Most people would prefer to enjoy a leisurely deluxe breakfast every day, but in reality, we usually only have enough time (or money) for a quick pastry and a paper cup of coffee on the go. However, whether you’re on a tight budget or want to enjoy the most deluxe morning meal of your life, Budapest features plenty of places for a delicious breakfast. We sorted Budapest’s best breakfasts into three price categories: up to 1,500 forints (about 5 euros), between 1,500-2,500 forints (about 5-8 euros), and above 2,500 forints (over 8 euros), including everything from cocoa rolls to eggs Benedict.
1/20
Café Flore Matin et Soir (Closed)
We find this cozy French-style café at a truly charming location, at a corner of Hattyú Street. Café Flore Matin et Soir is an ideal spot for both leisurely breakfast sessions and intimate evening chats. The staff here is truly considerate, and the atmosphere is friendly and homey. Even though it is a girly, Pinterest-styled place dressed in pastel colors, the prices are not positioned towards the sky; we tried their Croque Mademoiselle (similar to a grilled-cheese sandwich), which costs 990 forints, and we would come back for it anytime. When the weather permits, it is also worthwhile to spend some time outside on the terrace.
Tip: Croque Mademoiselle (990 HUF)
Why it’s special: lovely French music, and we love the colors
Price category: low
2/20
Fekete
If you crave coffee at Astoria, Fekete is a straightforward choice, where due to the specialty coffee concoctions, there are always more than three cool kids per square meter. The breakfast selection is strong, as a tasty ham & eggs dish costs 1,100 forints, so even a ristoretto fits in our budget. The tasty ham & eggs come with a seedy croissant and fresh salad.
Tip: ham & eggs (1,100 HUF)
Why it’s special: heavenly coffees, an atmospheric courtyard, and we can buy several specialty coffee tools here
Price category: low
3/20
KicsiZso
KicsiZso was first known as SzendDzsó around town, run by two guys both named Zsolt, but today only one of them, Zsolt Horváth, takes care of breakfast menus here on Frankel Leó Street. In addition to classic egg courses, they also have extra offers, and the ingredients, special hams, and various kinds of meat give a somewhat down-home atmosphere to KicsiZso. We tried the bundás bagel for the first time here, which is a French-toast-like bagel filled with ham, cream cheese, fresh vegetables, and cheese. Their homemade pesto that they use to decorate and shake up the meals is truly tasty.
Tip: bundás bagel (1,250 HUF)
Why it’s special: homey atmosphere, countryside flavors
Price category: low
4/20
La Nube
If you had enough of egg-based breakfasts and full-English menus, a tasty Mediterranean meal is always a great way to start a day, so head towards the homey café of a Hungarian-Spanish couple: La Nube. A significant dish here is the tostada, which is a toast sandwich packed with various tasty toppings (590-990 HUF). The essence of a traditional Spanish breakfast is simplicity and high-quality ingredients, but during a recent visit we really wanted to fill our belly, so we tried a tostada con atún with tuna, apple, walnut, onion, and mayonnaise. They offer 13 types of tapas (590-1,490 HUF), which are also perfect breakfast options, and they also please their guests with specialty coffee concoctions.
Tip: tostada con atún (990 HUF)
Why it’s special: pastel colors, Spanish flavors
Price category: low
5/20
mókusch
Mókusch – found on Várfok Street – is a niche-filling deli, breakfast place, café, and confectionery in one. It is a family business with a sweet background story; the name mókusch was inspired by the grandmother of the Bederfy girls. The menu features pastries, sandwiches, and cakes. Our favorite was the banoffee pie,but their most inventive breakfast meal is the filled French toast (750 HUF) that we can even have with Tikkadt Szöcske (a Hungarian soft drink made of coke nuts), cocoa, coffee, or with tea.
Tip: filled French toast (750 forint)
Why it’s special: it’s a small family business, with a somewhat Berlin-like atmosphere
Price category: low
6/20
Szimpla Háztáji (Closed)
We love Kazinczy Street’s Szimpla Háztáji at all times, and this health-conscious and friendly hangout which is strange and bohemian in the most positive sense also offers hearty breakfasts. Instead of classic courses, here it is worthwhile to try a pie, a cake, a sandwich, or a cup cream, enhanced with a coffee or tea. We can get a seasonal snack and a hot drink for 1,500 forints, even in a gluten-free or paleo version.
Tip: seasonal pies, sandwiches (from 590 HUF)
Why it’s special: bohemian and adorable
Price category: low
7/20
Szimply
Röser Udvar’s health-conscious and innovative breakfast place soon became a beloved hangout in Budapest – and among us at We Love Budapest – and we also learned that even Jared Leto popped into Szimply in the past. The menu changes monthly, and it always features two separate sections: sweet and savory. The service is really fast, but if we crave a coffee while waiting for our breakfast, we can pop into Kontakt for a black energy booster that we can take back to Szimply. Their meals are always perfectly presented, and look as cool as anything you would fine in a Western European metropolis. Several superfoods, such as quinoa, chia, matcha, and avocado are found regularly at Szimply. The parsil-celery egg muffin with green pea is a perfect choice for wintertime.
Tip: egg muffin (1,300 HUF)
Why it’s special: If you come for the second time they’ll most likely recognize you, innovative presentations, health-consciousness
Price category: low
8/20
Törökméz
A short stroll on the twisting cobblestoned streets of the Buda side is always nice, especially if we include a stop at Törökméz. This trendy café – that also serves as a deli – somehow feels like a secret meeting spot, however, there is definitely nothing to hide considering the selection. We can order various breakfast menus, from health-conscious snacks (granola, yogurt) to meaty meals, and in the spring and summer season, we can even devour them outside on the terrace. The omelet with Feta cheese and spinach is delectable.
Tip: spinach omelet from three eggs (1,290 HUF)
Why it’s special: perfect location, family and dog-friendly
Price category: low
9/20
Cirkusz
Cirkusz on Dob Street has been a high-quality hangout around the area for years, offering truly tasty coffees. They operate with professional baristas, a magical coffee roaster, and powerful machines. Besides all of that, their breakfast menus – that we can devour until 4pm – are also outstanding, as in addition to classic meals, such as full-English breakfast and French toast, they also offer such specialties as Eggs Royal with spinach. The Cirkusz-style poached egg is a flavorful delicacy, and it’s probably one of the best in town. It is soft, silky, and substantial at the same time.
Tip: Eggs Royal with spinach (1,900 HUF)
Why it’s special: an outstanding coffee assortment, palatable poached eggs
Price category: middle
10/20
Két Szerecsen
Két Szerecsen’s atmosphere is one-of-a-kind, and if you get a window seat in a beautiful morning, all that is still missing from the start of a perfect day is breakfast. As we found out, the most popular offers are the breakfast menus that all include coffee and fruit juice in addition to the meal. We tried one of them, a decorative plate full of a fresh baguette, Liptauer, chives egg cream, and fresh vegetables. They are generous with the homey spreads, so it is highly likely you’ll have to order more bread eventually.
Tip: fresh bread spreads (1,990 HUF)
Why it’s special: has been a trustworthy place for years, considerate and friendly service
Price category: middle
11/20
Kuglóf
Piarista köz’s small but truly friendly Kuglóf opens at 8am with the scent and sight of freshly baked pastries. Breakfast is a really important part of the day here, and almost all courses hold something extra, such as Camembert from Normandy, or Levoni-truffle salami. They are also proud of their sweets that we immediately spot when stepping inside; puffy homemade croissants, huge biscuits, and loafs (called kuglóf in Hungarian) are crowded on the plates. Breakfast is served here until noon.
Tip: poached egg in hollandaise sauce, aromatic avocado salad, rustic toast, and salmon (1,890 HUF)
Why it’s special: intensive cake scent everywhere, the terrace is superb in the summer
Price category: middle
12/20
Szabadság Bisztró (Closed)
Liberté is one of the most stylish and most beautiful cafés in Budapest. Every detail of this unit is carefully planned, so our eyes often wander while we have breakfast here. Their menu represents a trendy and international line, but those who prefer classic courses also find something to munch on here, as the selection stretches from Shakshouka, through egg variations to a full-English breakfast. Our favorite was the avocado toast (1,770 HUF) washed down with banana-spinach-basil-matcha smoothie.
Tip: avocado toast (1,770 HUF)
Why it’s special: stylish interior, old-time atmosphere, absurd contemporary cuisine
Price category: middle
13/20
Sarki Fűszeres
We are surely not the only ones who would love to move to Budapest’s Pozsonyi Road, and some of us definitely started thinking about it at Sarki Fűszeres. As it also operates as a 36-square-meter premium-quality delicatessen, we can also buy the ingredients of our breakfast here. We really enjoy the Bocadillo (a sandwich with tomato sauce and Serrano ham, 1,350 HUF), or a huge sandwich with marinated salmon, cream cheese, remoulade and chips. Breakfast can be ordered all day, so if we fancy ham & eggs for dinner, here they make it for us anytime.
Tip: salmon sandwich (2,100 HUF)
Why it’s special: a perfect view to Pozsonyi Road, a delicatessen
Price category: middle
14/20
Smúz
At Smúz – found at Kossuth Square – we can boost our mood with creative light or calorie-rich breakfasts amid the sweet scent of flowers. We tried a vegetable omelet named the Paris Breakfast (1,650 HUF) served with grated cheese and edible flower petals. Furthermore, we tried a diet-friendly course, the New York Breakfast (1,950 HUF), that includes natural yogurt, cereal, and fresh southern fruits. The New York Breakfast comes with cold-pressed orange juice boosted with various fresh vegetables and fruit juices.
Tip: Paris Breakfast (1,650 HUF)
Why it’s special: it is a flower shop and a café in one, which makes it smell lovely
Price category: middle
15/20
Sonkapult
Rumbach Sebestyén Street’s cozy Sonkapult serves several courses during the entire day, and we think that starting the morning here is better than even a wine-fueled evening; furthermore, the selection is wide and innovative. The pastries come from Misi a pék (translation: Misi the Baker), the cheeses are from a manufacturer in Vászoly, the hot chocolates comes from Tibor Szántó, and they only use premium produce as ingredients. The ham-and-cheese plate is excellent, as the paper-thin cold cuts and cheeses come with various spreads. Sonkapult turned us into obsessed pumpkin-seed-cream fans.
Tip: degustation plate (2,500 HUF)
Why it’s special: outstanding expertise, mostly Hungarian high-quality ingredients, super-nice service
Price category: middle The place ceased in the autumn of 2017.
16/20
Baltazár
Baltazár’s building is also home to a boutique hotel, where anyone can pop in for breakfast – not only hotel guests. Before this makes you think of the busy breakfast salons of hotels, we must say that stepping inside Baltazár, French chansons, antiquated wooden surfaces, and a pleasantly calm atmosphere welcome visitors. Their after-coffee power breakfast truly boosts our energy. We ordered an eggs Benedict, and a New York bagel menu, but the selection also features omelets and the Croque Madame. Theses dishes can also include a hot drink, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, a basket of bread, two kinds of homemade jam, butter, and water (4,200 HUF). The lighter Frenchy breakfast menu includes a hot drink, two croissants, two kinds of jam, butter, and a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice and water (2,800 HUF). Guests can have breakfast here from the à la carte menu between 7:30am and 10:30am.
Tip: power breakfast (4,200 HUF)
Why it’s special: professional service amid the atmosphere of the Castle District
Price category: high
17/20
Déryné Bistro
This French-style coffeehouse and bistro is a truly beloved breakfast spot in Budapest, and basically all mornings are busy here until they stop serving breakfast meals at 11:30am. Two of their courses are considered legendary; perhaps Déryné was even the first place in Hungary to serve eggs Benedict before it became popular. They are also proud of their full-English breakfast, which tastes best boosted with their characteristic homemade sausage.
Tip: English breakfast (2,450 HUF)
Why it’s special: a noble atmosphere
Price category: high
18/20
Émile
We can have a lovely time at Émile anytime during the day. This Buda-side restaurant, café, breakfast place, confectionery, and summer terrace, which belongs to the Gerbeaud House, became an all-time favorite of the hilly side within seconds of opening for business. The interior is eclectic, intermingling new and old design features. A breakfast spent here will definitely became a cherished memory, and we recommend it for special occasions; it is best to come here with someone special. The Hungarian breakfast (2,850 HUF) includes Mangalica ham and beef salami with spreads. We can order eggs in any possible forms, and with requested toppings.
Tip: Hungarian Breakfast (2,850 HUF)
Why it’s special: lovely atmosphere, high-quality service
Price category: high
19/20
New York Café
New York Café has been chosen as one of the most beautiful cafés in the world many times before, and it used to be a favored hangout among famous writers and journalists as well. Today, mostly Budapest tourists frequent this breathtaking coffeehouse. Stepping in feels like being in a set scene, and we need a few minutes to settle into this elegant eatery. There are not enough words to describe New York Café, but everyone has to come here once in their lifetime for a coffee or for breakfast. Upon our visit we focused on sweets, and ordered a pancake with maple syrup and crème fraische, and devoured it amid an exclusive atmosphere and piano music.
Tip: pancake (2,700 HUF)
Why it’s special: an architecturally significant historic edifice
Price category: high
20/20
Villa Bagatelle
Németvölgyi Road’s Villa Bagatelle is best in the spring and summer season, as we can devour the delicious breakfasts sitting on the terrace. During the winter, we can also cozy up inside, and bear in mind that they serve breakfast all day. This café is the place where we can take our mom, a friend, or grandma for a special meal. The menu features French toast, and a champagne breakfast as well, and we have never been disappointed here before.
Tip: brunch (2,990 HUF)
Why it’s special: it feels like being in a dollhouse, the service is very friendly
Price category: high
