Múzeum Boulevard has always played a special role in the life of Budapest. The imposing building of the Hungarian National Museum, the row of antique shops and old bookstores, and the bustling city center life simultaneously evoke a nostalgic atmosphere and offer a modern, big-city experience. Budapest Baristas is hidden in this colorful cavalcade, which opened its doors in 2015 as one of the country’s first specialty cafes. This was a milestone in itself: at that time, the city was just beginning to discover the world of new-wave coffee culture, and Baristas was among the first to take on the role of showing how much more coffee is about than a quick caffeine hit.
The story of the place is not only about initial courage, but also about continuous development. A year after opening, an inspiring Dublin coffee tour led to the expansion of the offer to include breakfast and brunch dishes, so Budapest Baristas quickly went beyond the narrow world of specialty coffee shops and became a real community place. Since then, the place has become a defining point in the Astoria neighborhood, where students, tourists and downtown regulars meet for a cup of coffee or a longer conversation.
Specialty shrine from an old antique store
If you walk along the boulevard, the terrace of Budapest Baristas appears almost as a surprise among the many small shops and stores. The speciality of the place lies not only in the offer, but also in the space. The store previously operated as an antique shop, so the walls already bear the weight of books and stories. This atmosphere has been combined with a youthful, bright and modern design, which is both homely and vibrant.
Inside, large windows let in natural light, and the gallery offers an even more special perspective: a view of the café’s hustle and bustle from above, while the trams on the boulevard and the pulsation of downtown life accompany the moment from the background. And the terrace is the essence of the city itself: with a coffee in hand, we can look at the imposing facades of the buildings on Museum Boulevard, while passersby and trams bring the buzz of Pest.
The coffee that goes beyond caffeine
Although the range has expanded over the years, the heart and soul of Budapest Baristas has always been coffee. Since the beginning, Casino Mocca has been their most important partner, so you can be sure that fresh and quality coffee always ends up in your cup. In addition to classic espresso and cappuccino, the selection has remained constantly exciting: third-wave trends and modern taste experiences can be found. For those who like to experiment, there is cascara, which is made from the skin of the coffee fruit, with fresh, citrus notes. The matcha latte evokes the world of Japanese tea houses on Museum Boulevard, and the chai latte offers a spicy, warming alternative. In addition to more unusual drinks, everyone will of course find their favorite, whether it is a latte, flat white or a precisely prepared filter coffee. And for those who are not in a hurry, it is worth sipping your coffee at a leisurely pace with a pastry, while watching the trams whizz by and the city center pulsate from the terrace.
The Baristas logo also faithfully reflects their passion for Budapest: they have hidden the Budapest section of the Danube in a coffee cup, so their love for the city is not only reflected in the name, but also in their visual identity in a playful and creative way.
After specialty coffee comes the hearty part – breakfast at Budapest Baristas
However, Budapest Baristas didn’t stop at coffee: after a Dublin inspiration, they quickly expanded their offering to include brunch dishes, quickly winning over the hearts of the city’s breakfast lovers. The menu offers hearty yet light dishes from morning until early afternoon. There is also plenty of choice for vegetarians and those with food intolerances. .
Eggs Benedict, for example, is based on familiar bases, yet takes on a new form: we can choose from bacon, serrano ham, salmon or a trio of spinach, goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, and as an addition, instead of brioche, a sweet potato base can even be added to the plate, giving us a completely different taste experience.
In the world of toasts, they don’t stop at the classic avocado and omelette versions either. There is a real secret favorite: the ricotta beetroot cream toast, in which the combination of fresh beetroot pieces, creamy ricotta and citrus honey creates an unforgettable duo. There is also something new among the croque sandwiches: in addition to the monsieur and madame, croque salmon and croque fromage versions await brunchers who are in the mood for experimentation.
The Buba specialties are worth a visit in themselves. In addition to the holy trinity of avocado cream, poached egg, and bacon on a sweet potato base, salmon or goat cheese-dried tomato variations add to the palette.
And then comes the icing on the cake, or more precisely, the syrup on the pancake: the American pancake, which we can order classically with maple syrup but becomes even more exciting when topped with bacon, cheddar or even poached eggs. For those with a sweet tooth, there is also the version with pistachio cream, Nutella, or tahini, mascarpone, served with fruit ragout, which are not only wonderful in taste but also in appearance.
And if someone wants a lighter experience, they can maintain the fresh yet nutritious breakfast experience with smoothie bowls (passion fruit-mango or forest fruit), Greek yogurt, and granola.
Walking around Astoria, we can easily run into the cozy terrace of the place, where the hustle and bustle of the city and the architectural landscape together provide the backdrop for brunch, and at the same time we can feel a little like we are part of the hustle and bustle of the boulevard.
Budapest Baristas is youthful, homey and trendy at the same time, so it’s no coincidence that students, tourists and long-time locals alike enjoy hanging out here. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick coffee or a longer brunch, you can be sure that you’ll have a quality experience – something that will keep you coming back again and again.
Budapest Baristas
Address: 1053, Budapest, Múzeum körút. 15.
Photos: Lepsik Norbert – Brunch Budapest