Welcome to Pilvax – A Hungarian Restaurant in the Heart of Budapest
As early as 1910, a decision was made to demolish the block of which the café was a part. The vast constructions of the Dual Monarchy were transforming the city centre, including the Pilvax. The place was finally closed in November 1911, with a large farewell ceremony witnessed by regulars and followers.
1848 - 2022
Hungarian restaurant Budapest
Hungarian Cuisine
From the café where the revolution started
Pilvax Café and Restaurant awaits its guests in the heart of Budapest, at Pilvax köz 3 – where the National Song was born in 1848, and where we still serve authentic Hungarian flavors today.
Dear guests,
please let us know if you just want to have a coffee
Select your details and we’ll try to get the best seats for you.
GET UPDATES ON OFFERS,
EVENTS & SPECIAL MENU
Menu – traditional Hungarian cuisine at Pilvax
Our menu is consciously traditional: goulash soup with chips, beef stew, chicken paprikash with homemade dumplings, Somlói dumplings – classic Hungarian dishes made from fresh ingredients, based on homemade recipes. The full menu is available in both Hungarian and English.
%20szalv%C3%A9tagomb%C3%B3ccal_.jpg)
In the middle of Budapest, two steps from Váci Street
Pilvax Kávéház és Étterem
Budapest, Pilvax köz 3, 1052
Pilvax Café and Restaurant is located in the 5th district of Budapest, at Pilvax köz 3 – a quiet side street, directly off Váci utca. Deák Ferenc tér metro station is a five-minute walk away, and Astoria is three to four minutes away. It is the perfect place to eat while walking around the city or sightseeing.
06 30 097 9999
When to Visit Pilvax – The Restaurant for Every Occasion
Business Lunch in Budapest City Center
Located minutes from the office buildings of the V. district, Pilvax is a popular choice for business lunches and meetings in central Budapest. We offer a quieter inner rooms allowed for discreet conversation and also live music for br. Reservations by phone are recommended to secure a table within your lunch break.
Romantic Dinner for Two
The warm evening lighting, attentive service, and a wine list devoted entirely to Hungarian vintages make Pilvax an ideal Hungarian restaurant in Budapest for anniversaries, dates, and quiet celebrations. The 19th-century interior turns an ordinary dinner into a memorable evening in the heart of the city.
Family Gatherings and Group Dining
For larger parties, we arrange dedicated tables by prior reservation. Group menus are tailored to your needs – birthdays, graduations, family celebrations, and gatherings with friends. Hungarian classics in a setting that suits any occasion, just steps from Váci Street.
A Hungarian Restaurant for Visitors to Budapest
For international guests, our English menu and multilingual staff make every detail easy. The history of the Pilvax, the 19th-century setting, and the authentic Hungarian cuisine offer something more than a tourist stop – a genuine taste of Budapest's culinary heritage, within walking distance of Váci Street, Deák Square, and St. Stephen's Basilica.
Dine Where Hungarian History Was Made
PILVAX reopen after 111 years
As early as 1910, a decision was made to demolish the block of which the café was a part. The vast constructions of the Dual Monarchy were transforming the city centre, including the Pilvax. The place was finally closed in November 1911, with a large farewell ceremony witnessed by regulars and followers.
1848 - 2022
The most historical site of Hungary’s 1848 Revolution
Considered as the main hub of the 1848 Revolution, the Pilvax Café was the setting where the city’s zealous artists and intellectuals regularly got together to exchange opinions about life in Hungary under the Habsburg regime. This politically heated movement was soon joined by talented Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi, who shared equally fervent views with this ardent coffeehouse crowd, and here the Magyar wordsmith first delivered his poetic masterpiece crying out for Hungarian freedom, the “National Song”. On the morning of March 15th, the dissidents gathered at the Pilvax to rally onto the streets of Budapest, spreading their outlook and loudly reciting the 12 Points, a list of demands that was previously compiled at the café. Once a scene of patriotic sentiments, today the street where the coffeehouse stood is the understated site of several international hangouts, including a Lebanese eatery, a New York-themed bar, and a Thai restaurant; only the name of the passage – Pilvax köz – is reminiscent of the history-shaking café where the 1848 Revolution began.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the questions we receive most often from guests planning a visit. If you don't find your answer here, please call us at +36 30 097 9999 — we are happy to help.