Shopping! in Budapest

The market will have paprika. It will be fun to shop there for it. Any grocery shop will offer it.
In my opinion, the market (I have not been there in 10 years) was always one of the best places to visit. I often stayed within a few minutes' walk of there. The second level of the market started to offer some really cheesy/touristy glassware the last several times I visited.
What sort of glassware is interesting to you? There are several Swarovski locations including the well known one a Váci Utca... I'm a fan of Swarovski optics. I do not recall if these shops carried them.

Since Mack mentioned the market, I will start with that. It is a must see. It is authentic and it does serve the locals as well as the tourists …. Well, the ground floor where the produce and meat markets are. The first floor (US Second floor) is pure tourism shopping, but some of it among the best in town. Fabrics and cross stitching with traditional patterns is in abundance along with a lot of odds and ends and some local jewelry. The basement, walk behind the grocery and you will find the fish markets and the pickle vendors. The pickles are sort of beautiful and would make interesting gifts. The paparika. Okay, if you want the elaborate tourist packaging (and its good) then the ground floor of the market hall. If you want better paprika I can send you to a place where it’s fresh. Or its fresh in the grocery store too.

Then between the National Museum and the Astoria is a collection of antique book and print shops. Wonderful stuff. Here is one https://maps.app.goo.gl/GySJpoTC5NTPqodT9

Around the parliament there is a street called Falk Miska utca. On that street are a number of antique and art stores. Here is one https://maps.app.goo.gl/3GQ9whvuCBh6XmGJ6

Castle Hill really hasn’t got a lot. Fortuna passage across from the Hilton used to have some interesting shops in it, but I haven’t been there in years. So don’t know now. https://maps.app.goo.gl/La8TR4wzwMpeP9Sm9

District V, namely Vaci utca is packed with souviner junk shops. The only one I sort of like is a group of basement shops https://maps.app.goo.gl/QyWG5AAdsheSjG4h8

There are at least two shops in town called Memories of Hungary. High quality Hungarian souvenirs. https://maps.app.goo.gl/M4ZXR3FfcdTjUtSGA and https://maps.app.goo.gl/piTjSSLaWQnmRbw88

Hungary has some of the best wine in Europe. Especially the whites but the reds are really good these days as well. For that we would need to talk.

Some “interesting” shopping here as well. Uniquely Hungarian https://maps.app.goo.gl/oV4mDu29LvzizDqe6

Glassware, no, but Hungary is famous for Zsolnay porcelain and there are a number of stores around town (some are in the areas listed above). Just google Zsolnay Porcelain

The courtyard and pedestrian street in front of the Basilica, many shops https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kkjddi53b7jUuKD68

Andrassy ut from the lower end to the Oktogon including past the Opera. https://maps.app.goo.gl/1SKpsNsxSLKkNp9v9

A few of the other market halls are interesting for shopping but more for the cultural experiences. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/budapest-s-great-market-halls

Nothing comes to mind near Széchenyi but near the Gellert Bath, yes.

The Jewish quarter does have a few quirky Jewish inspired shops. I will have to look them up for you and do another post for you.

I know a few unique places that are scattered around town but really reflect the city well. I will send you a PM with a link to a list.

Okay two Jewish Shops and there are more. I will pay more attention when I walk the area. https://maps.app.goo.gl/p7khcbMr2amUTYPZ9 and https://maps.app.goo.gl/gmAu1RRsLQwm4She9

Clothing. Totally forgot: Fashion Street of course. https://maps.app.goo.gl/bSYh4Xj2Yi9EczmW6

And a lot of real Hungarian crafts here (just off Vaci utca) https://maps.app.goo.gl/z68quSuWuTPkYXKT8

Lots of good info and favorite shops noted, but I do make a point to visit a small shop on Castle Hill every trip as the owner has an interesting selection of handmade Hungarian pottery pieces--one charmingly hand-painted coffee mug became such a favorite that I bought another, the last she had, on a subsequent trip as a back-up. Also small folk art paintings--3 hang in my office at work--and some new as well as vintage pieces of Herend and Komlos pottery, plus other interesting things that aren't mass-produced. It's called Tarnok Galeria and is at Tarnok utca 10. There are a couple of other shops along that street and one street over that stock more hand-made and unique items, can't recall their names but I always stop in. For palinka and paprika I hit the Nagycsarnok/Central market.

Christa, not a place that I am at all familiar with. Thank you! The forum is great. I keep learning. Since i posted all the other location links, here is one for yours too: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mVd2smCNDdjgJnef9

Here is my favorite spice shop I mentioned above. Its in the courtyard. https://maps.app.goo.gl/YEG6Bzc2y3SD9Nmn9

Eat Dust TA!

Wow Mr E, Christa, Mack, you guys are awesome! Will be checking these out as we get around the city!

But Mr E, tell me more about paprika
----- If you want better paprika I can send you to a place where it’s fresh. Or it's fresh in the grocery store too.-----
I googled and it said paprika should have a fragrant aroma, be dark red, clumpy. Why do grocery stores have fresh? And where is the special place where its fresh?

Paprika: Here is my favorite spice shop I mentioned above. Its in the courtyard. https://maps.app.goo.gl/YEG6Bzc2y3SD9Nmn9.

The stuff in the tourist shops might have been there for years. The stuff in the grocery turns over quickly.

But if you want to know about it, Google it. Here there are sweet to hot and many grades from common to high end. Its a local art. But smoked paprika is not a Hungarian tradition. That spice shop above usually sells the better stuff.

https://tastehungary.com/journal/hungarian-paprika-the-essential-red-spice/

I bought paprika at the Sunday farmer's market at the Szimpla Kert ruin bar - checked two items off the list with a single visit. If you're not a drinker, it's a great way to see the place - in daylight.