If you’re visiting Budapest, you must have heard about the Great Market Hall, one of the main highlights of the city. But was it the only place where people could have done their shopping in the old times? Of course not! There were 5 similar building built at the same time in the end of the 19th century and each operates as a shopping center to this day. But the one on the Batthyány square has two important advantages: an incredibly great view of the Parliament and a third wave coffee shop on the first floor, the Steamhouse Cafè.
All the ingredients of a specialty coffee shop are provided here: professional baristas, high quality, lightly roasted beans from a micro-roastery and good machines. What’s more, they serve all-day breakfast which doesn’t wind up just being scrambled eggs and toast.
Sorry, I can’t help writing more about the market hall building itself. Even if you don’t feel like consuming caffeine, don’t miss out on going upstairs and being mesmerized by the ceiling’s amazing steel structure. I would rather suggest having a nice piece of cake (even ʻfreeʼ ones) and sitting down in the cafè’s gallery at the giant window in front of the Parliament.