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Your next colourful gastronomic adventure begins on Váci Street, where you can now taste the famous rainbow bagel. If you are among the first 100 guests, it's even free!
The Budapest gastronomic offer is expanding with a rainbow bagel made from natural ingredients. In fact, for the first time in Europe, we can taste the completely natural, vegan Rainbow Bagel in the Hungarian capital, which, unlike the American version, is made exclusively with natural plant ingredients.
Five years after opening the first store next to the Basilica, Best Bagel is expanding to a new location, on the southern section of Váci Street. The expansion means not only a new location, but also a unique concept: the official opening on May 9th is also a European product premiere. The rainbow bagel (Rainbow Bagel) is making its debut, which, unlike the usual American versions, is made exclusively with natural plant ingredients.
New York vibe, Hungarian artisanal roots
The story of Best Bagel began with three friends traveling to New York, where they got to know the authentic bagel culture. After returning home, they developed their own recipe, which is based on traditional technology: the dough is shaped by hand, first cooked, then baked, thus achieving the product’s unique texture: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.
A kind of “bagel fever” is currently developing in Europe, and in big cities such as Madrid, Paris or Amsterdam, the bagel market has recently started to really pick up.
“The reason for its international popularity is that the bagel offers an excellent, high-quality alternative to a quick but substantial meal, so it can be eaten as breakfast or as a full-fledged lunch, for example while sightseeing,” says co-owner Péter Kovács.
This trend is not new in Budapest, for example, Best Bagel has been present on the domestic market for more than five years. The company spent two years searching for the right location to expand, and finally found it in the area of Váci Street near Fővám Square. The owners aim to offer a quality alternative to the tourist offer of the area and give new impetus to this section of the legendary street.
Chemical-free colors
One of the flagships of the new location is the Rainbow Bagel, the main consideration in its development was the abandonment of artificial colors. The bright colors of the rainbow-colored dough are provided by five different plant extracts: blue from butterfly pea, green from spirulina, yellow from paprika, orange from turmeric, and red from beetroot.
“Our goal was to bring a product that is both innovative and high-quality to a busy downtown location. The natural ingredients and vegan base of the Rainbow Bagel meet modern, conscious gastronomic expectations,” said co-owner Péter Kovács.
Try the Rainbow Bagel in Budapest for Free
After a two-week soft opening, the Váci Street location will hold its official Grand Opening event on Saturday, May 9. The store will open its doors at 8:30 a.m.
On the day of the opening, the brand has a surprise for visitors: the first 100 guests can try the Strawberry Rainbow Bagel for free, a vegan sandwich made with homemade strawberry chutney, vegan cream cheese, and fresh strawberry slices.
The menu also features popular classics like salmon and avocado, Hungarian (salami and hot paprika), and meat-filled “Brutal” sandwiches and their vegan alternatives.
While the store next to the Basilica retains its authentic Central-Eastern European feel, the Váci Street location focuses on a more modern, colorful offering, including the rainbow bagel that is available exclusively here.
Source and photos: Best Bagel
