Hungarian culinary ways, both traditional and fashion-forward, converge in one long stretch
on Pozsonyi út with a expanding line-up of restaurants, gourmet cafes, decadent
sweet spots and juice bars. Here’s how this leafy stretch along the Danube side
is staking a claim as Budapest’s next hot food neighborhood.

by Anna J. Kutor

Budapest has a fine reputation in the gastronomy department. Sure, the Jewish district is sizzling
- with its ever diversifying street food spots and impressive bars - the area
around the Central Market is packed with restaurants and cool little gastro
spots, but there’s another area in the Hungarian capital where food and drink
is thriving right now. From beloved mainstays to impressive newcomers and
promising whole-in-the-wall operations, Pozsonyi Út is on the culinary rise.

Halfway between the crazed bustle of the Nyugati Railway station and the leafy serenity of the Margit
Island lies this long stretch of road that offers a little bit of everything.
Gourmet cafes, street food spots rub shoulders with established restaurants and
trend-setting foodie spots, while child-friendly parks, design and clothes
shops and high-end delicatessens fill up the rest of the street.

Start your culinary explorations on the southern end at the foot of the Margit Bridge with a sweet
treat at one of the newer tenants, La Delizia Cookie Manufacturer (1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 7, +36 30 304 0531). If premium cookies and lovingly handmade cakes are your
weakness then this tiny little sweat spot will be your undoing. With dozens of
delicious flavor combinations both traditional and boundary pushing, it’s hard
to pick the best, but the double chocolate with dried sour cherry,
lavender-lemon, or the pumpkin seed cookie with chocolate and chili will surely
not disappoint.

Just next door is Pure & Good (1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 7, +36 20 272 7137), which - as the name suggests - is all about organic, healthy and nutritious food. The one-room space may be
diminutive but it is packed to the brim with a ever-growing variety of
unprocessed foods, including beans, rice types, noodles, gluten-free
ingredients, herbs, spice, cocoa, coffee beans, honey, sugar-free dry fruits
and snacks and even some goat milk cosmetics. One shop down is Fromage (1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 7, +36 1 798 4848), a high-end delicatessen focusing on cheese, bread, wine and ham. This busy,
slightly eccentric and colorful corner shop sells an impressive collection of
domestic and international cheeses, salamis, freshly-baked breads and
croissants, jams, pastas and plenty of wine to wash everything down.

Chocolate is the calling card of Stühmer, the showroom and flagship store of the eponymous company
that was the first chocolate manufacturer in Hungary. Established in 1868 near
the town of Eger by the Hamburg-born pastry chef Frigyes Stühmer, the factory
produced some of the country’s most well-known chocolates and seasonal sweet
treats (think szaloncukor during Christmas time) till Communists nationalized the
company in 1948 and the family fled the country. The factory was revived and re-branded in 2004 and the myriad of chocolate and praline confections can now
be purchased in supermarkets as well as this specialty store on Pozsonyi út 9.

Head across the street for sugary delicacies of a different variety at Édesmindegy (1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 16, +361 339 0209), a self-proclaimed dessert bar where traditional confections
reign supreme. Here you’ll find a rotating selection of all the beloved favorites, from palacsinta to túrós gombóc, madártej to krémes offered in the daily breakfast and lunch menus that deliver intangible food pleasures that go far beyond sweets.

Breakfast classics and tempting sweet treats are the specialty at Briós Kávézó (1137
Budapest, Pozsonyi út 16, +36 1 789 6110) customers who drop by for lunch,
brunch or an afternoon pick-me-up never disappointed in this neighborhood
favorite. The muted, pastel interior may be a bit dull, but the solid range of
egg-based breakfasts, sandwiches, pastries, coffee specialties are complemented
by a good selection of soups and mains to keep clients coming all day long. The
toy-filled kids corner makes this a popular spot with families. Budapest,
Pozsonyi út 16, 1137

A few clicks down is The Donut Library (1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út
22)  , another edible ode to gluttony.
There’s no denying it - from the moment the smell of glazed vanilla scent hits
you, you’re hooked; then the smiling lady behind the counter suggests you try
the new specialty flavor (like pistachio-strawberry, lime or passion during
the summer). Before you know you’ve polished three orbs (probably at least one
of the banana-cream filled Minion-looking ones or the Oreo-topped
deliciousness) and you’re leaving with a beautifully-packaged box filled with a
dozen different yet-to-be-tried varieties - all presents for family and
friends, of course.

Looking for something a more refreshing and healthy, perhaps? Then cross the street and
a few meter onwards to Tütü (1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 37,
+36 1 ) for some cold pressed vegetable and fruit juices. The new cool-kid of
the juicing scene, this health-conscious spot is all about the seasonal
combinations all made fresh to order in a way that ensures more vitamins,
minerals and enzymes get into every glass or take-away cup. Besides all the
colorful juices and smoothies there’s a good selection of coffees and a large
breakfast menu of breads, jams and yogurts.

Over the road is Szent István Park, a busy urban greenery favored by families,
youngsters and dog walkers as there are plenty of benches, playgrounds and
leafy spaces to go around. Or perhaps the parks’ popularity is due to Dunapark
Café (1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út +36 1 786 1009), an elegant establishment catering to all
types: fresh pastries and cool drinks for the kid crowd, Mediterranean-inspired
lunch and dinner options for the cool crowd, who also appreciate the assortment
of Hungarian wines and cocktails.

With a healthy glow in tow, hit up Timmy Praline (1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 49,
+36 1 411 9642) for another gluttonous chocolate binge. This tiny little
jewel-box of a shop features exquisite-looking delicacies hand made from the
finest Belgian and French chocolate, alongside a selection of premium Lindt,
Amadei, and Coppeneur creations. The lavender infused truffles and
diamond-shaped salty caramel pralines are alone worth visitor for.