Emma Mykytyn Béchamel Budapest Review: Hungarian and French Breakfast
Béchamel Budapest is an all-day breakfast and brunch restaurant on Akácfa Street, in the heart of the city’s lively Jewish Quarter. Despite its French name, the menu travels beyond France, bringing together Hungarian favourites and familiar international brunch dishes.
We visited for breakfast and ordered two very different options: the Hungarian breakfast and the French breakfast. It was a useful way to compare the substantial, savoury side of the menu with something lighter and sweeter.
Where is Béchamel Budapest?
Address: Béchamel Budapest, Akácfa utca 36, 1072 Budapest, Hungary
The restaurant is located in Budapest’s seventh district, between the city centre and the busy Erzsébet körút. It is within walking distance of many of the Jewish Quarter’s bars, cafés, restaurants and historic attractions.
Béchamel currently advertises opening hours of 8am until 5pm daily, with the kitchen serving food from 8am until 4pm. It has been serving breakfast in Budapest since 2019. Check the restaurant’s latest information before travelling, as opening hours and menu prices can change.
Breakfast at Béchamel Budapest
The menu covers everything from Eggs Benedict and avocado toast to shakshuka, croque madame, omelettes and sweet breakfasts.
Rather than choosing two similar egg dishes, we ordered the Hungarian and French breakfasts. This gave us one filling local dish and one simple continental-style option.
Hungarian breakfast
The Hungarian breakfast was easily the more substantial of our two choices.
It included:
Hungarian lecsó with egg
Fried Debreceni sausage
Mustard
Pickled vegetables
bread.
Lecsó is a comforting Hungarian dish made around peppers, tomatoes and paprika. At Béchamel, it is combined with egg to create a warm and filling breakfast with plenty of flavour.
The fried Debreceni sausage added a smoky, meaty element, while the mustard and pickled vegetables helped cut through the richness. The bread was useful for scooping up the lecsó and meant that nothing on the plate went to waste.
This is a good choice for anyone looking for a traditional Hungarian breakfast in Budapest rather than the avocado toast and pancakes found on almost every brunch menu.
It is also a sizeable breakfast. Order this when you have a busy day of sightseeing ahead or when breakfast may need to keep you going until late afternoon.
At the time of our visit, the published menu listed the Hungarian breakfast at 3,790 HUF.
French breakfast
The French breakfast offered a complete contrast.
It consisted of three slices of brioche served with butter and homemade jam. A coffee, hot chocolate, tea or orange juice was included as the accompanying drink.
The brioche made this the sweeter and lighter of the two breakfasts. Its soft texture worked well with the butter and jam, while the drink made it feel like a complete café breakfast rather than simply a plate of toast.
Seasonal fresh fruit could also be added for an extra charge. The published menu listed the French breakfast at 3,390 HUF, with seasonal fruit available for an additional 890 HUF.
This option is best for anyone who prefers a simple European breakfast or does not want a large savoury meal first thing in the morning.
Hungarian breakfast or French breakfast?
The two breakfasts serve completely different appetites.
Choose the Hungarian breakfast for something warm, savoury and filling. The combination of lecsó, sausage, egg, pickles and bread provides a much stronger introduction to local Hungarian flavours.
Choose the French breakfast when you want a lighter start to the day, particularly when paired with coffee or orange juice.
Ordering both worked particularly well for us because we could share and compare the dishes. One person received a substantial cooked breakfast, while the other had something simpler and sweeter.
Drinks at Béchamel
The drinks menu includes espresso, cappuccino, flat white, iced coffee, matcha, tea, hot chocolate, fresh orange juice and homemade lemonade.
Coffee prices begin at around 750 HUF on the published menu, while milk alternatives such as oat and coconut milk are also available for an additional charge. Prices are in Hungarian forints and include VAT. The menu states that a 10% service charge is added to the final bill.
Is Béchamel Budapest worth visiting?
Béchamel is a good breakfast choice for travellers staying in District VII or exploring central Pest.
The menu is broad enough to suit different appetites, but the Hungarian breakfast is the option that makes the restaurant particularly interesting for visitors. It provides a chance to try lecsó and Debreceni sausage without committing to a large traditional Hungarian lunch or dinner.
The French breakfast is much simpler, but that is part of its appeal. Not everyone wants a heavy cooked meal in the morning, and the brioche, butter, jam and coffee combination provides an easy start to a day in Budapest.
Foodie Explorers verdict
Béchamel Budapest successfully combines familiar brunch dishes with a small selection of Hungarian flavours.
The Hungarian breakfast is our recommendation for first-time visitors, especially those searching for an authentic and filling breakfast in Budapest. The French breakfast suits lighter appetites and makes a pleasant alternative to another egg-based brunch.
It is also a useful choice for couples or groups who cannot agree between a traditional cooked breakfast and a continental one.
How to reach Béchamel Budapest by public transport
Béchamel is well placed for Budapest’s tram and metro network.
By tram
Take tram 4 or 6 to Wesselényi utca / Erzsébet körút. From the stop, walk down Wesselényi Street before turning onto Akácfa Street. The restaurant is only a few minutes away.
Trams 4 and 6 operate along Budapest’s Grand Boulevard and are convenient from areas around Nyugati railway station, Oktogon and the Buda side of the city.
By metro
The nearest convenient metro station is Blaha Lujza tér on the M2 red line. From the station, the restaurant is approximately a ten-minute walk along or close to Akácfa Street.
The M2 line is useful when travelling from:
Keleti railway station
Deák Ferenc tér
Kossuth Lajos tér
Batthyány tér
Déli railway station
From Budapest Keleti railway station
Take the M2 metro towards Déli pályaudvar and leave at Blaha Lujza tér. Continue on foot to Akácfa utca 36.
From Budapest Nyugati railway station
Take tram 4 or 6 from Nyugati pályaudvar to Wesselényi utca / Erzsébet körút, then walk to the restaurant.
From Deák Ferenc tér
Béchamel is around a 15-to-20-minute walk from Deák Ferenc tér. You can also use the metro or local bus network, but walking is often the simplest option in good weather.
For live disruption information and the most accurate journey planning, use the official BudapestGO app before travelling.
What to see near Béchamel Budapest
Several popular Budapest attractions are within walking distance:
Dohány Street Synagogue
The Great Synagogue is one of the most important historic sites in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter. It is around a ten-minute walk from the restaurant.
Szimpla Kert
One of Budapest’s best-known ruin bars is nearby. It is more famous for evening drinks, although its Sunday market is also popular.
New York Café
The elaborate New York Café is around a ten-minute walk away. Expect queues during busy periods.
Gozsdu Courtyard
Gozsdu Udvar contains bars, restaurants and shops and becomes particularly lively during the evening.
Hungarian State Opera House
The opera house on Andrássy Avenue can be reached in approximately 15 minutes on foot.
Béchamel Budapest FAQs
What is the address of Béchamel Budapest?
Béchamel is at Akácfa utca 36, 1072 Budapest, Hungary.
What time does Béchamel Budapest open?
The restaurant currently advertises daily opening from 8am until 5pm, with the kitchen operating until approximately 4pm.
Does Béchamel serve breakfast all day?
Béchamel describes itself as an all-day breakfast restaurant. Its current menu states that the kitchen serves from 8am until 4pm.
Is Béchamel Budapest vegetarian-friendly?
Yes. The menu includes vegetarian dishes.
Is Béchamel Budapest dog-friendly?
The restaurant is currently listed as dog-friendly, although it is sensible to confirm directly when reserving a table.
Does Béchamel add a service charge?
The current menu states that a 10% service charge is added to the total bill.
What should I order at Béchamel Budapest?
For a local experience, order the Hungarian breakfast with lecsó, egg and Debreceni sausage. For a lighter option, choose the French breakfast with brioche, butter, jam and a drink.
Ready for sightseeing? Here are our top ten sights of Budapest.
Have a look outside for the mini sculpture by Mihaly Kolodko of Hungarian composer Rezso Seress
“Gloomy Sunday” became bleakly and infamously known as the “Hungarian Suicide Song” because of claims that it contributed to a rise in suicides during the 1930s. The song was written by Rezső Seress, who lived and worked at the Kispipa bar in Budapest’s District VII.
Seress was a former trapeze artist who turned to songwriting after suffering an injury. He later survived forced labour during the Second World War and returned to Budapest, where he continued writing, singing and playing piano for customers at Kispipa.
Although “Gloomy Sunday” earned significant royalties in the United States, Seress chose to remain in the bohemian bar rather than leave Budapest. He struggled with depression for many years and survived a suicide attempt after jumping from an upstairs window.
Today, a memorial plaque on the wall of the former Kispipa restaurant pays tribute to his life and musical legacy.
Like sculptures? A visit to Memento Park is recommended.
