The flaky strudels in Budapest are made as if by the incantation of wizards from J.K. Rowling’s books, the macarons could easily make Kate Armstrong, who knows the “Taste of Life,” fall in love, and the glazed donuts would, in all likelihood, be dreamed of by the famous glazed ring enthusiast Homer Simpson. We present ten awesome Budapest confectioneries that can easily stand alongside the city’s most iconic landmarks.
The Box Donut
Address: Terez krt. 62
Caramel with popcorn, chili with chocolate, mint cream with marzipan, Nutella with powdered sugar, and 55 more completely different flavor combinations – even the donut hegemon of our world, Dunkin’ Donuts, can’t always boast such variety. The main distinguishing feature of “The Box Donut” donuts is their square shape. One donut from the “regular” menu costs €1.4, and a large cup of tea will set you back €1.6.
First Strudel House of Pest
Address: Oktober 6, u.22
Anyone fascinated by English lords simply hasn’t yet encountered the manners of Hungarian waiters at the “first strudel house of Pest.” And a person who considers a “Bounty” bar a heavenly delight hasn’t eaten Budapest’s signature rolls made of the thinnest pastry and a filling that melts in your mouth. You’ll wait about 5-7 minutes for your strudel, but in this establishment, the anticipation is like a drumroll. Cheese with raisins, raspberry, and cherry strudels are the “Holy Trinity” for a perfect breakfast! One small roll costs €1.28. For comparison, you can buy strudel for half the price at the Central Market, but the taste, of course, will be completely different. By the way, the “First Strudel House” has a fairly large menu – besides desserts, there are soups, goulash, and steaks.
Szamos Marzipan Confecioner’s
Address: Parisi Utca 3
Hungary doesn’t claim to be the birthplace of marzipan by chance, and the Szamos Marzipan café is clear proof of that. This is a true Budapest brand deserving special attention. The cafeteria has only a few tables. Besides marzipan itself (candies, marzipan cakes, and various figures), I recommend trying traditional Hungarian desserts – Dobos and Esterházy. They are very delicious at Szamos Marzipan Confecioner’s. Incidentally, there are several establishments of this chain in Budapest, but you should go specifically to the one at Parisi Utca 3.
Sugar!
Address: Paulay Ede u. 48
The shop-café’s interior creates the impression that you’ve stumbled into a birthday party for Pinkie Pie the pony or Rainbow Dash – everything around is so joyful and pink. The confectionery is genuinely proud of its cakes. And for good reason: they are considered, without exaggeration, the best in Budapest. On the second floor, there are about 10 tables where you can try the perfect dessert in a calm atmosphere.
Cinq Files Budapest
Address: Paulay Ede u. 44
“Five Girls” – French chic in the Hungarian capital. This is eternal spring with the scent of caramel and the taste of candied violet petals. Rumor has it that Empress Sisi also loved these crystallized violets – a fact that has elevated candied violet petals to one of the most popular and expensive souvenirs from Budapest.
At Cinq Files, everything is perfect: from the taste of the smallest candy to the packaging boxes. It’s nice that almost all the sweets here can be sampled before purchase.
Chez Dodo
Address: Sas utca 7
This confectionery has no secrets from you: if you take the time to stand by the window, you can watch the confectioners in perfectly white blouses preparing their signature macarons and arranging them in boxes. Here you’ll be offered over 20 different flavor combinations of this dessert, the result of the establishment’s numerous experiments. There’s spicy vanilla with orange, hazelnut with truffle, dark chocolate with whiskey and bacon, and Gorgonzola cheese with jelly. In short, give it a try!
Gerbeaud
Address: Vorosmarty ter 7-8
The history of the “Gerbeaud” café on Vörösmarty Square dates back to 1870. Over this period, its owners, appearance, and even menu have changed. The internal chic of the establishment has remained constant. At one time, prices at Gerbeaud were so high that not everyone could afford a cup of coffee or a shot of liqueur there. Now the situation has changed. The café’s interior still preserves the spirit of the 19th century, but everyone can try the signature cherry in cognac. Visiting establishments of such an aristocratic appearance might seem intimidating for most budget travelers. But don’t worry – “Gerbeaud” is genuinely happy to welcome absolutely everyone.
Mr.Funk
Address: Oktober 6
After death, Homer Simpson would have dreamed of ending up in Mr.Funk. This is exactly what paradise looks like for those with a sweet tooth and donut lovers. They have a special approach to donuts here: they are decorated with Kinder eggs, they feature the faces of unicorns and pandas, and really, there’s nothing they don’t do. In short, an Instagrammer’s dream. Be sure to order a “Shakeok” here – it’s a combination of cocktails and donuts. A half-liter, resembling a beer glass filled with a milkshake, topped with a handful of various sweets, is covered with a donut and has a straw inserted in the center. This is true donut madness!
Stuhmer
Address: Stühmer Frigyes u. 1
Stop by this establishment even if not just for the Stuhmer chocolate itself – you can buy that in any Budapest supermarket. But the shop’s decor, the staff’s approach to guests, and the coziness – in general, it’s worth a visit. A small round table by the large window, past which classic Budapest yellow trams run every five minutes, can easily accommodate a family or a group of three. We recommend trying a bar of chocolate with plum filling or caramel here, but be careful – it will be quite difficult to stop. By the way, the Stuhmer shop is the perfect place for buying souvenirs from Budapest.
Molnar’s Kurtoskalacs
Address: Váci utca 31
Trdelník, Baumkuchen, Kürtőskalács, Šakotis – four derivatives of one classic baked good for a number of Central European countries. A wooden or metal spit is wrapped in a thin layer of dough and then placed in an oven. The pastry is topped with nuts, powdered sugar, glaze, or chocolate. The best kürtőskalács is served at Molnar’s. It will cost €2.89. For an extra charge, they will fill the cylindrical pastry with Italian ice cream for you.
Photos – official Instagram pages of the establishments
