In spring, many eateries open up their terraces, too, so you can enjoy your eggs Benny, avocado toast or waffle and sip on a cup of specialty coffee while soaking up some spring sunshine. We’ve collated 10 top places to go for a lovely breakfast or brunch in Budapest.
Baalbek
Stepping inside Baalbek, a Lebanese restaurant on the picturesque riverbank, feels like visiting an old friend in their sunny home in Beirut. Those looking to enjoy Mediterranean colours, tantalising flavours and authentic Middle Eastern hospitality can come for breakfast or brunch between 8 am and noon from Thursday to Sunday. Lebanese cuisine is often praised for its healthy and nutritious dishes, which feature on Baalbek's breakfast menu carefully created by Executive Chef Ismail Fneish and his right hand, Chef Ali Moussa. Breakfast options made of fresh ingredients like eggs with lamb sausage, freshly-baked Lebanese flatbread with melted cheese or sweet halva with sesame seeds await, and be sure to order a cup of authentic coffee or tea as well.
More details and reservations here.
Spago by Wolgang Puck
If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, you can have brunch at Spago, the restaurant of Budapest’s exclusive luxury hotel Matild Palace, between noon and 3 pm on Sundays, and you don’t even have to be a hotel guest to do so. When putting the breakfast menu together, world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck and the restaurant’s executive chef, István Szántó, followed the rules of a traditional Sunday brunch but raised the bar a bit higher by including a vast selection of international dishes presented perfectly and made of high-quality ingredients. From Italian antipasti to freshly baked pizzas, local cheese- and charcuterie platters, and special poké bowls inspired by Japanese cuisine, the culinary offerings are diverse. To accompany your meal, you can choose from a selection of drinks curated by a Michelin-starred sommelier, ranging from prosecco and wine to coffee and tea. You can keep an eye on your breakfast being prepared through an open kitchen and then enjoy it on the terrace if you wish. Spago also welcomes kids with a special children’s menu, face painting and balloon-twisting activities.
More details and reservations here.
VAJ – Sas utca
Over the past few years, VAJ on Budapest’s busy Grand Boulevard has become one of the city’s favourite bakeries, so a second unit soon opened in Hello Buda, and now a third VAJ appeared on Sas utca right next to central Erzsébet tér. The new VAJ is spacious, sleek and full of green plants, enticing city dwellers to enjoy a leisurely breakfast any day of the week between 8 am and 8 pm. The showstoppers here are the delicious pastries rich in butter, sandwiches, desserts and specialty coffees and teas. VAJ also boasts a pleasantly shaded terrace, and while it’s primarily a breakfast place, the menu will be expanded soon, and alcohol will be served in the evening, too, so VAJ will definitely be a top hangout this spring/ summer season.
More details and reservations here.
Mozata
Mozata, a bistro, bakery and specialty café in one – nested on peaceful Párizsi utca near Budapest's lively shopping street, Váci utca – is one of the city’s favourite Lebanese eateries. In March, they also launched their breakfast and brunch menu, which you can enjoy between 8:30 am and noon daily. Mozata brings the best of Lebanese cuisine to Budapest, including the tastiest falafel in town, and it has something to offer for everyone when it comes to morning treats as well. In addition to traditional Lebanese breakfast dishes and special breakfast trays, they also serve brunch favourites like avocado toast, eggs royale, pistachio croissants and more. During the warmer months, Mozata opens its lovely terrace, providing a perfect setting to soak up some sunshine as you sip your coffee and enjoy a delightful breakfast.
More details and reservations here.
Centrál Café
Centrál Café is one of the city’s oldest coffee houses, where sipping coffee amid a charming atmosphere, old typewriters and a lovely modern-yet-nostalgic décor feels like a trip back in time to Budapest’s glamorous Belle Époque. If you’d like to have brunch sitting in the same spot as Hungary’s literary greats once did, be sure to book a table here. The coffee is outstanding, and the best thing is that breakfast can be ordered all day long. In addition to serving the usual breakfast favourites, Centrál also has a unique menu dedicated to eggs Benedict, offering variations made with eggplant, smoked salmon, steak strips or shakshuka. Live music plays between 10 am and 2 pm, and Centrál also has a lovely terrace decorated with plants.
More details and reservations here.
Escake Cake & Brunch
Tucked away on Hollósy Simon utca, Escake Cake & Brunch is a breakfast place and confectionery in one, offering sweet and savoury French-style treats, delicious coffee and bagel sandwiches. The freshly introduced brunch selection now also includes egg dishes, eggs Benedict variations, Croque Monsieur and Madame and Viennese sausages. Those looking for something sweet can try the American pancakes or the homemade Greek yoghurt with granola and fruit. Escake also has a lovely terrace, and there’s a playground nearby.
More details and reservations here.
TATI 'Farm to table'
The food at TATI on Dohány utca in the heart of downtown Budapest is as fresh as it gets, thanks to the restaurant's 'farm to table' concept. The seasonal ingredients all come from local producers and are turned into fantastic dishes in the kitchen, keeping sustainability in mind every step of the way. The selection includes sandwiches, omelettes, French toast, sausages and pastries among others, as well as a Hungarian favourite, lángos, a deep-fried dough traditionally topped with sour cream and cheese. You can wash these down with coffee or tea or freshly pressed vegetable and fruit juices.
More details and reservations here.
Tartufo Brunch & Bistro
Tartufo Brunch & Bistro is a new kid on the block, since it only opened last November, but it has already become a beloved breakfast place on the Buda side. The key to their success is offering dishes made of high-quality and more extravagant ingredients besides the usual breakfast favourites. The selection includes eggs Benedict made with truffles, Tuscan breakfast, Sicilian shakshuka and waffles made with truffles and white chocolate. Don’t miss the crowd-favourite pistachio-salted caramel tiramisu and the pistachio roll, and if you’d like to try more flavours at once, you can also order brunch combinations. Tartufo is planning to open a new unit soon with truffles and pistachios in the limelight.
More details and reservations here.
Scruton V.P.
Cosying up with a cup of specialty coffee and a delicious breakfast at Scruton V.P. on a Sunday, when live music plays, feels like sitting down in a lovely living room. Everything is made of fresh and high-quality ingredients here, and the breakfast selection features egg dishes, avocado-scrambled egg toast and English breakfast served with focaccia among others. Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy American pancakes with raspberry sauce made with vanilla, Tonka beans and mascarpone, French toast with fruit or a slice of cake made by their own confectioners. Tip: if you come in a pair, you can order a couple’s menu and get a complimentary Carassia Blanc de Blanc. If you’re after something cold and refreshing, try the matcha latte, matcha tonic or the lavender-coffee lemonade.
More details and reservations here.
Zazie
BudaPart Kopaszi-gát is a huge green recreational space in South Buda, where you can enjoy lovely walks and soak up some sunshine by the riverbank. ZAZIE is a perfect breakfast and brunch spot for early risers, as they open at 7:30 am between Monday and Friday. The menu offers delicious dishes like omelettes, salmon bowl, eggs Benedict and Florentine, Viennese sausage, waffle sandwich and baked banana. These are best served with a tasty cup of coffee – Italian or specialty – that you can take to the terrace to enjoy the view and the sounds of nature.
More details and reservations here.
