New York Café, Budapest

The New York Cafe is a lavishly decorated coffeehouse in central Budapest, opened in 1894 in the palace of an American insurance company. During its heyday it was a gathering place for writers and journalists who edited magazines at its marble tables, earning it a reputation as one of the literary hearts of the city. Its interior overflows with gilded columns, frescoed ceilings, chandeliers, and twisting balustrades in an exuberant style. Restored after decades of decline, it preserves the grandeur of the golden age of Budapest coffee culture.