It’s cold out there, folks, so to warm up as you do your Christmas shopping, here are our favourite spots in town for a cosy drink in convivial surroundings.
1/10
Bookta
Any of
Budapest's literary cafés could be recommended here as a cosy winter hideaway, comfy
scenes evoked by peaceful reading over a hot drink, surrounded by bookshelves.
Located on burgeoning Margit körút, Bookta, with its friendly
atmosphere, bookstore past, quieter location and good prices, is a particularly
suitable choice for escaping the cold of winter.
2/10
Csészényi Kávézó
Its picture windows facing busy Krisztina körút, the Csészényi Kávézó features that classic accompaniment to any Hungarian winter, the brightly tiled stove. Coffee aromas waft from the grinders, the roasting arabica sourced from the large coffee-growing areas of Guatemala, India, Cuba and Ethiopia all available.
3/10
Espressoul Budapest
Strings of
lights, plentiful wood and comfortable leather sofas encourage you to sit down
for a decent coffee and a delicious cake here on downtown Hercegprímás utca. Espressoul
embodies a lovely mix of homeliness and elegance, offering ten minutes of peace
and quiet in the busy city centre.
4/10
Hintaló
If you
want to warm up with alcohol, the Rocking Horse can be an ideal choice, where
you can find whisky, vodka and rum at affordable prices. The atmosphere is
ruin-bar, and the namesake rocking horses are also given a role. And, thanks to the strange lamps, wallpaper and pictures on the
upholstery, a playful, warming atmosphere fills the place.
5/10
Kaptafa
Kaptafa is
a multifunctional place, where they prepare imaginative and hearty breakfasts until
3pm from Sundays to Thursdays (try the natural defibrillator and mimosa) while Fridays
and Saturdays are given over to beer, wine and socialising until 2am. The
gallery feel likes a friend’s living room, with comfortable sofas, ottomans and
armchairs, so getting up to leave is never easy. It’s also ideal for small groups
as the atmosphere is pretty intimate.
6/10
Macska
'The Cat’ is as warm and friendly as its name suggests, just go inside and head up to the gallery you'll see above your head. This cushioned, carpeted, elevated cabin can only be approached in socks, it’s a great place to relax, listen to the chatter and music filtering down from below with a warming drink in your hand.
7/10
Rengeteg RomKafé
Any number
of ruin pubs could feature here, but this one, with its strange fairytale world,
is probably the most suitable. The café is full of teddy bears who invite you for a hug, as tea steams from old pots and friendly staff serve some
of the most concentrated hot chocolates in town.
8/10
Roots
Roots evokes
the atmosphere of the classic pub where you can spend the day in a good mood
from morning to night. It’s just like being at home, just not in pyjamas. The best
spots here are on the pillows placed by the huge windows, watching the freezing
pedestrians outside while you sit with your hot drink.
9/10
Sirius & Altair
These siblings are located close to each other, Altair having just opened this month. You have to ring to enter the small tearooms in the cellars, the furnishings are a bit dated, but the warm colours and textiles provide comfort. You almost feel like putting up a no entry sign on the small gallery dividers as you sink into winter relaxation.
10/10
Café Zsivágó
It’s
almost as if it’s winter all year round at Zsivágó, given the scenery straight out of a
Chekhov play, although here calm and warmth await. There’s a champagne-and-caviar
breakfast, too, a variety of hot drinks and authentic pierogi. Although the
samovars are laid out as ornaments and do not gurgle into action, you can still enjoy the
peaceful ambience with original Russian tea.
