If Instagrammable beauty is what you desire from a coffee spot, then we might have just found a must-visit spot.
Those in search of coffee with a view will want to head to Hungary this summer and check out a 125-year-old café that’s gone viral.
The New York Café in Budapest is so gorgeous that TikTok girlies and tourists travel from far and wide and queue for hours just to gawk at its decor.
This is perhaps partly because a sign outside proclaims that it’s ‘the most beautiful café in the world’ and it seems many would agree.
Stepping into The New York Café is like stepping back in time to a grand palace of Europe of old. Think Majestic marble columns, stunning glittering chandeliers, gorgeous painted ceilings and walls — and even a live pianist or violinist.
The café is a hit with tourists and content creators alike attracting around 2,000 customers every day.
Dating back to 1894, the tourist hotspot is located on Erzsébet körút Street in Budapest and was designed by world-renowned Hungarian architect Alajos Hauszmann.
The interiors were created by Flóris Korb and Kálmán Giergl, who drew on Italian inspiration. The ceilings were crafted by artists Gusztav Mannheimer and Ferenc Eisenhut.
Once the beating heart of Budapest’s literary and artistic community, the café fell into disrepair after the Second World War. However, in 2006 it was restored to its former glory and became a symbol of Hungary’s cultural heritage.
As you’d expect with such a decedent place, the menu isn’t cheap. Afternoon tea is a whopping 72 euros and coffee is priced around 12 euros.
A favourite among tourists is the café’s famous 24-carat gold cappuccino, which yes is made with real gold.
Tiktok user @HandLuggageOnly called it ‘gorgeous’. In their video, you’re taken on a guided tour of the gilded interiors complete with musicians.
However, there seems to be one major issue with the place according to this review — while the building might make your jaw drop, the food served there is said to be ‘nothing special’.
They add that it’s not the ‘strongest attraction’ for the place, but the tea and coffee is good. Something to perhaps keep in mind if you plan a visit.
On Trip Advisor, reviews of the café are mixed, whilst Daniel called it an ‘amazing place’ and Pascale a ‘marvelous café’, but some weren’t as kind.
Aktan called it an ‘Instagram place’ that wasn’t for food lovers, while Graeme said, ‘It’s a very beautiful place, but the prices are 2-3x more than anything else we experienced in Budapest.’
While Valentina simply said: ‘Not worth it.’
But clearly it depends who you ask, TikToker Catalina who showed the expectation vs reality of the stunning café as she waited for two hours in the pouring rain to get a table.
Despite this though, when asked by a commenter if it was worth braving the queue for a photo, Catalina defended the café saying: ‘Yeah. The architecture was amazing and they had a live orchestra.’
So perhaps one to book in advance for your trip. Many who have been recommend stopping by for dinner of an evening when the place is much quieter.
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If Budapest is a bit far for you to travel, a more local coffee shop has also been declared one of the world’s greatest.
Destination expert Chris Moss recently revealed his list of the world’s greatest coffee shops in The Telegraph and coming in third was a small but iconic London establishment.
Bar Italia on Soho’s Frith Streets was given a coveted spot by Chris, following behind Café Américain in Amsterdam, which is known for its arched ceilings, large stained glass windows and Tiffany lighting, and Lisbon’s Pastelaria-Padaria Sao Roque, a hidden gem with huge pink marble columns and gorgeous art nouveau tiles.
Though Bar Italia might not be quite as grand to look at as some of the others on the list, it’s certainly become a must-visit for a cup of coffee in the capital.
Opened in 1949 by Lou and Caterina Polledri, who moved over to London from Northern Italy, the coffee spot is still run by the same family today.
The outside is adorned with bright neon signs, while the inside is somewhat of a time-capsule inside with a ‘beautiful old Gaggia machine’, an old-school red and white Formica bar, ‘wonderfully cluttered ceilings’, football merchandise, and, of course, the Italian flag everywhere.
For Chris, what makes this narrow counter-style café so great is that it reminds people of the West End coffee boom of the 1950s. He adds: ‘It is a shrine to a bohemian Soho that has elsewhere been gentrified into oblivion.’
And you don’t just have to take his word for it. Over the years Bar Italia has garnered a number of famous fans, including David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Kylie Minogue and Rupert Everett.
