Afternoon tea is a traditional British meal, typically served between 3 pm and 5 pm. It originated in the early 19th century as a light meal to bridge the gap between lunch and the later evening dinner, also serving as a social event. The meal features a set of finger sandwiches, golden scones with clotted cream and jam, and tiny cakes and pastries coupled with tea and champagne.
MÚZSA, Gresham Palace
Gresham Palace, a stunning Art Nouveau masterpiece, has stood proudly by the Danube since 1906. Today, it's home to the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, as well as the top-notch brasserie KOLLÁZS and the brilliant cocktail bar MÚZSA (Muse). It's a must-visit for architecture lovers (you're welcome to pop in anytime) and anyone with a sweet tooth. Because in the striking atrium, you can indulge in afternoon tea served on high-end Herend porcelain – the same Royal Garden set used at Buckingham Palace. Book a table, and you'll be treated to a three-tiered stand brimming with finger sandwiches, in-house cakes, and scones. Trust us, this is the closest you'll get to a London-style afternoon tea in Budapest. The festive version features turkey ham, crab, and foie gras sandwiches, sweets like stollen, chestnut Mont Blanc, mini Bundt cake, and mini Gresham Bûche de Noël. And of course, scones to be topped with Devonshire clotted cream, red currant jam, or tangerine curd.
Afternoon tea is typically available on weekends, but during the festive season, the schedule is as follows: from 1–22 December, it's offered Thursday to Sunday; from 22–30 December, it's available every day; and on 1 January, from 3 pm to 6 pm. The price is 19,900 HUF per person (plus champagne). Details here.
Párisi Passage Café & Restaurant, Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest
Párisi Udvar is yet another architectural gem in Budapest near Elizabeth Bridge. Step inside, and you'll find yourself gazing upwards – and snapping photos at its lavish interiors. Elegance meets a blend of eclectic, Arabic, Moorish, and Gothic influences, creating the perfect backdrop for quite a special afternoon tea. Served in the café in the passageway, the experience is available every day from noon to 5 pm. For an extra treat, book a slot at 3 or 6 pm to enjoy live music as well. The menu adds a Hungarian twist to the classics: instead of traditional British scones, you'll find savoury bites like cheese scone twist, savoury scones, and sandwiches topped with foie gras pâté or smoked salmon. Currently, the festive menu features seasonal treats such as scone crescent with plum cream, Rigó Jancsi chocolate cake, gingerbread cookies, and orange chocolate puff biscuits. And if you wish to elevate the indulgence, a glass of champagne is just the thing.
The festive menu runs until 6 January and is served between 2 and 5 pm, priced at 24,900 HUF for two people (plus 10,000 HUF for two glasses of champagne). After 6 January, the afternoon tea returns to its original format. Details here.
The Living Room, Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
Just steps away from Budapest's bustling Christmas markets, The Living Room café at the Kempinski Hotel offers a peaceful retreat. Here, the lively city buzz melts into a cosy, sophisticated atmosphere. Picture the charm of an old Budapest coffee house mixed with the comfort of a modern living room: a fire crackles in the fireplace, books line the shelves, and you'll find yourself sinking into one of their plush sofas. For this experience, we swapped the usual tea for hot chocolate – a choice we'd highly recommend to fellow chocolate lovers. Made with Valrhona chocolate, the drink is smooth and rich, and you can even top it with whipped cream. It pairs beautifully with Christmassy Hungarian treats like almond vanilla kipferl, chestnut barret, Gerbeaud Noel, and cranberry gingerbread sphere. But there's more! The pretty ceramic trays are loaded with four types of dainty sandwiches, including pumpkin and goat cheese, turkey ham with orange glaze, and the classic smoked salmon. The standout, though, was the foie gras terrine, decadently spread on brioche and crowned with quince chutney and Port wine jelly.
The festive afternoon tea is available daily from 1 pm to 7 pm, priced at 11,900 HUF per person, or 16,900 HUF with a glass of champagne. General info here (bear in mind that now a festive menu is on offer).
(Cover photo: Dániel Molnár - Párisi Passage Restaurant)
