Seriously Over Rated
- April 2, 2008
- Rated 1 of 5 by
tok from london, Minnesota
Beautiful building outside, but inside its' like a long musty hallway with staff running and racing around and highly overrated confectionery. Go to Vienna and see what they rate acceptable. This is only a provincial joke. Don't waste your money on the hype.
However, downstairs they have a proper restaurant/beer keller.
Over priced and all tourists beware, it's better to just look in the door and pretend you were there.
An outstanding place is the sofitel hotel beside the four seasons hotel. Superb views and lovely well trained staff. A location to die for, as you are looking across the river to the royal palace, and the ladies and guys of the night working outside the window. Two views in one!
Editor Pick
Gerbeaud Cafe, Restaurant and Pub
- May 2, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
jacob_s from hamilton, Ontario
The legendary Gerbeaud, in the heart of Budapest, is one of the largest, most traditional, and most famous cafée-confectioneries in Europe. I absolutely love it. Refinement is the operative word at Cafée Gerbeaud. This is one cafée where indulging one's sweet tooth is elevated to an art form.The cafée was established by Henrik Kugler in 1858 and expanded by its later owner, Emil Gerbeaud. Lovingly renovated in 1997, Gerbeaud shines with the cultured nostalgia of its original days: rich plaster work, magnificent chandeliers, marble tables, lavish fine wood paneling, and brocade wall coverings that characterise the elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere of this home of tradition.Gerbeaud's specialities include famous cakes, such as Esterházy and Dobos cakes, as well as all kind of cream cakes, extravagant bakery goods and exquisite ice-creams. Besides what's listed on the menu, have a look at the displays inside to see the day's special offerings. Up to 330 guests can enjoy the classic coffee-house atmosphere in the various salons, whiling away the day reading newspapers, chatting, people-watching, and thinking. On warm days, there is room on the terrace for an additional 300 guests. Here, directly on the busy Vörösmarty Square, the motto is "to see and to be seen". The café is open from 9am to 9pm. I urge you to visit.There is a tradition in Budapest that people in a hurry prefer the "little sister", the Kis Gerbeaud, right around the corner on Harmincad utca. Here you can either stylishly enjoy a "stand-up" coffee or select a few delicacies for a quick breakfast back at the hotel or in the square. The building also houses the Restaurant Gerbeaud which is an oasis of calm in the covered courtyard right next to the Kis Gerbeaud. Great food, good service, multilingual staff and an exclusive selection of domestic wines mix with a great location.An Express Business Lunch is offered daily as well as a Candlelight Dinner. The restaurant which can only seat about 45 has an enchanting atmosphere with a unique glass roof dating from 1892. In summer, the terrace of the restaurant on the Vörösmarty Square is an especially popular meeting place. The restaurant opens from noon to 3pm and from 6pm to 10pm.The Pub, reachable from Dorottya utca, is in the historic vaulted cellars of the building. A secret tip is the Gerbeaud beer, a Pilsner-style beer made according to a house recipe, and considered one of the best beers in all Budapest. The Pub offers hearty, but not too heavy, meals. These range from beer snacks to rustic grilled specialities and beloved Hungarian varieties of pörkölt (goulash), which are served topped with a baked bread crust in an earthenware pot. The pub opens from noon to 11pm daily. Major credit cards as well as the Budapest Card are welcome.
From journal The Great Budapest