Great atmosphere. The music was live and non-stop. I had the chicken paprikash, it was quite good. I also had the chocolate sponge cake, great as well. Noemi was my server. She was great. So attentive and helpful with the menu. Even as it was very busy she made eye contact to check if I needed anything. Would recommend getting a reservation. There was a very long line to get in and I just walked up, barely waited and was seated. Worth checking out even though it draws it many tourist.
it is a very popular cafe in the Budapest, but I do not recommend you to go if you do not have enough money or free time. first of all, the waiting period was very long, about 30 minutes if there are no too many people waiting in line. secondly, the service is terrible when you compare it to the price that you have to pay for the food or the drinks. the waiter misunderstood our instructions and bringing us the wrong food for 2 times continuously. and also the serving period was really long. We sit there for about 20 minutes without any waiter to serve us, and after we placed our orders, we didn't receive our food for half an hour after our repeated request that we would like our serving to come up faster. and basically, there was no serving the waiter and waitresses just bring the plates and knives and forks to your table without any introduction of the food, without any correct allocation of the food, without any arrangements of the dishes or the knives or forks. Generally, they just leave all the things to the customers themselves, and they did not do any service that is worth the 15 or 20% of service tax that they requested. and to be honest, the food was really just very, very ordinary without anything that stands out considering its relatively high price in Budapest, it's because I come from Paris and I think the prize already matches the middle upper class restaurants in Paris, however, their service and the quality of their food is really no match to any kind of restaurant in Paris. the only thing that can be praised is the scenery and the inter decoration of the cafe that is indeed very exquisite and beautiful. However, if you just come here for the view and the sizing, I recommend just to order a drink or a piece of cake and do not waste too much time in this spot. to keep my manners, I cannot use worse words to describe this place, but in general, I do not recommend anyone without enough money or free time to come here. Just it's just a theory, ordinary cafe, and if you have been to other western European cities and experience their service and their quality of food, you will surely be disappointed by this cafe.
Claro 💙 Aquí tienes un review formal, claro y con tono profesional, pensado para que lo lean y lo tomen en serio en Google, TripAdvisor o similares. Está equilibrado: reconoce lo positivo, pero deja muy claro el problema.
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⭐️⭐️ (2/5)
The place is absolutely beautiful — the architecture, ambiance, and overall aesthetic are truly stunning and create high expectations. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to the setting.
The service was extremely disappointing. Staff appeared inattentive, unprofessional, and at times dismissive. Basic hospitality standards were not met, which significantly impacted the overall experience.
The food was equally underwhelming. The dishes lacked flavor, balance, and care in execution, especially considering the prices and the elegance of the venue. What was served did not reflect the quality one would expect from such a beautiful and seemingly refined establishment.
It is truly unfortunate when a place with so much potential falls short due to poor service and subpar food. With better staff training and a stronger focus on culinary quality, this venue could match its impressive surroundings. As it stands, the beauty alone is not enough to justify the experience
I waited about 30 minutes to get in because of the line. If you want to skip the queue, come very early (before 8 a.m.) or around 7 p.m there’s almost no wait then.
The café itself is absolutely majestic. The interior is stunning, and there was live music while I was there, violin and piano, which really added to the experience. That part was genuinely impressive.
Service was okay, nothing special. The food, however, was disappointing. It’s quite expensive, which is expected for a place like this, but the quality didn’t match the price. I ordered desserts for €14 each and it was not good at all, extremely sugary and not enjoyable.
Overall, despite the food, I still think it’s worth visiting at least once. The atmosphere and décor fully live up to the hype, and the place feels magical inside. Just don’t go expecting amazing food , go for the experience.
I did not have an intention to visit this place (but I did know about it beforehand), however, I arrived in Budapest earlier than planned (around 8AM), it was raining, and I stumbled upon this venue by chance. There was no queue at the entrance, so I decided to give it a go. I was seated promptly, as there were several small tables that were empty (but the place itself was getting filled rather quickly). I already knew this place was very expensive, and upon checking out the menu, I decided to order 'Hungarian breakfast' instead of a cappuccino, as it seemed to me as a better choice, given that a cappuccino is only several euros cheaper that the breakfast. The breakfast itself did not taste bad, but it was very, very small, only one egg and a tiny sausage (I would give the breakfast 2.5*/5*). The service was not the quickest there is, but since I was in no rush, I did not mind waiting. The bill included a 15% service charge, which I find strange, given that I'm sure there are many people who do not find the service a high point of this experience, and are still forced to pay for it. The place itself is stunning, of course. At one point, a pianist started playing, and I thoroughly enjoyed the music and the atmosphere. I felt I made a really good decision giving this place a chance. As I was finishing my breakfast, there was already a queue forming at the entrance. Overall, I would recommend going to this place, expecting that the service will take its time, skipping the food, ordering just drinks knowing that the price you are paying for the drinks is sort of an entrance fee for enjoying a mesmerising interior (and if you're lucky - some live music). Best advice is to enter with very low expectations, and not only you won't be disappointed, but you may get pleasantly surprised as I was!
I came here mainly because of the hype around the interior — and yes, it is very beautiful. Unfortunately, that’s pretty much the only positive about this place.
Dirty tables and glasses… For a place with such “luxury” pricing, this is simply unacceptable. Paying €8 for an espresso and €11 for a regular coffee, I expect spotless tables and clean glassware — not visible dirt.
Average, indifferent service: The staff seemed uninterested and not particularly welcoming. There was no sense of attentiveness or care, and at times it felt like we were bothering them just by being there.
Very long waiting time: Ordering a simple coffee took far too long. What should have been a quick stop turned into an unnecessarily long wait, with no explanation.
Prices completely disconnected from quality: These prices might be justified if the service, cleanliness, or coffee quality matched — but they don’t. You’re clearly paying for the interior and the Instagram photos, not for the actual experience.
👉 Overall: It’s worth walking in to admire the stunning interior, maybe take a few photos, use the restroom, and then leave pretending you’re not interested. As a café, it’s overpriced, poorly maintained, and feels very much like a tourist trap.
The building design is honestly beyond words. It is a massive, stunning space that feels more like a palace than a coffee house. Even if you’ve seen photos, being there in person is a completely different, "super special" experience. It truly is one of the most beautiful interiors I have ever seen.
While I haven’t dined in many Michelin-starred restaurants, the quality of food here felt like it was on that level
I tried the famous gold latte. It’s certainly expensive and looks amazing for photos, but taste-wise, it was just a good cup of coffee—nothing revolutionary, but enjoyable nonetheless.
If there is one downside, it’s the seating arrangement. Despite there being several empty tables in the main, more ornate sections, we were seated in a less desirable area. It felt a bit disconnected from the main splendor, which was a shame given how much space was actually available.
A wonderful surprise was the live music. We had the chance to listen to an opera singer perform live.
Overall It is a pricey experience, but for the combination of "Michelin-style" food and the sheer beauty of the architecture, it is worth it.
The wait time was 35-40 mins, which is understandable given the popularity of the cafe. The interiors are beautiful as well, good for pictures. Hence rating the place 1 star. Kindly see below reasons for this rating,
1. From hospitality perspective - Once our turn came for the table, the person (as told by her - she was responsible for assigning tables) was a bit rude and not hospitable. She didn’t had a name tag, and gave good tables to customers that were behind us in the queue, it looked we were intentionally overlooked, not sure why. While we asked / requested her few queries that we had, she ignored those questions. While service from other waitstaff was appropriate, such encounters ruins the experience of first time guests.
2. From food perspective - Prices are high which is understandable however the taste was not upto the mark. Breakfast options are available till 11AM and all other options are available post 12 noon onwards. During this period, a person can only have hot drinks and desserts - which ruins the whole experience and excitement of the customers. This rule seemed unfair.
3. Overall - Good for pictures, not good at all if you really want to have good food with nice environment and service.
The cafe is absolutely stunning and majestically beautiful. The live music was also very enjoyable. Saying this, you do not go there for the food. You go for the place and for ticking it off the Budapest things to see list.
We were lucky to have gone in immediately. I know sometimes you have to wait. The honest opinion is I wouldn’t wait if there was a massive queue.
The food was mediocre and extortionately expensive. We paid 20 euro for 2 oranges juices, 32 euros for two bland Hungarian pots with a small sausage and an egg and a 10 euro service charge they did not deserve.
All in all you feel cheated with the pricing. It’s ridiculous and not worth it. But hey, if you don’t care about being cheated then go and enjoy the mediocre food.
Hands downs, the interior is absolutely breathtaking. It’s a masterpiece and art on its own. It was full of people obviously because of its reputation and beauty. You will wait in a queue outside for about 40 minutes or so. The plus is that’s open during special days. I was on 1st of January. Music was live.
The service though is pretty slow. I got my dessert first and had to wait for a long time for my coffee which came a bit colder than you would normally expect a coffee to be. Our neighbors had the same experience. It was also cold as we sat next to the door which was frequently opened and closed. You are pushed to pay a tip even if you don’t want to.
It is indeed the world's most beautiful café. No doubt about it, but I am very particular in customer service. I don't understand why the food and beverage attendant raised his voice at me when I was just asking for the bill. I understand the that the café is extremely busy and the food takes time to be served. Or is he grumpy because the café is understaff? Maybe the management also needs to increse the number of staff to lessen the workload as this café never runs out of customers. Where is the politelness? I really wanted to drop his name but I don't want this review to cost his job as I am also working in customer-facing work environment. His behavior doesn't match the elegance of the place. And most of my friends who went here have the very same feedback. I really want to go back to this place but it's not worth paying for the service I have experienced. Ambiance: amazing. Service: needs a rigorous training for customer service especially to polite customers like me.
A Tourist Trap
I visited during the Christmas holidays and had a very disappointing experience. We waited 30 minutes just to get inside, then another 30 minutes to receive our coffee. The prices were outrageous — €13 for a cappuccino — and when the drinks finally arrived, they were cold.
There are only two toilets, so I had to wait 15 minutes to use one. The cleanliness was also very poor — our table was not clean when we sat down, as clearly shown in the photos.
To make matters worse, the staff were extremely rude. We asked for the bill three times and never received it. When we finally approached a lady with blonde hair in an updo (who, unlike the others, wasn’t wearing a name badge), she responded very rudely, saying, “We don’t have time to get it for you now, maybe at the New Year.”
We spoke to the manager about her behavior, but instead of addressing the issue, they defended her. The staff clearly lack basic manners and professionalism.
I do not recommend visiting this place. There are many other cafés with better food, drinks, service, cleanliness, and overall experience. If I could give this place zero stars, I would
And then there’s New York Café — the actual café inside is truly a place of dreams.
There is a long line, so definitely go super early. We were there around 7:10 in the morning, which made all the difference. At the entrance, there’s a lady who looks very serious — but once it’s your turn and you step inside, she’s actually incredibly kind and friendly. I imagine she has to be strict outside just to manage the crowds.
Once inside, the service is brilliant. Attentive, calm, and polished. The hot chocolate was to die for — rich and comforting. We ordered the Italian breakfast for two, which was generous and satisfying.
And the space itself… absolutely stunning. One of those places where you keep looking up, around, everywhere, just taking it all in.
A beautiful experience from start to finish.
The New York Café is undeniably beautiful. The interiors are stunning, and the live music adds a lovely atmosphere. From an aesthetic standpoint, it truly lives up to its reputation.
Unfortunately, the overall experience was underwhelming. Service was slow and inconsistent, with long waits to get attention and staff who appeared overwhelmed and disengaged.
The food took quite a while to arrive and was already cool, and overall it was unremarkable for the price.
Having spent the past five months going in and out of Budapest, we’ve consistently experienced warmer service and better-quality food at many other cafés and restaurants for a much more reasonable price, which made the value here difficult to justify.
Additionally, although the reservation system asks about special occasions, there was no acknowledgment of this during our visit.
Overall, the New York Café is worth seeing once for its beauty, but the service and dining experience didn’t give us a reason to return.
After waiting outside the café for 20 minutes, we waited another hour for our two coffees, which we ended up enjoying cold.
Fully agree with the following reviewer:
“The beautiful setting is completely ruined by incompetent service and blatant exploitation of the Instagram crowd. Food arrived cold after a long wait, and drinks only showed up after we chased the waiter. One-and-done experience—I didn’t even want to take pictures.
$212 USD for three at lunch, easily the worst value and dining experience I’ve ever had. Seriously: don’t eat here, don’t have coffee, don’t even walk in. And I’m usually happy to pay for quality food and atmosphere, but this place does not fit any of these.
Endless waiting, cold and poorly prepared food (layered potato, Caesar salad), and coffees arriving together with the salads—unacceptable.
By the end, the worst and awkward part of this just came up: they charge us a lot of money for “kitchen services” because they are all sure we would not tip them. Really unbelievable.
The last but not least, the restrooms are disgraceful and very dirty.
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After I posted my review, the restaurant replied claiming that a 15% service fee is mandatory in Budapest. That is not true. This fee is optional, and in every other restaurant I’ve visited in Budapest, I was informed in advance if it would be charged.”
Visiting the New York Café in Budapest was truly an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment you see the building, you understand why it is often called the most beautiful café in the world. The architecture is absolutely breathtaking, with its grand ceilings, ornate chandeliers, detailed frescoes, and luxurious historic design. Simply sitting inside and taking in the surroundings feels like stepping back in time into a royal palace rather than a café.
The food and drinks lived up to the setting. Everything we ordered was beautifully presented and tasted excellent. The desserts were especially impressive, rich and flavorful without being overwhelming, and the coffee was well prepared and enjoyable. It’s clear that a lot of care goes into maintaining both the quality of the menu and the overall atmosphere, which makes the experience feel special and worth documenting with photos.
That said, there are a couple of downsides worth mentioning. The waiting line to get in was very long, and you should be prepared to wait, especially during peak hours. While this is understandable given how popular the café is, it can be tiring and may discourage some visitors. Additionally, the customer service could be improved. The staff were professional but felt somewhat rushed and not as warm or attentive as expected for a place of this caliber.
Overall, despite the wait and service shortcomings, the New York Café is absolutely a must-visit in Budapest. The stunning architecture and excellent food make it a memorable experience that I would still highly recommend to anyone visiting the city at least once.
Luxury restaurants in Paris pale in comparison to this place — and not in a good way.
We came for a late breakfast and waited in line for about 15 minutes (which, as it turned out, was actually quite lucky). After that, the hostess showed us to a table — she was the only pleasant and genuinely smiling person among the staff.
We ordered tea, coffee, and two cakes.
The prices are outrageously high.
The tables are placed extremely close to each other — it feels like the only thing missing is having a couple of people seated on your head.
The only thing that truly impresses in this place is the architecture.
Service:
We paid in cash without carefully checking the receipt, paid, and left. Only later, when I looked at the photo of the bill, I was shocked — more than 20% of the total was added out of nowhere. If you don’t read the receipt carefully, you won’t even notice it.
Meanwhile, the waiters behave terribly. Even in more budget-friendly places, you’re treated with warmth and care.
Here, you’ll be sitting and waiting for your bill while the waiters stand behind the counter, actively discussing something on their phones.
I hope people stop wasting their time on a place like this.
The location is beautiful, but the furniture is obviously old and worn, which is immediately noticeable.
The prices are quite high, so you expect everything to be as clean, tidy, and organized as possible.
Fortunately, we didn't have to wait in line to get in, otherwise we would have given up on visiting. The coffee was good, but not wow for €6.
I noticed the live music, but it wasn't visible, being upstairs, but this aspect is pleasant.
The cafe has a lovely atmosphere. We went early in the morning, two people, and had an Italian breakfast. We didn't particularly like the flavors. Perhaps the desserts could be better. I highly recommend that anyone visiting Budapest should go at least once. I suggest going early in the morning.
Beautiful place and beautifully decorated. Friendly service although slow to bring drinks. Nice selection of buffet food and cooked breakfasts to choose from. People having photos constantly above you. The ceilings are painted exquisitely. The place feels special. The rooms in the hotel are very poorly lit though. Nice big bath!
