Budapest

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Ruszwurm Cukraszda

More Photos
mfs
mfs
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
4
Reviews
8
Photos
Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-4 of 4
Editor Pick

Cake Therapy

  • May 24, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by sararevell from London, United Kingdom
Cake Therapy

If doctors prescribed confectionary for ailments, Ruszwurm would be the number one pharmacy in Budapest. Dispensing row after row of sumptuous cakes, the glass cases in this coffeehouse would tempt the strictest of dieters.

Ruszwurm is a top recommendation in every guidebook. It is the oldest confectionary shop in Budapest and they still know how to produce outstanding cakes and pastries. In addition, it’s on the doorstep of Buda’s most popular sights Matthias Temple and the Fishermen’s Bastion so the tourist draw is inevitable.

The shop opened its doors back in 1827 and parts of the original cherrywood counter are still in place. Now run by the Szamos family, Ruszwurm only offers home-made cakes, preserving the traditions of its founder Ferenc Schwabl and the Ruszwurm family who ran the shop between 1884-1922.

We were lucky that late on a Saturday morning, Ruszwurm had a few empty tables. We took a seat in the back room by the net-curtained window and were promptly given a menu by a sobre-tempered waitress. The petite round tables had the same cherrywood finish as the front counter and were decorated with a single off-white lace doily. Across from us was an olive-striped banquette. The furniture looked somewhat worn and in keeping with the medical theme, I felt like I was in a doctor’s waiting room from a bygone era.

Our cappuccino and Americano coffees were delivered swiftly along with the standard shot glass of drinking water. While the decision had been near impossible to make, we plumped for a raspberry slice and the house special: the Ruszwurm Cream Pastry. The cakes arrived in all their glory and I pondered, although not for long, how to break into the tower of cream sandwiched between two thin pastry squares. The cream, which constituted about 90% of the cake, was unsurprisingly rich with hints of vanilla custard in its mousse-like texture. The raspberry slice was a bit more modest but equally delicious. While the cakes were beautiful to look at it didn’t take us long to destroy both.

We paid about £4.88 for the two coffees and cakes, which given the location and the quality of the food and drink seemed very reasonable. The service wasn’t as friendly as we had experienced in the coffeehouses of Pest but it was fast and again, their command of English was 200% better than my Hungarian.

If you want to whet your appetite before you go, look at their very informative website: www.ruszwurm.hu, which also includes photographs of some of their top fare. I’ve read that it is usually difficult to get a seat in Ruszwurm but I would implore anyone to get a cake to go if you’re not able to eat in. Just be sure to grab a big stack of napkins if you opt for the Ruszwurm Cream Pastry.

2 x coffees and 2 x cakes = 1,680 HUF (£4.88)

From journal Kavehaz Kultura in Budapest

Editor Pick

Ruszwurm

  • May 1, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by kylebarber from Seattle, Washington
Ruszwurm

The Ruszwurm patisserie, originally opened in 1827, still thrives today with both locals and tourists crowing around its small tables for homemade cakes and drinks. It's interior reflects the Empire décor that would have been commonplace in the late 19th century, and most likely the café has not been altered much since that period.

The location makes the Ruszwurm ideal for a break when exploring Castle Hill and it's sights (Matyas Templom, Fishermen's Bastion, Magyar Nemzeti Galeria). Cake slices are small though relatively inexpensive, making it easy to sample multiple offerings (it's my duty as a journalist, I'm afraid…).

From journal Hungary: Return to Budapest

Ruszwurm Cukraszda

  • March 29, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by magyar1 from Horsham, West Sussex, United Kingdom
This small but historic cafe in the castle district is well worth a visit as it serves up some of the best cakes and ice cream in Budapest (I find that ice cream is far better outside the capital to be honest). You can either buy items to take away from the wooden counter or try and grab one of the small tables in the main room. Be warned though, the cafe is very popular and unless you arrive early or are visiting out of season, getting a table is near impossible. Even if you are lucky, service can be a little slow, particularly if the counter is busy. I would recommend traditional cakes such as Dobos Torta (alternate layers of sponge and chocolate cream nestling under a crunchy caramel top, Esterhazy Torta or Turo Torta (Hungarian Cheesecake, much lighter than its American counterpart). Ice cream flavours will vary from day to day. If you want a selection ask for "vegyes fagylalt". If you are buying an ice cream cone to eat outside, you'll need to specify the number of scoops (gombocs). Ruszwurm is well worth a visit while you are in the Castle district

From journal Budapest - The Jewel in Hungary's Crown

Ruszwurm Cukraszda

  • January 8, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by mfs from Sea Girt, New Jersey
Ruszwurm Cukraszda

Ruszwurm, one of Budapest's oldest cafes dating from the 1820s, is located about half a block from Holy Trinity Square and Matyas Templom. This delightful Hungarian pastry shop/tea room is well known for its delicious cakes and cookies, and for good reason. We visited several times during our stay, and I am particularly fond of the Ischler - a large chocolate-coated butter biscuit. The cherry strudel and poppy seed strudel are also delicious. Ruszwurm's pastry menu includes chocolate cakes and a variety of strudels and traditional Hungarian pastries. A variety of high quality teas, coffees and cappuccinos are also avaiable.

Ruszwurm's two small parlors are delightfully "Old World," with high ceilings, daintily upholstered chairs, and interesting wood and glass cabinets lining the walls. The tiny cafe has a total of about 15 bistro tables (at most), so there may be a wait during the high tourist season (we were there in late October and were always able to get a table). You may opt to get take-away pastries at the elegant old-style glass counter as well. Either way, a visit to this Budapest institution is a real treat!

From journal Romantic Budapest

Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-4 of 4

Compare Budapest Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Helpful Budapest Links

Budapest Travel Deals