.
If you're in the mood for a lighter fish or vegetarian dish, the newly introduced grilled salmon steak is also worth trying. Served on a bed of roasted sweet potato, it pairs beautifully with rosemary grapefruit cream and roasted grapefruit slices. Meanwhile, the goat's cheese medallions come with baby spinach, beetroot, green apple, carrot, olive oil, leek crisps, and a side of bulgur at Centrál Grand Café & Bar.
You can explore the full new menu here.
Two desserts inspired by the Nobel Prize banquet
The two new desserts, featuring striking shapes and flavour combinations, were created by pastry chef Judit Takács and her team at Centrál Grand Café & Bar. The creations were inspired by the desserts served at the 2002 and 2025 Nobel Prize banquet dinners honouring Hungary's Nobel Prize-winning authors, Imre Kertész and László Krasznahorkai.
Even the presentation of the desserts is theatrical: served in a wooden box shaped like a book, the pastries appear only after a quote slowly burns away into ash. One dessert is inspired by Imre Kertész with flavours of vanilla and pear, while the other pays tribute to László Krasznahorkai through a mascarpone and raspberry combination.
Both desserts have a soft, creamy texture, with pear taking centre stage in one and raspberry in the other. At the same time, each offers an exciting contrast of textures, where creamy and crunchy, sweet and slightly tart elements complement one another beautifully.
Alongside these creations, classic Hungarian cakes and desserts such as Dobos cake, Esterházy cake, and Rákóczi cottage cheese cake remain available at Centrál Grand Café & Bar. New additions to the selection also include the Centrál strawberry cream dessert and a crème brûlée pancake served with strawberry and chocolate cream.
Since 1887, Centrál Grand Café & Bar has been an integral part of Budapest's cultural life. The legendary writers of the Nyugat generation played a defining role in the café's history, and their spirit still lives on today in a contemporary form. The Centrál's philosophy remains unchanged: tradition should not simply be preserved, but actively lived and used.
Centrál Grand Café & Bar is part of the Eventrend Group.
Eventrend Group has more than three decades of experience in operating cafés, restaurants, and hotels, as well as in event management. The group oversees nearly 35 projects and employs around 1,300 people. Its portfolio includes approximately 25 gastronomy ventures, among them Gundel, New York Café, Városliget Café & Restaurant, Spoon The Boat, Főőrség Café, Séf Asztala, Symbol, as well as the catering services of Groupama Aréna and Müpa Budapest. In addition, the company manages the sales of nearly 100 unique event spaces across around 30 venues in Budapest.
(Cover photo: Forgács Zsuzsi – We Love Budapest)
Centrál Grand Café & Bar
Megjelent első bookazine-unk, ne maradj le róla!
Már 15 éve lélegzünk összhangban a fővárossal. Jubileumi kiadványunkban mindent megtalálsz, ami magazinunk és eddigi munkánk esszenciája. Gasztronómia, kultúra, városi legendák és Budapest arcai, interjúk, történetek és a legjobb helyek – úgy, ahogyan mi látjuk a fővárost.
Rendeld meg itt vagy keresd a nagyobb könyvesboltokban!
hirdetés
