As László Mesterházy, Head of FLAVA Kitchen & More Hospitality & Guest Experience, points out, 'brunch has become more than just a meal: it is a centre for socialising, relaxation and gastronomic experiences.' With this in mind, this spring, we toured the Hungarian capital to bring you the best breakfast places of the season. Have a quiche and a croissant in French style, indulge in Italian flavours with pistachio and truffle, try premium sandwiches, enjoy the Danube panorama from a cosy terrace, or sample treats from an unlimited buffet table while a live DJ plays refreshing breakfast beats.
VAJ Sas
A bakery, a café, and a breakfast place in one, VAJ has become one of Budapest’s staple brunch spots. Focusing on their namesake ingredient, butter (“vaj” in Hungarian), VAJ now has three locations across the city, serving heavenly pastries. This time, we picked their venue in Sas utca, near Deák tér, and their latest specialty, sourdough sandwiches. The breakfast menu currently has eight different sandwiches – served until late afternoon. You can taste home-made kimchi and cheese toast, truffle & mushroom toast, or pizza-style ones with tomato sauce. Each toast comes with a side salad with mustard vinaigrette. For an “egg breakfast”, we recommend the gigantic fried egg and porchetta bagel, a croissant filled with fresh San Daniele ham and egg, or the boiled egg and Hollandaise sauce sandwich with mangalica ham as an extra topping. The freshly baked sweet pastry selection at VAJ is just the icing on the cake with classic cocoa rolls, cardamom buns, and more. Complete this blast of flavours with the spot’s specialty coffees and teas, or sip on homemade lemonades, juices, and kombucha. VAJ Sas is open every day from 7:00 to 20:00.
Details here.
L'Amande Boulangerie
No wonder L’Amande Boulangerie is called 'mini Paris', as its atmosphere is just like that of a chic French café. Located on the 3rd floor of Mammut II, a shopping centre near Millenáris on the Buda side, L’Amande is not just a café, but a pastry shop, a bakery, and a breakfast spot, too. Not surprisingly, their brunch menu is dominated by French flavours. For breakfast, you can pick a salmon and spinach or a ricotta and spinach quiche, served with a fresh salad, or a selection of freshly baked tarts and sandwich specialities. For those with a sweet tooth, L’Amande’s selection of crunchy French pastries is a must-try. Whether you order a savoury or sweet breakfast, wash it off with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice or a cup of Vergnano coffee. It’s a premium Italian coffee brand, one of the oldest and most well-known in Italy. If it’s good enough for the Italians, we can surely put it to the test, too. And for those popping in L'Amande for an afternoon bite, make sure to sample the endless selection of pastries with a glass of fine French wine, a Mionetto prosecco, or a home-made lemonade.
Details here.
Cziniel Confectionery
As we covered in December, Cziniel Confectionery underwent a major renovation at the end of 2024. Since then, the restaurant near the riverside Római-part has been welcoming guests with a redesigned interior and an expanded breakfast menu. While their huge counter is still full of delicious sweets and cakes, the revamped Cziniel is no longer just a pastry shop, but a cosy meeting place. With tables for two to eight people, they cater to the needs of couples, families, and business partners alike. The atmosphere is modern, bright, and welcoming, and the kids’ corner will quickly become a guest favourite, too. Plus, Cziniel’s menu has also been reimagined with a new brunch menu with hearty salads. In addition to over 100 different types of pastries and long-popular classic breakfasts, you can now order various egg dishes from scrambled eggs to their Eggs Benedict selection, along with stuffed French toast, or a Caesar salad. The breakfast menu is available until 13:30 every day. And Cziniel is soon to open a new unit in Budakeszi.
Details here.
AGOS Budapest - Kimpton BEM Budapest
AGOS Budapest is the in-house restaurant of the Kimpton BEM Budapest hotel, a true gem in the Hungarian capital’s gastro scene. This eatery combines the richness of Hungarian tradition and the lightness of Mediterranean cuisine to create something unique for every occasion. For this spring, AGOS has prepared the Bottomless Brunch & Beats event, which you can enjoy every Saturday from 12:00 to 16:00. So what makes it bottomless? Brunch at AGOS means an unlimited Mediterranean buffet packed with brunch favourites created by Executive Chef Attila Fehér. The morning feast includes endless bubbly featuring Kreinbacher champagne, plus coffee, water, and lemonade to keep you refreshed. Additionally, you can expect groovy beats from AGOS’s live DJs, guaranteed to keep the good vibes. Brunch costs 19,990 HUF with the service fees charged separately. The price also includes free parking, which around Bem József tér is a big plus. And what’s more, at AGOS you’ll feel like you’re in an enchanted place. The interiors are a tribute to the work of star designer Marcel Wanders, who uniquely reworked elements from the saga of the magic stag, a central figure in Hungarian folklore.
Details here.
KicsiZso
Nestled a few minutes’ walk from the Buda side of Margaret Bridge, KicsiZso has been one of Budapest’s top breakfast spots for the past ten years. The eatery’s name is a reference to Zsolt Horváth, the founder-owner, who goes by the nickname “Zso”. He reinterprets the phrase “don't play with food” by livening up the brunch menu with new and varied combinations every once in a while. Whether you’re up for a relaxing and long weekend breakfast feast or a quick morning bite to start a busy weekday, you're surely in for a treat here. Especially that KicsiZso’s brunch dishes are available all day long. One of the signature dishes is the smoke-roasted duck liver with brioche, topped with raspberry-onion jam and forest fruit sauce. It’s certainly the “best KicsiZso breakfast since 2015”. Alternatively, you can ask for a variety of egg dishes from scrambled eggs and fried eggs to soft-boiled eggs and poached eggs. Plus, they’ve taken sandwiches to the next level, so it’s worth browsing the menu. And since last year, KicsiZso has expanded and revamped its interior, so you can be sure you’ll be comfortable with all your friends here.
Details here.
Tartufo Brunch & Bistro
If you feel like venturing beyond the classic brunch dishes and wandering to the culinary map of sunny Italy, Tartufo Brunch & Bistro is the real deal. Located in the 2nd district of Budapest, just a few steps away from Kolosy tér, breakfasts at Tartufo are served in true Italian fashion. As the name suggests, the brunch menu is dominated by delicacies such as burrata, truffles, and pistachios, using authentic and premium Italian ingredients. You can taste Eggs Benedict with truffles or pistachios, or munch on premium sandwiches. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, try the famous pistachio-salted caramel tiramisu and pistachio rolls dipped in white chocolate. The most adventurous foodies can even try the pistachio-truffle-white chocolate waffles. With flavour combinations like these, it’s no surprise that Tartufo has won the 2024 Nők Lapja (Women’s Journal) TRAVEL AWARDS Best Breakfast and Brunch Venue of the Year. Whether it’s brunch with friends or family, Tartufo offers a memorable experience for all ages.
Details here.
Flava Cafe & Brunch
One of the newest breakfast spots on the brunch plate in Budapest is Flava Cafe & Brunch, located at the corner of Szabadság tér and Október 6 utca. The place debuted in March as a new service of the Michelin-recommended Flava Kitchen & More restaurant. The new brunch menu, created by the kitchen team led by Executive Chef Imre Varjú, features fresh and exciting ingredients every day between 11:00 and 16:00. It includes a variety of savoury and sweet dishes (also in vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free versions), featuring popular brunch dishes, like the acai bowl and American pancakes, and real FLAVA-style delicacies. An absolute signature dish is the Bun’n’Roll (there’s a whole selection of these generously packed sandwich creations), but you can also try the Karage chicken waffles or the banana bread French toast. Wash it all down with fresh smoothies, juices, and matcha specialties. And if you’re in for a later meal, rest assured that the place returns to classic Flava flavours from 17:00, blending North African, Latin American, and Middle Eastern specialties with traditional dishes.
Details here.
FELIX Kitchen & Bar
Featuring contemporary Hungarian and international cuisine, FELIX Kitchen & Bar is yet another top brunch spot in Budapest. Located near the majestic Várkert Bazaar on the side of the Castle Hill by the foot of the Royal Palace, FELIX is a place where flavours and a unique atmosphere meet to create an unforgettable gastronomic blast. Brunch here is more than just a meal, it’s a way of life for those who enjoy spending the weekend in style. On Saturdays and Sundays from11:30 to 16:00, you can enjoy an acai bowl (with blackcurrant and raspberry) or a quinoa bowl (with spicy salmon, Hoisin tofu, or Cajun chicken), avocado toast with the ‘perfect egg’ and pomegranate, Eggs Benedict, or even Wellington steak with mashed potatoes, roasted broccolini, and jus. And, if you fancy, you can top off your meal with toast. Raise your glasses to champagne on a sunny Saturday afternoon or freshly squeezed juice on a lazy Sunday morning. No matter which one you choose, the Danube panorama from one of the city's most exquisite terraces and pleasant music are guaranteed at FELIX.
Details here.
(Cover: Flava Cafe & Brunch)
