Your 3-hour guided walk with an art historian begins at Vorosmarthy Square in the heart of the city. The first café on the tour is Gerbaud, which provides an insight into the ambiance of Imperial Budapest. With its exquisite interior and more than 100 years of history, it served as a central social hub for both visitors and locals during the late 19th century.
From Gerbaud you’ll take the tram along the Danube to the Central Cafe, a space so dignified that it epitomises café house culture during the pinnacle of the Habsburg Empire’s economic and cultural power in the 19th century. The decor, the meals, the desserts, and drinks all give a sense of the atmosphere of a bygone culture.
Marvel at the lavish and more than century old Café Astoria, which evokes the grandeur of classic European coffee houses.
After another short walk, you’ll come to the Urania Cafe on Rakoczi street, which houses the oldest film theatre in the city, and is known for lectures given by prominent intellectuals before large audiences.