
Café Gerbeaud
A grand, historic coffeehouse since 1858, offering decadent pastries and an opulent atmosphere that transports you to another era.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Café Gerbeaud

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A grand, historic coffeehouse since 1858, offering decadent pastries and an opulent atmosphere that transports you to another era.
"Experience Budapest's rich history with exquisite cakes and a truly regal ambiance."
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit in the morning to avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed experience.
Consider Takeaway
Pastries are excellent, but dining in can be expensive; takeaway offers a more budget-friendly option.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Cafe, Hungarian
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

A Taste of History
Step back in time at one of Europe's oldest coffeehouses, established in 1858, with opulent decor and a rich legacy.

Iconic Pastries
Indulge in legendary cakes like the Gerbeaud slice, a decadent mix of walnut, apricot jam, and chocolate.

Elegant Ambiance
Experience a regal atmosphere with gilded stucco, chandeliers, and marble, perfect for a sophisticated treat.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit in the morning to avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed experience.
Consider Takeaway
Pastries are excellent, but dining in can be expensive; takeaway offers a more budget-friendly option.
Try Local Specialties
Beyond pastries, explore Hungarian dishes for a diverse culinary experience.
Check for Pricing
Be aware that dine-in prices are significantly higher than takeaway prices.
Tips
from all over the internet
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit in the morning to avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed experience.
Consider Takeaway
Pastries are excellent, but dining in can be expensive; takeaway offers a more budget-friendly option.
Try Local Specialties
Beyond pastries, explore Hungarian dishes for a diverse culinary experience.
Check for Pricing
Be aware that dine-in prices are significantly higher than takeaway prices.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Café Gerbeaud is celebrated for its stunning historical ambiance and exquisite pastries, transporting guests to a bygone era. While many praise the decadent cakes and elegant setting, some reviewers note that the dine-in experience comes with a significantly higher price point compared to takeaway options. Service is generally professional, though some advise caution regarding allergy awareness and potential service charges.
"a beautiful historical cafe in Budapest. my tour guide said that this cafe has the best ice cream in Budapest (and she claimed that she was an ice cream connoisseur); and the ice cream didn’t disappoint! the coffee is also pretty good! they also have a piano performance on the weekend. would strongly recommend this place!"
Linh Nguyen
"I was here over 10 years ago and returned. It is still an iconic place in Budapest. I noticed there were way less people dining here than before. I noticed they have a takeout price versus a dine in price for their pastries.
A stunning interior."
Melanie E
"Went there to have our coffee & cake
The place was so posh & elegant , old classic design .
We ordered 6 different cakes to share and there were all delicious & made with lovely design & full of taste
They have a variety of gluten free & vegan cakes which you hardly find anywhere
Toilets are downstairs / underground
Staff was not aware of allergy so u need to be careful as I asked her for gluten free cake & she said ( yes it’s vegan ) and when I explained vegan means without animal products while gluten free means without wheat or flour she got upset and kept saying ( yes they are vegan ) 🙄🫤
They need more education & awareness of such allergies"
S Hasan
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Cafe Gerbeaud is famous for its rich history dating back to 1858, its opulent Belle Époque decor, and its exquisite pastries, especially the signature Gerbeaud slice.
Yes, the cafe offers a variety of gluten-free and vegan cakes, though it's always wise to confirm with staff regarding specific ingredients.
Dine-in prices are considerably higher than takeaway. Reviewers mention that pastries and drinks can be quite pricey when consumed on-site.
To avoid the crowds and enjoy a more relaxed experience, it's recommended to visit early in the morning.
The Gerbeaud slice is a signature cake featuring layers of walnut, apricot jam, and chocolate, invented by Emil Gerbeaud.
Getting a table can be difficult during peak hours. Arriving early or opting for takeaway are good strategies.
Yes, the cafe also serves Hungarian and international dishes, making it a spot for a full meal as well as sweet treats.
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One of Budapest’s best known and most ornately decorated coffeehouses—as well as one of Europe’s oldest—Café Gerbeaud has been satisfying the city’s sweets cravings since it opened in 1858. The decor in the cafe’s various rooms is pure decadence, with chandeliers, stucco, original exotic-wood panelling, and antique furniture; the traditional cake selection comes with slices of the café’s three most iconic cakes, including the both the Esterházy cake (buttercream and cognac) and the Gerbeaud, a cake layered with ground walnuts and apricot jam invented by Emil Gerbeaud, a Swiss national who took over the patisserie in the 1880.
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One of Budapest’s best-known cafés, there’s 150 years of history sitting alongside the cakes in this rose-tinted building. Established in 1858 as a coffee house, it was then sold in the 1880s to Swiss patissier Emile Gerbeaud, who filled it with Parisian crèmes and cognac cherry bonbons. The café still features Gerbeaud’s favourite flavours – walnut, apricot and chocolate – in their selection of sugary concoctions, and the interior’s chandeliers, creamy wallpaper and pink-veined marble floors have not changed since 1910 either.
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This cafe and confectionery on Vörösmarty tér opened in 1870 and soon reeled in an esteemed list of guests, from composer Franz Liszt to Austro-Hungarian Empress Elisabeth, more affectionately known as Sisi. Dripping with crystal chandeliers in its opulent damask-draped salons, Gerbeaud captures the aristocratic feel of a former world. It’s not as dramatic as the New York Café – instead, it has a more regal, intimate atmosphere where you can slip into a mahogany chair with a decadent slice of cake.
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Anchoring the main square of Vörösmarty tér, the venerable Gerbeaud is synonymous with the apricot-walnut-and-chocolate slice, invented here by the Swiss master confectioner of the same name. Why we love it: What was the point of the Habsburgs if not to spoil us with their creamy treats a century or more later?. Their empire may have crumbled but their cakes still hold firm, to be devoured with delicate little forks on exquisite china in gilded institutions such as these.
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The latter is a creation of the café of the same name, Café Gerbeaud, a historic, elegant and cozy place in the city center.
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Founded in 1858, Café Gerbeaud is an institution in the Hungarian capital and one of its oldest cafés. The café has kept its early twentieth century atmosphere, a time when poets and writers spent their day amid the unique decor : ceiling stucco in the Rococo style of Louis XIV, chandeliers inspired by Maria Theresa of Austria, bronzes and marbles.This is one of the best places to eat, indoors or on the terrace, where you can discover Hungarian pastries such as Gerbeaud cakes, Dobos, the wonderful apricot cake with peanut butter and chocolate biscuits (in Hungarian: ‘Sós mogyoró-barack’ szelet).
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A layered rectangular confection of ground walnuts and apricot jam topped with chocolate called the Gerbeaud slice is almost as venerated as the vast Neoclassical building with Art Nouveau details that stretches across one whole side of Vörösmarty Square. The interior is grand and sprawling as it was gradually and irregularly expanded. Its splendor and size is breathtaking as is the grand decor of the dining room with an original Gustave Moreau painting The Red Parlour hung on brocade wall coverings, flanked by wood panels, pink veined marble floors, gilt furnishings and ornate chandeliers.
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Located on relandscaped Vörösmarty tér, the Gerbeaud café and cake shop has more than 150 years of tradition behind it, making it one of the oldest, best-known and most prominent coffeehouses in Central Europe. The interior is decorated with gilded stucco, wood panelling, impressive chandeliers and marble counters – sampling coffee and dessert here makes you feel like a royalty. Gerbeaud was opened in 1858 by Henrik Kugler, but was made world-famous by Swiss confectioner, Emil Gerbeaud, who bought and refurbished the building in 1898.
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If you fancy someplace really elegant with a century-old interior in the heart of the city, come to Gerbeaud!. It is not just the mouthwatering cakes that you will cherish in your memories for a long time but also the aesthetic experience the pastry shop provides. It was established in the middle of the 19th century by Henrik Kugler, a confectioner who had travelled the world prior to opening his confectionery so we could concieve the recipes of his well-known creations such as the famous Hungarian gerbeaud cake.
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This cafe is about as classic as you can get when it comes to enjoying Budapest’s cafe culture. One of the most renowned old coffeehouses, Gerbeaud dates back to 1858, and visiting it will give you a taste of old-world elegance. Although the interior of the confectionery is certainly a beautiful blast from the past, in warmer months, you have the chance to sit in Vörösmárty Tér and enjoy a classic Hungarian cake (we recommend Dobos torta or Eszterházy) in the sun!
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Gerbeaud is a historic pastry shop and café in Budapest's downtown. It was the Swiss-Hungarian patissier Emil Gerbeaud, who, after taking over the business in 1884, revolutionized the Hungarian confectionery industry with inventive sweets and pastries. Today, Gerbeaud is mainly a pricey tourist attraction, but it still puts out delicious traditional Austro-Hungarian pastries, such as Dobos, Esterházy, and Sacher tortes, krémes, and the namesake Gerbeaud cake.
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Budapest’s central Gerbeaud is a historic pastry bakery and café housed in a shining white structure elaborately embellished with crystal chandeliers, marble-topped tables, and cherrywood paneling. After taking over the company in 1884, Swiss-Hungarian patissier Emil Gerbeaud transformed the Hungarian confectionery market with his creative pastries and sweets. Budapest’s elite has long frequented Café Gerbeaud as a place to see and be seen.
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One of the most traditional coffee houses in Budapest, is Café Gerbeaud. The best word to describe the cafe is ‘grand’ with chandeliers, polished timber and a beautiful space. I had read that the dine-in price is expensive but the display cabinet does advertise ‘Our sliced cakes from the counter have 50% discount to take away.’ Luckily we had a fridge in our apartment, so I could try a few to go.
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Café Gerbeaud, established in 1858 on the bustling Vörösmarty Square, remains a pinnacle of Hungarian confectionery with its renowned Dobos Torte. This iconic dessert, conceived by Émile Gerbeaud, showcases the café’s historical significance. Layers of meticulously baked sponge, enveloped in rich chocolate buttercream and crowned with a glossy caramel layer, make every slice an artistic marvel.
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With chandeliers on the ceiling, gilded stucco on the walls and marble counters and floors, café-cum-confectioner Café Gerbeaud is definitely no Starbucks. In fact, having opened in 1858, it ranks among the oldest classic cafes in Budapest. There’s nowhere better to sit back with a decadent glass of Hungarian sparkling wine and cream-filled delicacy and pretend to be a Hapsburg monarch.
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This opulent café located in Vörösmarty tér was opened by Henrik Kugler in 1858, and was later taken over by Emil Gerbeaud. This place – which combines all the advantages of a confectionery and a café – operated under the name Vörösmarty from 1948 to 1984, but has now been given the name Gerbeaud back, and represents Hungarian café culture on many prestigious international top lists.
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When the summer sunshine bathes Budapest in its warm glow, locals head for Gerbeaud’s one of the city’s greatest coffee houses, where the sweet aroma of fresh-baked waffle cones drifts across the main square. These home-made cones are crispy and tasty. Gerbeaud’s ice cream is made fresh daily using only the best ingredients, like Valrhona cocoa, Ceylon cinnamon and Bourbon vanilla.
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In the heart of Buda, in Vörösmarty Tèr, there is one of the most beautiful and ancient coffee-pastry shops in the city, the Café Gerbeaud, located in a splendid building overlooking the square. The company was founded in 1858 by Henrik Kugler and the restaurant was opened in 1870. The interior consists of several large and elegant rooms, which create an atmosphere of other times.
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Founded in 1858 during the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Café Gerbeaud is a tribute to the elegant Viennese style of the late 19th century. Marbled floors, rich wood panels, gilded plasters and ornate chandeliers showcase the splendor of an era long gone. While this is an experience in and of itself, the pastries, confections, desserts and delicate breads are second to none.
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Cafe Gerbeaud is one of the most famous coffee houses in Budapest. It’s glamorous, classy, and they do the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had after Angelina’s in Paris. I had a cheesecake and hot chocolate, the cheesecake was the perfect size; not too big and not too small, and it was lovely and creamy and the perfect combination of fruit and dairy!
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If you want to enjoy a classic cake in decadent surroundings, you can't beat the Gerbeaud Cafe on Vörösmarty tér. Velvet drapes, marble tables, and delicious cakes await. Try their Dobos torta, a chocolate cake topped with hard caramel, or the eponymous Gerbeaud slice, a cake made with ground walnuts, apricot jam, shortcrust pastry, and chocolate.
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Gerbeaud In Budapest, everyone comes to Gerbeaud’s, so here’s the straight scoop: Avoid the pastry, go for the salad and the libamaj paté. My friend-in-food Barbara Somlo confirms this assessment (and she must know, they named Somloi Galuska after her). And the house Tokaji wine (made by Janos Arvay, for my money the best of the Tokaj wineries).
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Gerbeaud: Long the centerpiece of Budapest's cafe society, Gerbeaud is more than a sweet shop -- it's a Hungarian cultural institution. Known for its coffee and torte cakes, the cafe has classic high ceilings with crystal chandeliers, polished wood and marble, and thick curtains. Little has changed since it opened 150 years ago.
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Located at Vörösmarty Square (at one end of the pedestrian Vaci street), Café Gerbeaud is one of Budapest’s landmarks. Today the legendary Gerbeaud tries hard to hang on to its old glory. Unfortunately, what was once Budapest’s finest café and the meeting place of the city’s elite, became a very touristy and overpriced café.
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If you are feeling like a little splurge and you’re close to the main attractions, head to Café Gerbeaud for an authentic Hungarian experience. The cafe/restaurant/family name’s history is rooted in well over a century of back story. All you need to know is that it’s a great place to enjoy a dessert, drink, or coffee!
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Das Café Gerbeaud liegt am Vörösmarty-Platz und ist als eines der ältesten Cafés eine Institution der ungarischen Hauptstadt Budapest. Das Café Gerbeaud wurde 1858 gegründet und ist nach dem Konditor Émile Gerbeaud benannt, dessen Talent von Paris bis nach London bekannt war. Das Café hat die Atmosphäre des frühen 20.
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One of Budapest’s oldest and best-known confectionery shops is Gerbeaud, found right in the city center. Set up in 1858, this lovely café gives customers a beautiful range of pastries, cakes and traditional Hungarian desserts. Give the Dobos cake a try; it is made of sponge layers, chocolate buttercream and caramel.
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Budapest’s most famous café is Gerbeaud, another gilded and velvet-swagged extravagance, which dates from 1858. Unfortunately, it’s a tourist trap. The surly waitresses in dreadful costumes are surly because the place is full – full – of tourists wandering round aiming their cameras at the ceiling.
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Cafe Gerbeaud - an institution with roots that go back to 1858, this was the place that revolutionized Hungarian pastries, and the birthplace of the cake to its own name - the Gerbeaud cake, with enticing layers of short crust pastry, apricot jam, walnuts, white rum and coated with dark chocolate.
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Founded in 1858, Café Gerbeaud is one of the oldest and most famous cafés in Budapest. Its elegant interior with crystal chandeliers and old-world charm is like stepping into the golden age of Budapest’s café culture. Located in the heart of Vörösmarty Square it has been a landmark for decades.
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Cafe Gerbeaud is at the Northern end of the main pedestrianised street, in the Pest side of the city. It is a must visit if you go to Budapest. It is slightly overpriced for a cafe, but you must try one of the cakes, and most certainly Gerbeaud Kave, the Gerbeaud signature coffee.
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Opened in 1858 by Kugler Henrik who came from a famous confectionary family. The cafe moved from its original location to Vörösmarty Square in 1870. A decade later Kugler began to look for a business partner since he didn’t have any descendants who would inherit his business.
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Address: Vörösmarty tér 7., Pest, district V.Open: 9.00-21.00. Gerbeaud on Vörösmarty Square at the end of Váci Utca is probably the most famous cafe in Budapest that’s why it is more touristy than the other Budapest cafes listed on this page. Read more about Gerbeaud Cafe.
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Gerbeaud Café is one of Budapest’s oldest and most famous cafés, offering a luxurious brunch experience. Indulge in traditional Hungarian pastries, savory quiches, and an array of coffee and tea selections. The opulent interior reflects its rich history dating back to 1858.
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In this 150-year-old cafe, one of the oldest and most famous in Europe, you can truly experience the splendor and opulence of the past. Stop in for a slice of the world-famous Gerbeaud cake. You won’t be disappointed since this is one of the best things to do in Budapest.
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If you’re looking for an indulgent experience steeped in history, Gerbeaud Café is the place to be. Located in Vörösmarty tér, this 150-year-old café is a Budapest landmark. With its opulent interior and decadent sweets, it’s the perfect spot for an afternoon of luxury.
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Café Gerbeaud: This cafe is located in a grand high-ceiling building with a rich history. Popular with tourists, it’s worth sitting down with a coffee and cake while savoring the atmosphere of the place. You can find Café Gerbeaud on 1051 Budapest Vörösmarty tér 7-8.
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These classic cakes are an important part of the culinary traditions of Hungary, and it's not extraordinary to find a confectioneries in the capital which can boast with a century-old history, or family businesses where several generations continue traditions.
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The Gerbeaud is still a meeting point in Budapest...for tourists, at least. Consider stepping inside to appreciate the elegant old decor — but we now think it's smarter to spend your time (and money) lingering in one of Budapest's more appealing cafés.
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This coffee house is one of the most famous in all of Europe. The café was established in 1858 and in 1884 sold to Swiss confectioner Emile Gerbeaud. He expanded the café and decorated it with marble, bronze, fine wood as well as crystal chandeliers.
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Unfortunately, what was once Budapest’s finest café and the meeting place of the city’s elite, became a touristy, overpriced, and mediocre place. If you want to see one of the most traditional coffee houses in Europe, you should stop for a visit.
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If you’re unlucky enough to not get a seat, don’t fret - there are a number of other exceptional coffee houses throughout Budapest, including the grand Café Gerbeaud, the charming Café Zsivágó, and the ever-popular Muvész Coffee House.
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We did not set our foot in Cafe Gerbeaud, for no particular reason. We crossed Vaci utca once and thought, nah, not our scene. The whole area of Vaci utca, Great Market Hall and Dohanyi Street Synagogue were a bit too touristy for us.
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This is Hungary’s prime chocolate maker which also has a cafe. It’s beautiful and worth a visit to enjoy the setting as well as the adjoining chocolate shop. By high-quality (non-dairy) vegan chocolate bars in opulent packaging.
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Cafe Gerbeaud is one of the oldest coffee houses in Budapest. Like the coffee house culture Gerbeaud came from Austria. Special for Gerbeaud in Budapest is the massive amount of different cakes and sweets.
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It is housed in a grand building that overlooks Vörösmarty Square in the heart of the city. Its interior is beautifully decorated in a mix of Art Nouveau and Rococo styles.
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