The Matild Café & Cabaret in Budapest, Hungary, originally opened in 1901 as Belvárosi Kávéház (Downtown Café) and quickly became the social and cultural heart of the city during the Belle Époque. Housed in the historic Matild Palace building, the café has been restored as part of the Matild Palace Hotel, which reopened in 2021 as a member of Marriott’s The Luxury Collection.
Built more than a century ago under the patronage of Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Matild Palace was conceived as a pair of Baroque palaces marking the entrance to Pest from Elisabeth Bridge. The building, later recognized as part of Budapest’s UNESCO World Heritage area, now offers 111 guest rooms—many with Danube views—and 19 suites, including the Crown Tower Suite and the Maria Klotild Royal Suite.
© Matild Palace
After World War II the café closed and remained shuttered until the aftermath of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. In the decades that followed it reemerged as a popular entertainment venue, known for live music and nightly programs. Following a renovation in 1984, it reopened as Belvárosi Kávéház Lidó and evolved through phases as a café-cabaret, casino and nightclub, remaining an important part of Budapest’s nightlife.
Following a thorough five-year restoration, Matild Café & Cabaret has reopened with an interior that evokes the Belle Époque. Locals and visitors can now enjoy high-quality coffees, artisan bonbons from the café’s chocolate atelier, and a selection of traditional cakes and pastries, alongside specially curated cabaret performances that revive the historic spirit of the venue.
© Matild Palace
Since October, the hotel has also been home to a modern two-story, 300-seat café-restaurant under the gastronomic direction of chef Wolfgang Puck. Spago Budapest by Wolfgang Puck marks the celebrated Beverly Hills restaurant’s debut in Europe, bringing a Californian-influenced dining concept to the heart of Budapest.
Spago’s interior blends marble, brass, wood and leather with a series of food counters and open show kitchens, allowing guests to experience both contemporary California-style dishes and classic Hungarian cuisine. Spago Budapest serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers al fresco seating on the Duna Street terrace. Wolfgang Puck also oversees culinary concepts at The Duchess rooftop bar and at Matild Café & Cabaret, ensuring consistent quality across the hotel’s dining venues.
© Matild Palace
“The reopening of Matild Café & Cabaret brings me back to my Austrian roots and recalls the flavors of my mother’s classic pastries,” said Wolfgang Puck. “Now residents of Budapest and visitors alike can rediscover these traditional tastes through the historic café’s cake and pastry offerings.”
Selim Olmez, general manager of Matild Palace, noted: “The unique atmosphere of Matild Café, combined with Wolfgang Puck’s culinary direction at Spago and the cabaret programming, will invigorate Budapest’s social scene.”