{"id":482,"date":"2025-10-06T14:22:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T11:22:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aleksblog.com\/en\/?p=482"},"modified":"2025-10-06T14:37:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T11:37:11","slug":"budapest-cafe-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aleksblog.com\/en\/budapest-cafe-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Budapest Cafe New York"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Budapest Cafe “New York”<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Aleks<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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I\u2019ll let you in on a \u201csecret.\u201d No one in their right mind goes to the \u201cNew York Caf\u00e9\u201d to eat or drink coffee. People come here to marvel at the stunning interiors and, of course, to take photos of themselves. Coffee is just a pleasant bonus. But it\u2019s definitely worth it! No wonder that, in some long-ago year, some reputable publication made yet another \u201cbest of the best\u201d list and named the New York Caf\u00e9 \u201cthe most beautiful caf\u00e9 in the world.\u201d<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\"\u041a\u0430\u0444\u0435<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Location<\/h2>\n

Erzs\u00e9bet krt. 9-11<\/a> (link to Google Maps). The nearest metro and tram stop is Blaha Lujza. It\u2019s a 10-minute walk from the Szimpla ruin bars<\/a>, so you can check out both the glamour and\u2026 not-so-glamorous in one stroll.<\/p>\n

Opening hours<\/h2>\n

Daily 8:00 AM \u2013 12:00 AM<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Table Reservation<\/h2>\n

You can book online at newyorkcafe.hu<\/a>. You can also check the menu on the site beforehand.<\/p>\n

During peak season, table reservations are only available for dinner from 6 PM until closing. At other times, there\u2019s a live queue. If you plan, like everyone else, to pop in, have a coffee with dessert, and take some photos, I recommend not booking anything. The wait will most likely be around twenty minutes.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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New York Caf\u00e9 \u2013 History and Legends<\/h2>\n

This story began in the 19th century, when a Hungarian teacher, Miksa Aranyi, moved to Budapest, studied law, changed his name to the German version \u2014 Max Aufrich \u2014 and in Paris met the director of the New York Insurance Company, who entrusted him with developing the insurance business in the Hungarian capital. And where does business start? With a MacBook<\/del> a luxurious office! By 1894, a magnificent four-story building with a caf\u00e9 on the ground floor had been built in the very center of Budapest.<\/p>\n

They say that when the caf\u00e9 opened its doors to visitors, everyone was so impressed by the interiors that Hungarian playwright Ferenc Moln\u00e1r took the keys and threw them into the Danube so the caf\u00e9 would never close again.<\/p>\n

Pause here, so you can also take a moment to be impressed by the interiors.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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The story about Moln\u00e1r is just a beautiful legend, because the Danube is several kilometers away, and it\u2019s unlikely he could have thrown the keys all the way to the river. Besides, he was still a schoolboy when the caf\u00e9 opened. But in 2014, the new managers of the New York Caf\u00e9 learned of this story and actually threw keys into the Danube, with the comment \u2014 the caf\u00e9 may not stay open forever, but for the next 120 years, definitely.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s another legend: it was expected that the caf\u00e9 would attract all of the Hungarian aristocracy, but they were put off by sixteen little devil figures holding lanterns on the fa\u00e7ade of the building. On the other hand, the bourgeoisie loved it.<\/p>\n

A little clarification for the whole bohemian crowd: aristocrats are noble by birth, the bourgeoisie by acquisition (buying titles, marriages).<\/em><\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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After 1900, the caf\u00e9 passed into new hands and became a regular hangout for writers, poets, and playwrights. Since these were not wealthy clients, the menu included the \u201cwriter\u2019s plate\u201d \u2014 an inexpensive assortment of sliced cheeses and meats, sometimes served on credit. And the \u201cdog tongue\u201d \u2014 a napkin with ink and coffee. The dog tongue had to be removed soon after because the ink kept spilling on the sofas.<\/p>\n

During World War II, the building suffered heavy damage, was repaired, and for a short time, the caf\u00e9 spaces housed a sports shop, then became a coffeehouse again. There were plans to close everything and open a theater or cultural center. This continued until 2001, when the entire New York Palace was bought by the Italian Boscolo Group. In 2006, Boscolo opened the five-star Boscolo Hotel and, of course, the renovated New York Caf\u00e9. In 2020, Boscolo sold part of the business, including the Hungarian branch, to Covivio. The hotel is now called Anantara New York Palace Budapest<\/a>, and naturally, the caf\u00e9 was left untouched.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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What to Eat at the \u201cNew York\u201d<\/h2>\n

The couple at the table to the right ordered two cappuccinos, the couple at the table to the left had two homemade lemonades. Because at the New York Caf\u00e9, people come to admire the interiors and take photos. For actual meals, you need to go elsewhere in Budapest.<\/p>\n

So:<\/p>\n