Budapest’s Édes Mackó, the country’s first chimney cake patisserie, is firing up gluten-free and dairy-free kürtőskalács every Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m., no pre-order required. The shop sits at Állatkerti körút 14–16, in the Holnemvolt Vár Lovarda building by the Zoo, in Zugló (District 14), and serves its signature desserts on both indoor and outdoor terraces. On other weekdays, they’ll bake gluten- and dairy-free chimney cakes by special request with a minimum order of four, placed at least one day in advance. They’re open to additional special needs on request, too—just ask.
The charm of Édes Mackó is simple: taking the traditional, ember-baked kürtőskalács and turning it into pure dessert joy. Whether you’re avoiding milk, gluten, or both, Wednesdays and Fridays are your days to stroll up and enjoy a fresh, hot, spiraled pastry without planning ahead. If you’re organizing a weekday meetup, the pre-order option makes it easy to secure a batch. And because this is a prime location by the Zoo and City Park, it’s the kind of Hungarian sweet fix that slots perfectly into a morning walk or an afternoon wander.
Where to Find It
You’ll find Édes Mackó at 1146 Budapest, Állatkerti körút 14–16, in Zugló, right along the Zoo’s promenade. The Holnemvolt Vár Lovarda building gives the patisserie a storybook setting—ideal if you’re combining pastry time with a park day or a family outing. Both terraces are open for lingering with a coffee and a cinnamon-sugar crown of kürtőskalács, and the dairy-free and gluten-free options now mean more people can join the fun without compromise.
No Pre-Order on Key Days
– Wednesdays and Fridays: gluten-free and dairy-free chimney cakes from 10 a.m., no pre-order needed.
– Other weekdays: made on request, minimum 4 pieces, order at least 1 day in advance.
– Special requests: the team tries to accommodate additional individual needs.
In practice, that means if you’re in town midweek and have dietary restrictions, your best bet is to swing by on Wednesday or Friday. If you’re planning a weekday gathering—say, a team coffee break or a small celebration—place an order and they’ll bake a batch to spec.
Make a Day of It in Zugló
If you’re visiting for dessert and looking to turn it into a day around Budapest’s green belt, the neighborhood is packed with stays and sights near City Park and the major arenas. Budapest’s Hotel Arena sits next to Puskás Ferenc Stadium (Puskás Ferenc Stadion) and Papp László Budapest Sportaréna (Papp László Sportaréna), with freshly renovated, Mediterranean-style, air-conditioned rooms. Guests can hit the Hotel Arena fitness room, swim in the Fit Zone pool, and unwind in the sauna—handy before or after a pastry pilgrimage.
Green Hotel Budapest, near Puskás Ferenc Stadium (Puskás Ferenc Stadion) and just 100 meters from the M2 metro, offers nature-inspired, spacious rooms and event-ready function spaces for business or family gatherings. If you prefer a quieter base in a garden neighborhood, Hotel Amadeus in Zugló has 39 roomy accommodations, a panoramic restaurant, a garden terrace, conference rooms, and a cozy pub, with secure underground parking for guests.
Hotel Zugló places you in one of Pest’s oldest, most elegant districts with air-conditioned rooms featuring LCD TVs, fridges or minibars, phone lines, and internet access. After a spin through the park and a sweet stop at Édes Mackó, you can decompress in their wellness area with Finnish and infrared saunas, a swimming pool, and a hot tub.
For a polished four-star option with a neighborhood feel, Lion’s Garden Hotel in the diplomatic quarter borders District 14 near the city center. Warm tones, timeless interiors, an on-site restaurant, and a shaded summer garden set the mood; a century-old Dominican church stands across the street, visible even from the hotel’s panoramic elevator.
Budget-friendly guesthouses also dot the area. A family-run pension in Zugló’s green zone offers rooms with private bathrooms, radio, cable TV, and ceiling fans, plus free Wi-Fi and parking—close to both the city center and the M3 motorway. Szőnyi Hotel in Zugló blends city access with leafy calm, offering 42 rooms for up to 90 guests. Its 50-seat restaurant covers hearty dishes, diet-friendly options, vegetarian plates, and kids’ menus.
If your plans are arena-focused, Hotel Veritas places you near Papp László Budapest Sportaréna (Papp László Sportaréna), the SYMA exhibition center, and the Expo grounds—a convenient base for concerts, conferences, or expos. Another central pick, just 3 km from downtown and close to the M3 inbound stretch, runs a friendly bar with drinks, soft drinks, coffee, and tea, plus a Finnish sauna and an 8-person massage pool; its 40-seat restaurant serves Hungarian, Italian, and Chinese specialties by request.
Dates to Circle
Édes Mackó highlights appear across the calendar, with recurring dates in Budapest including 2026.05.01. and 2026.05.06., and more to come as the schedule fills. If you’re aiming for a midweek, worry-free dairy-free or gluten-free treat, target Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10 a.m. If you need a different weekday, remember the minimum of four and the one-day lead time.
Chimney cakes are a Budapest classic—golden, caramel-crusted, and fragrantly warm from the embers. With Édes Mackó baking them in dairy-free and gluten-free variations on a regular weekly cadence, more people can finally dig in. Swing by the Zoo’s promenade, grab a fresh spiral, and taste a tradition reimagined.
