A gilded grand coffeehouse on Erzsebet korut, often called the most beautiful cafe in the world. Open every day from morning until late.
New York Cafe sits at Erzsebet korut 9-11, on the Grand Boulevard in Budapest's District VII. It opened in 1894 inside the New York Palace, an eclectic Italian Renaissance building. The room is now the cafe of the Anantara New York Palace hotel, which lists it among its dining venues.
This is a landmark first and a drinks venue second. Budapest.org records its century as a meeting place for writers and artists, and the gilded ceilings and chandeliers are the reason most people walk in. Treat the cocktail and coffee list as the price of the seat.
The room
The hall runs over two levels, with marble columns, frescoed ceilings, and a balcony above the main floor. Crystal chandeliers and gold trim cover almost every surface. A pianist plays through much of the day, which sets the tempo of the room. Restoration work after 2006 returned the gilding and frescoes to close to their original state, and the detail rewards a slow look upward. The ground floor seats the most people, while the balcony gives the best angle on the whole hall.
The nearest transit is the Blaha Lujza ter stop on metro line 2, a short walk down the boulevard. Tram lines 4 and 6 run along Erzsebet korut directly outside. Queues form at the door in peak season, so the quiet seats are early or late.
The drinks
The list pairs Viennese-style coffees with a signature cocktail menu. A cappuccino topped with gold leaf is the photographed order, and the Purple Rain is the house cocktail most often named. Coffees and desserts run roughly 2,000 to 3,500 forint, with cocktails and wines above that, so this is a top-of-range stop in Budapest. The kitchen serves cakes, breakfast, and full meals through the day for those who want more than a drink. Champagne and a wine list back the cocktails for a quieter table. Order one coffee or one cocktail, take a balcony seat, and use the room for what it does best.
The crowd
The crowd is mostly visitors, with a steady international flow from morning through the evening. It fills fastest in the middle of the day and around sunset, when the light catches the gold. Thursday to Sunday the room holds later, to 1am. Locals tend to come for a special occasion rather than a regular round. Dress is smart-casual, and the staff keep service formal across the long hall. Photography is constant, so expect phones up at most tables near the windows. A short wait at the door is normal at midday, and the line moves faster outside the lunch peak.
What regulars say
Reviewers on Restaurant Guru and Tripadvisor agree on the split. The interior earns near-universal praise and ranks among the city's must-see rooms. The common complaint is the price against the food, and the queues at peak hours. Service draws steadier notes when the room is calm. Most agree it is worth one visit for the setting, with coffee or a single cocktail the sensible order.
Who it is for
It is for a once-a-trip grand coffee, a special-occasion cocktail, or anyone who wants to see the room itself. Skip it if you want low prices or a quiet local bar. For more in this vein see Budapest's cocktail bars and hotel bars.
Best time to go
Go at opening near 8am or after 8pm to skip the longest queues. Take a balcony seat for the full view of the hall. Pair it with a wider plan from our Budapest bar guide and the city's best cocktail bars.
Sources: New York Cafe official site (2026); Anantara New York Palace Budapest dining page; Budapest.org listing; Restaurant Guru and Tripadvisor reviews.
