The best confectioneries in Budapest

What is it? The story of Gerbeaud began in 1858 with Henrik Kugler’s confectionery. The business moved to its current location on focal square Vörösmarty tér in 1870, where Emil Gerbeaud took over management in 1884. Its historic interior, classic cakes and authentic coffeehouse atmosphere make it one of Budapest’s most renowned confectionery experiences to this day.

Why we love it Gerbeaud features both Hungarian confectionery classics and the signature desserts of the house. Alongside staples such as the Gerbeaud itself, a layered walnut-and-apricot-jam cake, and stablemates, the Dobos torta and Eszterházy torta, you’ll find modern creations such as the Royal Chocolate cake and the salted peanut-apricot slice. It’s worth visiting for more than just cake – you can also enjoy breakfast, lunch and, in good weather, the terrace overlooking the square offers a real big-city coffeehouse vibe.

Time Out tip: If you’re here as a couple, check out the Gerbeaud Afternoon Tea service (2-6pm) – it includes savoury and sweet treats, tea or coffee and a glass of Gerbeaud Brut sparkling wine.

Address: Vörösmarty tér 7-8, 1051 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Thur, Sun 9am-8pm, Fri-Sat 9am-9pm

Expect to pay: Classic cakes Ft 4,490 (€12.30), plated desserts Ft 5,490-6,990 (€15-19), Gerbeaud Classic cake selection Ft 9,590 (€26), Gerbeaud Afternoon Tea for two Ft 26,900 (€73.50)

What is it? A pâtisserie and café located on the ground floor of the recently opened five-star St Regis Budapest, housed within the historic Klotild Palace. It occupies the carefully restored space of a former pharmacy, where original wooden furnishings and historic details blend with contemporary hospitality.

Why we love it The setting alone makes it worth a visit, but Klotild offers more than just a stunning interior. The menu features freshly baked goods, inventive desserts, coffees and light savoury dishes, with Hungarian and French pastry influences subtly blending with the hotel’s international atmosphere.

Time Out tip: If you’re planning a leisurely afternoon, continue your experience in The St Regis Atrium after visiting the pâtisserie. The hotel serves its traditional afternoon tea daily from 2pm to 5pm – though note that this is a separate offering, distinct from the services of pâtisserie.

Address: Klotild Palace, The St Regis Budapest, 34 Váci utca, 1052 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 8am-7pm

What is it? A modern dessert workshop in downtown District V where Zoltán Kolonics and Ágnes Varga blend French pastry techniques with Hungarian flavours and their own creative ideas.

Why we love it At Málna, a dessert is more than just a slice of cake. The display case features a mix of fruity, chocolatey and exotic flavour pairings, varied textures and often flour-free bases. Their signature creation, A Málna Málnája (‘The Raspberry’s Raspberry’), conceals a milk-chocolate cream and raspberry jelly, while their take on the classic Somlói galuska is a perfect example of how a well-known Hungarian dessert can be reimagined in contemporary style.

Time Out tip: If it’s your first visit, start with the signature A Málna Málnája – this single dessert beautifully showcases exactly what sets this place apart from a traditional pastry shop.

Address: Hercegprímás utca 17, 1052 Budapest

Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm. Closed Mon

Expect to pay: Desserts around Ft 3,400 (€9.30)

What is it? The French-inspired brasserie of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, featuring an in-house pastry team that crafts pastries and signature cakes. This makes it a great destination for a full blow-out or simply for coffee and dessert.

Why we love it The dessert selection at KOLLÁZS reflects fine-dining artistry rather than a traditional pastry counter. The menu features classics such as crème brûlée, mille-feuille, Somlói galuska and Eszterházy cake, alongside seasonal desserts and a variety of ice creams and sorbets. The atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed, and proximity to the Chain Bridge and the Danube enhances the experience.

Time Out tip: If you’re stopping by just for sweets, check the current dessert menu, as the selection changes seasonally. In good weather, ask for a table on the terrace and consider pairing your dessert with a glass of sweet wine instead of coffee.

Address: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 5-6, 1051 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Thur, Sun 7am-10pm, Fri-Sat 7am-10.30pm

Expect to pay: Eszterházy cake Ft 4,900 (€13.40), mille-feuille Ft 5,100 (€14), Somlói galuska Ft 5,200 (€14.20), crème brûlée Ft 5,500 (€15), ice creams and sorbets Ft 1,300 (€3.60)/scoop

What is it? A family confectionery dynasty spanning more than 150 years, with a history that began in 1870 with Elek Auguszt’s pastry shop in Buda. Today, Auguszt operates at four locations across Budapest, with each branch showcasing a slightly different facet of the family’s confectionery heritage.

Why we love it At Auguszt, tradition doesn’t mean that every cake has remained unchanged for decades. A prime example is the E-80, created by the family for Elemér Auguszt’s 80th birthday – it proved so successful that it became a permanent fixture on the menu. It consists of sponge cake, chocolate cream, marzipan and coffee-infused whipped cream, topped with roasted almonds. Naturally, the timeless classics of Hungarian confectionery are also lined up alongside it.

Time Out tip: The city-centre branch near Astoria at Kossuth Lajos utca 14-16 adjoins an attractive, Italianate courtyard, where you can tuck into your cake in atmospheric surroundings.

Addresses: Auguszt City Centre, Kossuth Lajos utca 14-16, 1053 Budapest; Geraldine – Auguszt in the National Museum gardens, Múzeum körút 14-16, 1088 Budapest; Fény utca Auguszt, Fény utca 8, 1024 Budapest; Farkasrét Auguszt Pavilion, Sasadi út 190, 1112 Budapest

Opening hours: City Centre Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, closed Sun-Mon; Geraldine Tue-Sun 10am-7pm, closed Mon; Fény utca Tue-Sat 8.30am-6pm, closed Sun-Mon; Farkasréti Pavilion daily 10am-7pm

Expect to pay: Cake slices Ft 1,290-1,990 (€3.50-5.50)

What is it? A pâtisserie specialising in spectacular, modern desserts, located on downtown Sas utca near the Basilica. Chef Eszter Palágyi – who previously headed the kitchen of a Michelin-starred restaurant – helped shape NOUR’s menu.

Why we love it The desserts at NOUR are composed of multiple layers, varied textures and precisely crafted flavour pairings. Hungarian classics are given a whole new look here – the Somlói galuska, for instance, combines three types of sponge cake, vanilla cream, walnut praline, rum-soaked raisins, white chocolate mousse and dark-chocolate syrup. The puncskocka (‘punch cube’) evokes the original with almond sponge, apricot jam, punch ganache and a pink mirror glaze.

Time Out tip: For your first visit, choose one of the reimagined Hungarian classics. The Somlói or the puncskocka perfectly showcase how NOUR transforms familiar flavours into contemporary desserts.

Address: 7 Sas utca, 1051 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 10am-8pm

Expect to pay: Somlói Ft 3,790 (€10.40), puncskocka Ft 3,490 (€9.55), Eszterházy Ft 3,390 (€9.30), fruit dessert collection (8 pieces) Ft 29,900 (€81.75) 

What is it? Dóra Szalai – aka Dodo – has been running her macaron and dessert workshop in downtown Budapest for more than a decade. At the Sas utca branch, you can catch a glimpse of the production process while browsing a counter filled with macarons, petit fours and seasonal desserts.

Why we love it Chez Dodo has long since moved beyond just macarons. Their selection includes mignons, canelés, financiers, madeleines and seasonal dessert collections, occasionally featuring reimagined versions of Hungarian classics. Their macarons and other sweets are also available in stunning gift boxes, making Chez Dodo a reliable spot for gift-shopping in Budapest. In 2024, the workshop was recognised with a La Liste Pastry Discovery Gem Award.

Time Out tip: Chez Dodo also produces a range of tasteful souvenirs, cups, plates and tote bags.

Address: Sas utca 7, 1055 Budapest. Also located at MOM Park and the Bocca Gourmet Stories shop.

Opening hours: Mon 11am-8pm, Tue-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-7pm

Expect to pay: Madeleines Ft 1,890 (€5.15), Esmé Ischler biscuits Ft 2,390 (€6.50), gift box with 6 macarons & 4 mignons Ft 16,350 (€44.70), medium Jardin Enchanté dessert selection Ft 22,550 (€61.70)

What is it? The story of Cova began in Milan in 1817 and in 2026, this Italian pastry shop and café– looking back at more than 200 years of history – arrived in Budapest. Located on the ground floor of the Matild Palace, the venue carries on Milanese café traditions from breakfast through to the evening aperitivo.

Why we love it It’s worth taking your time here and treating your dessert like a little café ritual. Alongside tiramisu and classic Milanese panettone, the selection includes millefoglie, assorted pastries, maritozzo, ice cream and various chocolates. Gianduiotti, pralines, quadrotti and cremini are also available in gift boxes, making it a great place to shop for presents.

Time Out tip: Since you are visiting a Milanese pastry shop, don’t miss the panettone. Cova’s own history traces the house panettone-making tradition all the way back to 1817.

Address: Matild Palace, 36 Váci utca, 1056 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 7am-11pm

Expect to pay: Tiramisu and Coppa Cova Ft 5,500 (€15), millefoglie Ft 4,800 (€13), daily dessert Ft 3,900 (€10.70), panettone Ft 3,200 (€8.75), ice cream Ft 950 (€2.60)/scoop

What is it? A contemporary pâtisserie near Parliament on Szalay utca, where cakes and desserts rely just as much on textures and distinctive flavour pairings as they do on visual appeal. In addition to the city-centre outlet, they operate their own cake workshop in District XVII.

Why we love it Alongside familiar favourites, the selection at Egy Csipet Torta features exciting tarts and modern cakes. The pistachio-lemon tart is built on an almond-pastry base with lemon curd and meringue, while the blueberry-currant version combines homemade blueberry jam with blackcurrant curd.

Time Out tip: If marzipan is your thing, then Hungary’s most eminent producer of this almond-based treat, Szamos, has its showcase outlet across Kossuth Lajos tér at No.10.

Address: Szalay utca 4, 1055 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 11am-7pm

Expect to pay: 6-slice Sacher Torte and pistachio-lemon tart: Ft 14,500 (€40), 10-slice New York cheesecake Ft 21,600 (€59), 12-slice allergen-free cakes Ft 28,200 (€77)

What is it? One of Budapest’s unmissable classics up in Óbuda. For generations, Daubner has been synonymous with the traditional style of confectionery where you can choose from a vast array of pastries, cakes, parfaits and savoury treats.

Why we love it You don’t come here for the ornate interior but for the delicacies in the display case. Mousse cakes, fruit tarts, flódni, rigó Jancsi, tiramisu, E-80 cakes, parfaits and savoury baked goods line up side by side – the selection is almost overwhelming. What makes Daubner so lovable is that it doesn’t try to look like a new-wave dessert salon – it has consistently maintained its own unique character for decades.

Time Out tip: Daubner isn’t easy to reach by public transport – take the HÉV train from Batthyány tér to Szépvölgyi út, then bus 29 two stops to Ürömi utca.

Address: Szépvölgyi út 50, 1025 Budapest

Opening hours: Wed-Sun 9am-7pm. Closed Mon-Tue

Expect to pay: Cake slices Ft 940-1,270 (€2.60-3.50), Somló-style trifle Ft 1,600 (€4.40), parfait cakes Ft 4,450-4,550 (€12.40)/kg

What is it? Heading a family-run pâtisserie near Kelenföld station at Etele tér where Hungarian confectionery traditions meet French and Italian influences. Norbert Erdős gained hands-on experience in the hospitality industry in Italy, later qualifying as a pastry chef while also specialising in ice-cream making.

Why we love it While ice cream is the greatest strength here, their pastry selection includes both original creations and familiar favourites. The Erdős cake combines pistachio, chocolate and white-chocolate cream, while their ezerlapos krémes is a unique take on the mille-feuille.

Time Out tip: The ice-cream flavours here really are something else – bergamot, rosemary-and-raspberry, and cherry-and-poppy-seed to name just a few!

Address: Etele tér 3, 1115 Budapest

Opening hours: Winter Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat-Sun & hols 9am-7pm. Summer Daily until 8pm

Expect to pay: Cake slices Ft 1,790-2,590 (€4.90-7)

What is it? A long-standing favourite on Ráday utca, where – alongside classic confectionery staples – they craft their own signature cakes and sweets tailored to special dietary needs.

Why we love it At Nándori, you’ll find classics such as mézes krémes (honey creamcake), Gerbeaud (walnut-and-apricot-jam layer cake), and Dobos and Eszterházy cakes, right alongside the workshop’s own unique creations. Examples include the layered apple cake with redcurrant mousse, though the selection also features French-inspired desserts and various other types of mousse. You can even put together a mixed platter of savoury and sweet tea biscuits.

Time Out tip: In 2026, try the Best Cake in Hungary winners. Both the Bíborfehér (winner in the traditional category) and Szilvafácska (winner in the sugar-free category) are available at Nándori.

Address: Ráday utca 53, 1092 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7.30am-7pm. Closed Sun

Expect to pay: Dobos & Eszterházy cake slices Ft 1,200 (€3.30), Somlói cake slice Ft 1,350 (€3.70), Bíborfehér Ft 1,800 (€5), Szilvafácska Ft 1,600 (€4.40), Somlói galuska Ft 2,250 (€6.15)