9 cafes in Budapest, editor-picked for cafes open sunday. Cafes serving on sundays. All cafes in Budapest.

Centrál Kávéház ★ 4.8

lipotvaros · Károlyi utca 9, 1053 Budapest

Hours: Mon-Tue 09:00-22:00, Wed-Sat 09:00-24:00, Sun 09:00-22:00

The Central Kavehaz on Karolyi utca has poured coffee since 1887 and was the regular meeting room for the Nyugat literary set in the early 20th century.

Tip: Quieter than New York Cafe for working; the upstairs reading room is the calmest seat.

Espresso Embassy ★ 4.7

lipotvaros · Arany János utca 15, 1051 Budapest

Hours: Mon-Fri 07:00-19:00, Sat-Sun 08:30-19:00

Espresso Embassy on Arany Janos, steps from the Basilica, opened in 2012 as Budapest's first wave-three specialty cafe and still sets the bar for downtown.

Tip: Mon to Fri 07:30-19:00, weekends 09:00-17:00; queue is short on weekday mornings.

Café Gerbeaud ★ 4.6

lipotvaros · Vörösmarty tér 7-8, 1051 Budapest

Hours: Mon-Thu 09:00-20:00, Fri-Sat 09:00-21:00, Sun 09:00-20:00

Gerbeaud on Vorosmarty ter has poured coffee under chandeliers since 1858, a Belle Epoque grand cafe at the head of Vaci utca's pedestrian shopping street.

Tip: No reservation system; arrive before 11:00 to avoid the tour-bus queue on Vorosmarty tér.

Mantra Specialty Coffee Bar ★ 4.5

lipotvaros · Veres Pálné utca 17, 1053 Budapest

Hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-18:00

Mantra Specialty Coffee on a tree-lined Lipotvaros backstreet pours light-roast Ethiopian, Brazilian and Honduran filter coffee on AeroPress.

Tip: The owners run home-barista classes; ask if a class lands on your visit dates.

New York Café ★ 4.3

erzsebetvaros · Erzsébet körút 9-11, 1073 Budapest

Hours: Mon-Wed 07:00-24:00, Thu-Sun 07:00-01:00

The New York Café in the New York Palace on Erzsebet korut has poured coffee under frescoed ceilings and gilded chandeliers since 1894, the most ornate cafe.

Tip: Queue moves; ask for a table on the upper gallery for the full ceiling view.

Művész Kávéház ★ 4.2

terezvaros · Andrássy út 29, 1061 Budapest

Hours: Sun 09:00-20:00

The Muvesz Kavehaz on Andrassy across from the Opera has poured coffee since 1898, a quieter alternative to Gerbeaud with full Hungarian pastry counter.

Tip: Open daily 09:00-20:00; the terrace fills on Opera matinee days.

Madal Café Hollán Ernő ★ 4.2

ujlipotvaros · Hollán Ernő utca 3, 1136 Budapest

Hours: Mon-Fri 07:30-19:30, Sat-Sun 08:30-19:30

Madal Cafe on Hollan Erno in Ujlipotvaros pours 13 single-origin coffees from two micro-roasters and stocks a wide loose-leaf tea wall in a quiet Pest.

Tip: Mon-Fri 07:30-19:30, weekends 08:30-19:30; the outdoor terrace is calm in summer.

Hadik Kávéház ★ 4.1

ujbuda · Bartók Béla út 36, 1111 Budapest

Hours: Daily 09:00-23:00

Hadik on Bartok Bela ut, rebuilt in 2010 from a 1910 cafe, is the literary heart of Ujbuda with bookshelves, Karinthy memorabilia and a daily Hungarian lunch.

Tip: Pair with Szatyor next door for an after-coffee Hungarian dinner.

Kelet Kávézó és Galéria ★ 4.0

ujbuda · Bartók Béla út 29, 1114 Budapest

Hours: Mon-Fri 07:30-19:00, Sat 09:00-18:00, Sun 09:00-17:00

Kelet Kavezo on Bartok Bela ut in Ujbuda is a cafe, book-exchange library and exhibition space combined, with bagels, filter coffee and a slow Buda crowd.

Tip: Bring a book to swap; the back room is the quietest place to work in Ujbuda.