Hungarians love to linger over coffee and sweet cakes, and there is nothing quite like the Hungarian cukrasda--Coffee and Dessert shop (pronouced sue-craws-da). Some specialize in take-out, but most also have a small seating area to enjoy a cake or pastry and cup of cappuccino.There are so many good cukraszdas in Budapest, that you'll rarely be disappointed, although price is sometimes an indicator of quality. Of course, sometimes the price is also an indicator of fame as in the case of the famous Gerbeaud Cukrasda on the Vaci Ut where you will find desserts and coffees of the highest quality but overpriced because of the historic surroundings. The same is true of the New York Coffee House on the Korut where the decor is opulent.
Some of the cheapest cukrasdas use thick fatty cream filling instead of dairy cream and their desserts may look absolutely delicious but taste only mediocre. But they are so inexpensive you might give them a try so you have something to compare them with.
One of my favorite cukrasdas in the city is Szamos. It's actually a chain that you will find though out Budapest as well as other Hungarian cities. The quality is top notch and the prices are less than half those charged in Gerbeaud. I don't think anyone in the city can top their Francia Kremes--a popular cake made with cream and wafers of thin dough. Often the dough is soggy or too chewy, but not at Szamos. Sometimes Szamos offers Kremes with srawberries (Eper)...mmmmm good.
See also Central Coffee House under "Eating Out in Budapest"/Budapest Restaurants
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