Gerbeaud House, Budapest

Food was wonderful, great atmosphere, perfect place to people watch. Wait staff was friendly and very polite. The pastries and coffee is all that you can expect, except way over priced. But if you have never been, I recommend it at least once.

Favorite Dish: Strawberry cheesecake and cappucino.

We wanted to go to this legendary tearoom, the scenery is rather good impression of chic style, very quickly we had the sensation to be in a tourist trap, the staff wasn't friendly, the pastries were dry and bland, and the price too expensive. Ultimately a real disappointment.

Desserts: This is my other favorite part in Hungary. The desserts have taste!
They actually have flavor instead of just sugary icing like donuts. You can not compare European desserts to North Americans. You just can not.
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Favorite Dish: A few of the desserts you have to try.

#1 Krémes,
#2 gesztenye püré,
#3 Somlói galuska,
#4 Rigó Jancsi,
#5 Dobos Torta,
#6 Gesztenye Kocka.
#7 Nöi szeszély
#8 Isler
#9 Zserbó
10 Rolló
11 Bejgli
12 Orosz krémes
13 Francia krémes
14 Stefánia szelet
15 Csöröge
16 Fánk
17 Rétes
18 Bukta
19 Kakaós tekercs
20 Kürtös kalács

You also have to try Palacsinta. It is a pancake like dessert (crepe). It is thinner and softer though. They roll it up for you with cinnamon or chocolate sirup. Also very popular with cottage cheese mixed with vanilla and raisins. There are a lot of places where you can seat down and have an expresso with dessert, called Cukrászda.
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Often "condemned" for being too touristic, Gerbeaud makes up for it with its history, wonderful interior, delicious cakes and chocolates and great gifts to take to the loved ones.

It's lively place, with a mixed local-tourist crowd, a bit noisy after 111 but I guess it's the perfect place for an early coffee.

Under the same roof there's also a restaurant, Onyx, which I didn't visit.

Some information from the history book:
The cafe is decorated with rococo plaster work in Louis XV style,; the chandeliers and wall lamps in Maria Theresa style.

A bit of history:
The first cafe was opened in Josez nador Square in 1858 by Henrik Kulger, the 3rd descendant of a confectionery family. In 879 it was moved to Vorosmarty Square.

Prices:
A delicious Cafe Late was only 3 Euros.
A tiramisu 6 Euros.

Favorite Dish: My favorites were the gifts bought: mini cookies for 1490 Forints (aprox. 6 Euro) and Eszter chocolates for 1900 Forints (approximately 8 Euro).

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The Gerbeaud is a typical Viennese style coffeehouse, one of those with the longest tradition in Europe. It is named after Emile Gerbeaud from Geneva who bought it in 1908 and created the most wonderful fancy cakes.

The interior is nostalgic, traditional, elegant. Service was friendly, quick and attentive (unlike reported in guide books). If you're interested in feeling the vibrations of the trams running by then get a table in the room to the right by the window ;-)

Favorite Dish: I ordered the famous Dobos torta and a coffee which came with a glass of water - perfect. Both coffee and fancy cake were delicious. Prices are quite expensive not only for Hungary: the cake was HUF 850 e.g. Please note that the check comes with a service charge of 15% - so no tip is necessary.

We had just arrived in Budapest and asked the girl at the desk of our hotel where to go for coffee and cake. She recommended Gerbeauld without hesitation. The atmosphere is very grand and elegant; the cakes were delicious;. the architecture and decor are beautiful. The clientele were a mix of tourists and local people. This coffeehouse is considered one of the great traditional coffee houses in Europe. We paid £11 for 2 pieces of gateaux and 2 cups of coffee, which is expensive for Budapest. But the experience is well worth at least one visit.

Favorite Dish: The choice of cakes and gateaux is excellent. Take a seat and relax and drink in the atmosphere.

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If you want to go to a real tourist place, go to Gerbaud house, it some awful cake and never want to go back. If you want to go where the locals go, and have some really good cake and coffee, go to Auguszt cukrászda! You will go back every day of your stay!

Favorite Dish: Kremes, E-80 cake, (made for the 80th birthday of grandfather of the owner)

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This place was on my mind before my visit. I was saying to myself that I had to visit some of these old café houses.
There is a feeling you can experience in old café houses, like you have lived another life and been there in the golden ages. You can easily make up some “new” memories for you to believe. I enjoyed that feeling in Gerbeaud.
It was our first night in the city. We passed through Vörösmarty and had a boat trip in Danube, returned to the square and had some mulled wine. Then we had some herbal tea in Gerbeaud. I was a little bit drunk because of the beverages and beauty of Danube. This situation helped me a lot about imagining.
I drank some tea and hot chocolate, if I am right. Their service was good. I wish I could taste some of their pastries, but I was always so full because of the Christmas Fair.
It also has a restaurant section which I haven’t visited.

Favorite Dish: Hot beverages