Ernst Galéri

Those with an interest in Hungarian art—both decorative and fine—should visit the excellent Ernst Galéria, adjacent to the Central Café. It’s run by a chic husband-and-wife team, the Greek-born Elena Korani and the Viennese Ernst Wastl, who now call Budapest home. Wastl, an expert in Hungarian, Austrian and Central European art, is known for making bold bids for pieces that capture his imagination. In 2005, he made headlines when he purchased Lady with a Birdcage I, a haunting painting by 19th-century artist József Rippl-Rónai, for a record-breaking sum and stated his desire to see the work back in a Hungarian collection.

The Ernst Galéria, housed on the ground floor of an elegant Art Nouveau building, is a variable trove of fine and applied arts, including paintings, furniture, ceramics and an acclaimed collection of old film posters.