Step into old-world elegance at the New York Café in Budapest, called the most beautiful café in the world.

Tucked into the historic heart of Budapest, the New York Café is one of those places. Often called “the most beautiful café in the world,” it’s more than a coffeehouse. It’s a living museum of elegance, part fairytale, part fine dining. Think frescoed ceilings, gold leaf detailing, and velvet chairs that wrap you in old-world charm.

To me, it wasn’t just a café. It was a moment frozen in time — the hush of clinking porcelain, slow sips of coffee, and chandeliers that glowed like stars.

A Name with a Legacy

The New York Café opened in 1894, at a time when Europe was watching the rise of New York City with awe. Naming it after the American metropolis was bold, a nod to ambition, pace, and international flair.

It became a gathering place for writers, thinkers, and travelers. A salon of sorts, pulsing with ideas and stories. Step through the door and you’re wrapped in Art Nouveau splendor. The café sits inside the Anantara New York Palace Hotel and drips with 19th-century glamour. The ceilings bloom with frescoes, lined in gold. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm amber light across marble columns and velvet upholstery.

The café sits inside the Anantara New York Palace Hotel and drips with 19th-century glamour. The ceilings bloom with frescoes, lined in gold. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm amber light across marble columns and velvet upholstery. Every inch feels crafted with care. Hand-carved moldings, rich fabrics, hushed tones. It’s less a café, more a palace you happen to dine in.

Afternoon Rituals: Tea, Lunch, and Live Music

One of the highlights? Afternoon tea. Tiered trays of delicate pastries, clotted cream, fine teas, and live piano — it felt like stepping into a novel. A moment of ceremony and grace. By dinner, the glow deepens. Hungarian classics meet elegant international plates. You might start with goulash, sip a glass of Tokaji, and finish with something sweet and hard to pronounce but unforgettable. It isn’t just food. It’s a memory.

Hours & How to Visit

Due to high demand, reservations are only taken for dinner (from 6 PM). From 8 AM to 6 PM, it’s walk-in only. Expect a line, but staff move things along with warmth and efficiency.

Opening hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Reservations: Dinner only, book online

Capturing the Beauty

Of course, I brought my camera. Chandeliers, marble nooks, golden corners — every angle was a photo waiting to happen. If you love photography, this place is a dream. Every detail feels like it belongs in a frame.

Where to Stay: Anantara New York Palace

Want the café experience without the crowds? Stay next door. As a guest of the Anantara New York Palace Hotel, you get access to the café’s quieter hotel wing. Same menu, same music, fewer people. Morning coffee here felt like a quiet luxury, especially with the generous buffet.

Is It Worth It?

Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s extravagant. But beyond all that, it’s soulful. It honors beauty, history, and the pleasure of simply sitting with something wonderful.

Every cup holds a story. Every plate, a little art. Every visit adds a page to your own travel story.

So go. Step inside. Let the chandeliers dazzle you. Let the pastries charm you. Let Budapest, for a moment, feel like your own private fairytale.