After a long refurbishment, the classic Art Nouveau Downtown Café has been reborn in its timeless splendor as Matild Café & Cabaret, and awaits its guests in the southern Klotild Palace, named after Matild Palace in Ferenciek Square, which opened last year. The iconic Klotild palaces, which housed the café, were built 120 years ago, between 1899 and 1902, under the patronage of Archduchess Mária Klotild of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha, according to the plans of Flóris Korb and Kálmán Gierg.

The Downtown Café in 1936 (Source: FSZEK Budapest Collection)

The two-storey Downtown Café was a popular meeting place for the social life of the era, where prominent public figures, journalists and artists were regular guests, and where some significant pieces of Hungarian literature were born. According to the story, Gyula Krúdy also wrote many stories of Sindbád here, and a statue of Krúdy was erected next to the café in 2021 .

The Downtown Café in 1936 (Source: FSZEK Budapest Collection)

The two-storey Downtown Café was a popular meeting place for the social life of the era, where prominent public figures, journalists and artists were regular guests, and where some significant pieces of Hungarian literature were born. According to the story, Gyula Krúdy also wrote many stories of Sindbád here, and a statue of Krúdy was erected next to the café in 2021 .

The restoration work is based on contemporary drawings and photos (Photo: matildcafe.com)

The original café was run by the Rónay hospitality dynasty for almost four decades, and then the legendary venue experienced very varied eras, and later, after the traditional café, there was a restaurant, a casino and even a nightclub.

The building itself is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been a monument since 1977. The lengthy and highly detailed restoration work was based on the original plans, and contemporary drawings and photographs also helped the restorers work.

The cafe before and after the renovation (Photo: matildcafe.com)

As the announcement of the newly opened café reveals, the 300-seat Matild Café & Cabaret, located in the city's iconic building, brings to life the real café culture with its extremely authentic atmosphere reminiscent of the lively Budapest of happy times. During the day, guests can choose from the gastronomic offer of the café, while after the evening, as in the 1960s, they can watch Hungarian and international cabaret shows on the special, hydraulic stage of the café.

The decorations have also been restored (Photo: matildcafe.com)

Today, the building shines in its old splendor, and from the early summer of 2021, the Matild Palace in the Luxury Collection Hotel Budapest will welcome local and international guests.

Source: matildcafe.com

Cover photo: The former Downtown Café at Matild Palace has regained its original splendor (Photo: matildcafe.com)