From my photos at Flickr Produced by Kayakman Media

Café Alibi is quickly becoming a favorite place ... and that's saying something considering that Budapest is known for its great cafés. Small tables, cozy nooks, and soft lighting create a relaxing and intimate atmosphere that encourages you to unwind, talk long, and enjoy. And unlike some cafés, Alibi has the menu to match. From the milkshake with fresh fruit to the coffees to the main courses, everything we sampled was superb. It's easy to see why the café boasts that "there are so many satisfied and faithful customers, who can really feel that the Café Alibi is their haunt."

This rather new place (it opened in 2000) is on Egyetem Tér which is between Váci utca and Kalvin Tér so even its outdoor seating has a great neighborhood feel to it. Check out their website for a glimpse at their menu, but sign up for their newsletter for a heads-up on the weekly specials--plus you get a free coffee.

For more information visit the official website: Café Alibi

From my photos at Flickr Produced by Kayakman Media

The Astoria Hotel's Mirror Café & Restaurant boasts of its "unique blend of antique and fresh, traditional and modern," and rightfully so. Unlike many of Budapest's other elegant cafés, the Mirror survived the wars and communist regime fairly unscathed. Yet this is not its only source of pride, for the true blend of the traditional and modern comes from the kitchen in its fusion of Hungarian and international delicacies. The duck was a favorite amongst our group. Visit the café's website, to view its menu (both the site and menu are available in Hungarian, English, and Deutsch.) And while such delicious foods and sophisticated ambiance do not come cheap, the café's coffee and dessert menu is comparable to Centrál Café and cheaper than many of the tourist-geared coffeehouses (kávéház) on the nearby shopping street Váci utca.

So if you're near the Astoria stop on the piros metro (Red M2), the newspapers and magazines in Cafe Mirror beckon you to come and relax with a cappuccino or hot chocolate and torte. If it's around meal time, why not try one of the fusion dishes and experience this delightful blend of traditions.

For more information visit their website: Astoria Café Mirror

From my photos at Flickr Produced by Kayakman Media

Budapest's famous Vaci Utca is home to the popular Anna Café. In fact there are two locations. One bookends the shopping street with a location right across from the Central Market, but the larger--and original--café is just a few blocks away from another tourist hot-spot, Café Gerbeaud. Both Anna locations have terraces with great scenery, though the insides are inviting as well.

Originally a coffeehouse, Anna Café became an espresso café after WWII. Today it creates original coffee creations which you can pair with a decent selection of desserts. Or if you need something more substantial there's also salads and sandwiches. Be forewarned however. Anna Café caters to the tourist; so you'll find few traditional Hungarian foods here, the desserts are tasty but mostly European in style, and its a bit pricey when compared to other quality cafés, like Centrál Café, that are slightly off the main path.

For more information visit their website: Anna Café

From my photos at Flickr Produced by Kayakman Media

Tucked away on a side street just north of the Hungarian National Museum is a modest little café that won't take a big bite out of your wallet--unlike some of the more famous cafés just a block or so away. And while the selection at Caffé Novo may be smaller, it still offers sandwiches (less than 400 HUF) and salads for a light meal. But more importantly, as the café is part of the Italian Culture Center, it serves an excellent espresso and cappuccino (around 300 HUF). And of course, there's also Italian ice cream and other desserts to complete the meal. Make sure you peruse the Italian books (for sale) in the case that lines one wall topped with posters and the colorful collection of art that covers the other. The friendly staff speaks Italian and some English. So if you're in the neighborhood of the national museum and want a place with quality food at a reasonable price, with a bit of Italian flavor, then make sure you take a stroll down the recently re-vamped Bródy Sándor utca.

For more information visit their website: Istituto Italiano di Cultura

From my photos at Flickr Produced by Kayakman Media

Let's jump straight to the point with this one ... the food here was delicious! Well worth every forint, unlike some of the cafés just up Castle Hill where you'll pay more and get less. Located just a few yards from the Castle District's southern steps, Tabáni Terasz is easily accessible by tram (#18 and #19) and bus. And considering this semi-prime location in the oldest section of Buda, we're surprised that this restaurant/coffeehouse/wine cellar is not listed in any of our guidebooks, because it should be. Especially considering that the last vestige of the Taban district can be found right here in the nearby Tabán Parish Church and the historically protected building (built in the last half of the 1700s) on the corner of Aprod u. 10 and Dobrentei u. 9. In fact, off of Tabáni Terasz's courtyard terrace is a small museum dedicated to district's days gone by.

The restaurant was opened in 2002 to "reawaken the romantic and gastronomic pleasures of the Taban." Here you'll find four distinct sitting options: The outdoor terrace with a view of the Castle District and Gellért Hill, the cozy indoor café, the courtyard shaded by a 200 year-old tree has a grill terrace and cocktail bar, and the wine cellar. Visit the website Tabáni Terasz for further details on its history, the menu, its party service, and more.

Our choices, as seen in the SplashCast, were the thyme chicken breast in garlic butter served with spinach salad and English mustard dressing, tomato cream soup with spinach and mozzarella crepe, cucumber salad, and for dessert, apple pie with walnut tatar and vanilla ice cream accompanied by an espresso. Didn't we say it was delicious?