Many Budapest restaurants offer lunch menus, but few live up to the standards of Lumen: Monday to Friday they offer a combo of one soup (always vegetarian) and two main courses, one meat-based and one vegetarian. Much loved local staples such as pottages or paprikash are combined liberally with elements borrowed from exotic cuisines, say a dash of curry or my personal favourite Italian ribollita. The ‘main menu’ changes seasonally, focusing on readily available fresh ingredients, and there are also several breakfast choices.
Outside the busy lunch hours students, office escapees such as myself and creatives (some working in ateliers hosted by Lumen’s building) lounge around sipping lemonades and Lumen’s own brand of coffee, roasted on the spot in the space behind the counter. Come evening, the beverage of choice becomes a craft beer or a wine, perhaps a spritzer in summer- as with everything here, special attention is paid to the origin and quality of produce, with emphasis on sourcing from local microbusinesses.
The music is carefully curated (by now I’ve grown quite familiar with the preferences of different members of staff), and there is a small concert hall adjacent to the main space which hosts underground concerts and an array of low-key cultural events. Lying just outside the city’s heavily frequented ‘party neighbourhood’, Lumen is the ideal combination of local engagement and cosmopolitan charm, perfect for a delicious lunch, a coffee or a beer with friends or finally submitting that essay I’ve been postponing forever.
Horánszky utca 5
Daily menu:
HUF
1450
204022393
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Café Csiga is a classic local spot, with it's laid-back atmosphere and daily menu it has a lot of regulars, who come often for a good lunch, café or beer.
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Centrál Kávéház in Budapest is a very elegant, old-style coffee house and restaurant. I recommend visiting if you want to see what Pest used to look like.
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MinuteBistro has a “daily menu” option, which can come with a soup combined either with salad or pasta/risotto (gluten-free pasta option is available too).
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Whether you're seeking a moment to relax or simply admiring the beauty of the area, the square will offer an escape from the chaos of everyday life.
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Take a seat right by the window where you can enjoy your treats with your morning coffee while looking outside at how the world moves at a different pace.
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I make sure to visit this place, at least once per month and always eat the same Gallet cake and drink some coffee or tea from their selections.
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Imagine a coffee with a small doze of mascarpone topping up with an espresso, which is a real delight for your taste buds, and a sprinkle of cocoa powder.
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On the menu there is a lot of different and unique sounding teas, and I would recommend trying the dark chocolate tea with a sip of cream on the side.
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This is a family-owned business, where the food tastes homemade. Every meal you choose feels like your family cooked it with so much love.
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This place might seem a bit retro to the people who pass by, but one thing is certain: some things are always great, no matter how much time passes.
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You can find many different kinds of cheesecakes here but one standout recommendation is the cottage cheese and raspberry, a unique Hungarian taste.
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Tortuga és Pohánka blends Mexican and Hungarian flavors in Budapest’s VII. District, offering 100% sourdough bread and authentic food made with heart.
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176 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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