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When you're ready to splurge on a treat you may want to visit Gerbeaud Café. This is not the spot to order a simple kavé--unless of course you prefer a basic drink to go with any one of the dozen of desserts the café offers. And as Gerbeaud has a long reputation of having some of the best traditional Hungarian pastries passing on dessert would be a shame.

But Gerbeaud is not known just for its pastries, it is one of the oldest and largest cafés in Europe. Since opening in 1858, it has expanded and now includes a full restaurant, catering and banquet hall, pub, confectionary, and coffeehouse--all together spanning the width of a city block (Gerbeaud Ház). Indoors you are surrounded by cultured nostalgia, but a seat outdoors may give you free entertainment. The café is in the wide open Vörösmarty tér at the end of Vaci utca (or the other end of the shopping street from the Central Market) which is often the stage for musicians, events, and dance groups. If no entertainers are on hand you can people watch as the café is right by the Földalatti station (M1 Metro) and across the tér is a lovely statue and small park that is also a tourist draw. Of course being in the heart of the city and surrounded by other tourist attractions, this is not the cheapest place for a bit of refreshment, (coffee drinks range from 610 - 1,900 HUF, desserts 300 - 800 HUF), but still a must at least once if you can afford it.

For more information visit their website: Gerbeaud Café