New York Café in Budapest: A Timeless Gem Opens Its Doors at Night

The New York Café in Budapest, often regarded as the world’s most beautiful coffee house, is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. As a special treat, this iconic establishment on Erzsébet körút is testing a new night-time opening schedule from December 13th to January 6th. During this trial period, the café will welcome guests from midnight until 4 am, providing an opportunity for even more people to enjoy the undisturbed charm of this Budapest jewel. If the idea proves successful, the café plans to introduce a night-time menu starting from March.

Avoiding the Crowds

The December night-time opening allows visitors to avoid long waiting times and enjoy the café’s enchanting atmosphere in a calm, exclusive setting. The coffee house will feature special decorative lighting to create the perfect ambiance for the late-night hours. El Asmodáj, the life-size figure of the torch-bearing demon from the façade, will also make an appearance inside, providing a unique photo opportunity for guests. Additionally, special selfie points will be designated, offering ideal spots for capturing memorable pictures.

Fulfilling a Legendary Dream

According to a famous anecdote, when the café first opened, writer Ferenc Molnár wished for it to never close, and thus threw the keys into the Danube. Now, 130 years later, this dream is being fulfilled once again with the night-time opening. Table reservations will be available on the café’s website. If the concept proves successful, the New York Café will introduce a night-time menu in March for those entering its historic walls.

A Special Anniversary Cake

To mark the café’s 130th anniversary, a new, special cake has been created. This unique creation, combining the flavors of apricot and chocolate, will be available to guests throughout the entire year. During the anniversary celebration, even the staff from Index.hu had the opportunity to taste this delicacy, which is sure to become a new favorite among visitors.

Thousands of Daily Visitors

The New York Café serves between 2,500 and 3,000 guests daily, amounting to over 1 million visitors annually. This extraordinary challenge requires immense organization and dedication. The team responsible for operating the New York Café is committed to carrying out this pride-inducing task with the utmost professionalism.

The café’s popularity has been unwavering since 2011, when Ucityguides.com named it the world’s most beautiful coffee house. This recognition, combined with its inclusion in all iconic guidebooks, professional operation, show-like programs, and high-quality service despite the large volume of visitors, has greatly contributed to its growing success. Today, it’s safe to say that the New York Café is an unmissable attraction in Budapest and one of the most sought-after landmarks.

The Secret to Success

In 2009, the Eventrend Group was granted the opportunity to operate the café. Initially, the team and owners planned to use the space primarily as an event venue. However, after sitting in the empty halls and believing that the upcoming opening would move the palace’s operation in a positive direction after years of losses, they realized the true potential of the café itself.

To attract visitors back to the once loss-making and not-so-well-known establishment, they built a bus stop named “New York Station.” From Keleti to Blaha, tourists on buses could access the history of the New York Café in their native languages (twenty different languages). The Eventrend and CER Kft. became the first private investors to build a bus stop for the city, and they achieved their goal of having competing bus companies vie for the opportunity to stop there.

Instead of offering discounts to bus companies, they decided to provide arriving visitors with a postcard – an old-fashioned, copper-engraved one with zigzag edges, just like at the turn of the century. Guests were asked to write their messages, and the café would mail the postcards to the addresses provided. This unique gesture led to a surge in visitors, with many coming to write postcards to their friends.

Reintroducing the New York Café to Hungarians

Despite the growing number of visitors, the New York Café was still relatively unknown to Hungarians. To address this, they organized two New York Bar Pianist Competitions with renowned jury members such as Csilla Szentpéteri, Károly Nyári, and Viktor Rakonczai. The second round of the competition brought incredibly talented pianists who were then employed at the café. They played there for years until their careers reached heights that outgrew the coffee house. At the time, live piano music was rare in Budapest restaurants; now, it has become a trend and is considered essential for any café.

The Sanctuary of Literature

Recognizing that a café is a sanctuary of literature, they organized the New York Artists’ Lodge, where writers, musicians, painters, critics, and public figures discussed culture, moderated by literary expert Anna Juhász.

As more and more tourists visited the café, UCity Guides launched an eternal competition for the most beautiful coffee houses, which the New York Café has been leading since its announcement. This is why the phrase “The Most Beautiful Café in the World” is often used as a synonym for the New York Café.

Conclusion

As the New York Café in Budapest celebrates its 130th anniversary and tests its night-time opening, it continues to be a timeless gem that attracts visitors from all over the world. With its rich history, stunning interior, and commitment to providing an unforgettable experience, the café remains a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the Hungarian capital.

Image source: New York Cafe