Művház Kávézó
Bartók Béla út is an artsy hub, lined with galleries and coffee shops – or cafés that are also galleries. Művház is the newest addition to the scene, which also functions as a co-working and community space. Think massive windows, a cosy carpet, packed bookshelves, and a giant communal table - ideal for group projects or soaking in the creative buzz. Gastronomy and culture go hand in hand here: sip on specialty coffee while tapping away on your laptop, and don't miss their pinsa (Roman-style pizza) either.
- Tip: pinsa + Zhao Zhou tea
- 1114 Budapest, Bartók Béla út 33.
SPACE by fekete
One of our favourite coffee spots, fekete, just leveled up – expanding both its space and service with a brand-new community and co-working hub. Tucked near Astoria, it's the perfect weekday work or study spot, doubling as a go-to brunch haven on weekends. Either way, you're in for a creative recharge, surrounded by contemporary art. Throw in a specialty coffee and a slice of cake – or even a proper brekkie –, and you've got the recipe for a productive day.
- Tip: avocado toast + filter coffee
- 1053 Budapest, Múzeum körút 5.
Madal
Madal is yet another specialty coffee gem – only this one's got four locations across the city. So wherever you are in downtown Budapest, chances are you'll stumble upon one. Each spot has its own vibe, but they're all great for some laptop time. The one near Parliament is spacious, flooded with natural light, and boasting stunning views (not to mention vegan pasta). The Margaret Bridge (Pest side) café? It's got a co-working space downstairs, where the wifi is fast but reception is non-existent, making it easier to focus on your work and not phone calls. And if you’re in the mood to explore, the Ferenciek tere and Király utca spots are well worth a visit too
- Tip: cheesecake + matcha latte
- Multiple locations
Magvető Café
Tucked away in the Jewish Quarter, Magvető Café is a true literary gem. Here you're surrounded by books and laidback vibes: whether you’re curled up in a window nook or perched on the stairs, it’s the perfect spot to settle in and get stuff done. Fuel up on coffee, sandwiches, quiche, and cake while you work. And though it’s technically on the edge of the party district, you wouldn’t know it inside – it’s all about calm, creativity, and getting lost in your own little world.
- Tip: slice of cake + espresso
- 1074 Budapest, Dohány utca 13.
Műhely Egyetem Café / H6TNY8LC
If there were a contest for the coolest university café, Műhely Egyetem Café on Múzeum körút and its more relaxed student space, H6TNY8LC, would clearly be crowned. The hip café at ELTE's Faculty of Humanities is a favourite among many students. Its delicacies and cosy interior ensure that it's always packed, from students to teachers and office workers from outside the university popping in for the daily menu. However, during finals, it quietens down and H6TNY8LC becomes a veritable study lounge. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and a revitalising dessert and coffee are guaranteed here. Free power sockets and cosy, chill-out corners also await. And for ELTE students, wifi is provided too.
- Tip: best chicken sandwich + Club Mate
- 1088 Budapest, Múzeum körút 4/a (the big green door on the right)
Dorado Café
Rumour has it that Dorado is a favourite haunt of artists in Budapest. And university students can also fall under this category, even if they are not yet famous. The café features a long table, which is also laptop-friendly (except on weekends, which are for relaxing!), where you can fiddle with an assignment on a tight deadline. Or jot down notes for an oral exam, while the vibe of the whole place and the people around you convey that everyone here is doing something very important. You can book your place here from 8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, which, if you don't want to go overboard, is just enough time in a day to study.
- Tip: Basque cheesecake + kombucha
- 1072 Budapest, Klauzál utca 35.
Massolit Books & Café
The tiny bookshop and café is a colourful addition to Pest's Jewish Quarter, taking its name from the hangout spot for writers in Mikhail Bulgakov's famous Russian novel The Master and Margarita (Cyrillic transliteration: МАССОЛИТ). Massolit is nice and quiet, especially if you take a table in the back, where you can best focus and soak up all the knowledge. The only concern here is staring at the bookshelf and being tempted by a good read. Plus, the energy of foreign language books can easily lead to hallucinations of Lenin's admonitions, popular in the socialist era: Uchitsya, uchitsya, uchitsya... (in Cyrillic: учиться, учиться, учиться, meaning: 'Study, study, study!').
- Tip: homemade cookie + Jasmine tea
- 1072 Budapest, Nagy Diófa utca 30.
Kollab
Studying in a mall – who does that? Kollab is tucked away in Mammut shopping centre, and functions as a café, coworking space, cultural hub, and relaxation area. The current audience determines its function. Don't be alarmed, because it is fully detached from the mall, and it feels like time travel (which does not mean that time passes more slowly), as its whole design transports you to a futuristic realm. In addition, Kollab's theme changes each month, with a different host(s) determining the design, giving the whole project an experimental feel. Hanging out here can be a really exciting learning experience, and if you're lucky, you might even catch a workshop, panel, or film screening.
- Tip: any baked goods from nor/ma + cortado
- 1024 Budapest, Lövőház utca 2–6. (Mammut I, 3rd floor)
Három Holló
Let's return to the Pest side, next to the Danube, to the white bridge. The golden sign of Három Holló catches your eye as you cross the Elisabeth Bridge into the city, and it's clear from the outside that this is a modern copy of a real café from a bygone era. In addition, the ornate bourgeois surroundings of the place, also known as Drei Raben, speak for themselves. Even world-famous Hungarian authors such as Endre Ady, Gyula Krúdy, or Dezső Kosztolányi would have liked this place. University students come here feeling that this is the perfect place to study. You may be caught up in the streetscape through the giant windows, but moments of drift can sometimes be inspiring.
- Tip: panini + espresso
- 1052 Budapest, Piarista köz 1.
Szabó Ervin Library
The ultimate work-and-study haven is the Szabó Ervin Library, right at the gateway to the Palace Quarter in District VIII. Housed in the stunning Neo-Baroque Wenckheim Palace, it's as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the mind. How many people can say they wrapped up their thesis or nailed a marketing plan inside an architectural masterpiece? Watch out though, it's also a go-to spot for students, professors, and academics, so be sure to grab a seat early! A year’s membership costs just HUF 400 – meaning you can sink into cosy armchairs and get lost in grand historical halls for less than the price of a coffee.
- 1081 Budapest, Szabó Ervin tér 1.
(Cover photo: Márton Koncz - We Love Budapest)
