History of the café

The “New building” that once stood in the same place of the present café, which is widely known as “naigebai” in Budapest, also functioned as military barracks, in which Count Lajos Batthyány, the Prime Minister of the 1848 War of Independence, was held prisoner and later executed. The building was demolished in 1899. The venue of the execution is now indicated by the Batthyány sanctuary lamp outside the café. The present building was constructed between 1899 and 1902 and on the ground floor area, the Strausz family opened their café in 1902, which was called “Freedom Café” in order to commemorate the War of Independence. The café, which was built in Art Nouveau style, soon became popular with Budapest residents which is apparent from the fact that the greatest poet of the era, Endre Ady, wrote his famous poem titled “Struggling with the Lord” (“Harc a Nagyúrral”) (1906) in the Freedom Café. Taking a great leap forward in time and forgetting the hardships of the past and the café, let us return to the 21st century. On the "ruins” of the café, following the reconstruction of the Spartacus Restaurant, operating on the venue, the various details were revealed along with the restoration of the old grandeur, the café has now opened its gate, recalling the atmosphere of old Budapest cafés, in turn wishing all of its guests a pleasant time.