The world's most beautiful café: The stunning setting of the movie Red Sparrow

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is steeped in a rich classical Eastern European atmosphere. Aside from having some of the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s and bookstores, it also boasts the most stunning café. The century-old New York Café Budapest features lavish décor that looks like a palace gilded in gold, and even served as a filming location for the movie Red Sparrow.

In the late 19th century, Budapest had as many as 500 cafés, making it a hub of art and culture at the time. Many poets and writers created their works here. This magnificent New York Café opened in 1894 and was named “New York” because it was located in the basement of the New York Insurance Company building.

The building housing the New York Café was formerly the Hungarian branch of the New York Life Insurance Company. It was later converted into a high-end luxury hotel called “Budapest Boscolo Hotel,” also known as “New York Palace,” with a majestic palace-like exterior.