Budapest's Sweet Secret: The Bakery Route

[Iberostar Hotels & Resorts]

You haven’t truly eaten cake until you’ve taken in some of the beautiful Hungarian capital’s more than 200 bakeries, or café-cum-bakeries. Patisserie in Budapest is sheer perfection and a stop in at least one of its famous bakeries is a must during a tour of the city.

The often tragic ups and downs of recent history have made prestigious cakes such as the Viennese Sacher Torte and the German Schwarzwälder- kirschtorte (Black Forest gateau) internationally popular, as well as a host of equally good or better recipes borne out of Hungarian creativity. Some Viennese confectionery books claim that the Dobos torte is Austrian, undoubtedly taking advantage of the countries’ common history under the now defunct Austro-Hungarian Empire to appropriate the invention of this century-old cake. It is well documented, however, that this delicious cake is 100% Hungarian. Dobos torte is made up of layers of sponge and chocolate, topped with a thin layer of caramel. It is elegant and striking and simply must be tried!

The most famous bakeries in Budapest are often also the best cafés. For centuries, writers, philosophers, painters and poets have gathered around the tables of these famous cafés for lively discussions and sweet treats accompanied by coffee or liqueurs.

Café Gerbeaud is one of the oldest cafés in Europe and boasts a fascinating history, a special atmosphere, and the world’s most delicious confectionery. There are more than 300 seats inside and a similar number outside on the terrace. It has now become one of the must see tourist spots. You have been informed!

If you want to try the best Meggyes rétes (retés is a strudel), look no further than the Rétesbar, in the Castle Hill district, where they serve delicious varieties such as the Mákos rétes (made with sour cherries), Alma rétes (made with apples) and Szilva rétes (made with plums), depending on the season.

Café Ruszwurm, in Buda’s Castle Hill district, is decorated with cherry paneling and has been combining quality service with excellent food since 1824. The pastries are so exquisite that people come all the way from Vienna just to enjoy them.

Opposite the Opera House is Café Művész, an elegant coffee shop with marble tables and chandeliers which evoke a bygone era. It boasts a beautiful terrace with breathtaking views.

The list of places seems nearly endless, since most cafés in Budapest are undeniably synonymous with quality and beauty. The good thing is, the bakery route, or “sugar circuit”, is easy to do because nearby every tourist attraction is a cake shop worth visiting!  

“IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has a hotel in Budapest: The IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Budapest, which is 5 star. Renowned for excellence and good taste, and with personalized attention and ultra-modern facilities, the Grand Budapest is part of the IBEROSTAR Grand Collection, the high-end hotel concept designed for top executives, VIPs and deluxe tourism. ”

From PassportTo...