Restaurants in Budapest
Feast on hearty helpings of gulyás (goulash, or stew) and goose liver in the traditional dining-rooms of the Jewish Quarter. Modern eateries like Pest's Gundel and Buda's Vadrózsa put contemporary freshness into heavy Magyar dishes, while Callas leads in fusion cooking. Between meals, order coffee and cake at a grand café. It is usual to tip 10%, but check service hasn't already been added.
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25 Results
- Dessert
Auguszt Cukrászda
Hungary has one of Europe's greatest baking traditions, which means you should allow significant time for sampling the local sweets. Cakes such as Dobos torta (chocolate buttercream between six cake layers, with a hard caramel top), Eszterházy torta (a layered walnut cake…$V. district - Hungarian
Belvárosi Disznotoros
In Budapest, many traditional butcher shops also sell quick and inexpensive prepared lunches. Typically there are no tables, only counters for standing next to, and the offerings consist of simple roasted and grilled meats, sausage, and a few types of pickled…$V. district - Hungarian, French
Bistro Déryné
From breakfast until late at night Déryné buzzes with people coming for business meetings over steak and red wine, long lunches, and leisurely romantic dinners with cocktails. From eggs Benedict at breakfast and burgers for lunch, to steak frites for dinner and late-night…$$$I. district - Hungarian, Contemporary
Bock Bisztro
These days many Budapest kitchens are turning out modern versions of Hungarian classic dishes. But when Bock Bisztró opened in 2004, it was one of this method's pioneers. The force behind this restaurant, which is connected to the Corinthia Hotel, is executive chef Lajos…$$$VII. district - Hungarian, Contemporary
Borkonyha
Wine fans will love Budapest for the chance of sampling the many, often nearly unpronounceable, local varietals. And Borkonya (which translates as "Wine Kitchen") is a must-visit in Budapest for its well-designed wine list and menu, which has some of the finest creative and…$$$V. district - Soup, Sandwiches
Bors Gasztrobár
Kazinczy utca, one of the liveliest streets in the Jewish Quarter, has become a magnet for tiny restaurants and ruin bars—divey spots located in crumbling buildings and decorated with a wild mix of random secondhand furnishings. One of the street's highlights is the tiny Bors…$V. district - Hungarian
Café Kör
The "Round Café" is a local favorite, with a menu of classic Hungarian dishes. The cozy bistro—with white tablecloths, warm coral walls, and soft lighting—is the kind of place that will make you feel like settling in for the evening with a good bottle of wine, and a meal…$$V. district - Hungarian
Centrál Kávéház
During Budapest's golden age of coffeehouses, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they functioned as second homes to artists, poets, and journalists, who could be found laboring at their wobbly marble tables. The coffeehouses were institutions, each with their own set…$$V. district - Hungarian, Contemporary, International
Costes
This restaurant holds the honor of being the first in Hungary to be awarded a Michelin star (it was in 2010, followed by Onyx in 2011, and Borkonyha in 2014). Costes is on Ráday utca, a street that's often (and perhaps wistfully) called Budapest's Soho for the high density of…$$$IX. district - Hungarian, Contemporary
Csalogány 26
Pest residents love to brag about how their side of the river holds all the good restaurants. True, there are many more dining options on the east side of the Danube. But even diehard Pest people will cross the river for a meal at Csalogány 26 (which is named for its…$$$I. district - Dessert
Daubner Cukrászda
It takes some effort to get to Daubner from the center of town, but it will be a worthwhile effort if you have a sweet tooth. Opened in 1901, Daubner is a much-loved Budapest institution, and the lines stretching out the doors of this long, low building are a constant on…$II. district - Hungarian
Első Pesti Rétesház
When it's done well, strudel is one of the masterpieces of the Hungarian pastry kitchen. It is widely available in Budapest, but finding a good version is increasingly difficult. The offerings at the "First Strudel House of Pest," made from an old family recipe, are among the…$$V. district, near the Basilica - Hungarian, Austrian
És Bistro
In Hungarian és means "and," and that's important to know in order to understand this restaurant's theme. The idea here is that pretty much that anything is possible. It's not just a restaurant, but a wine bar and a beer pub. The menu focuses on dishes from both Austria and…$$$V. district - Jewish, Hungarian
Fülemüle Étterem
Located on a quiet residential street in the eighth district's Palace Quarter, this family-run place is one of the finest restaurants in the city for hearty and traditional Jewish and Hungarian dishes. The walls covered with portraits of regular celebrity guests are testament to its…$$VIII. district - Hungarian
Gerlóczy Café
Many cafés like to brand themselves as being Paris-like, but in Gerlóczy's case it's true. From the café chairs and small tables on the sidewalk patio to the fresh oysters on the menu, this charming café on a quiet square is so reminiscent of Parisian dining that you might do…$$V. district - Hungarian
Halkakas Fish Bistro
Hungary has several beloved freshwater-fish dishes (such as fisherman's soup and catfish paprikás), but you won't find them here. Although it is dedicated to fish, Halkakas rarely serves these classics. Rather, it aims to serve lighter, more creative, updated dishes, all made…$V. district - Hungarian
Horgásztanya Vendéglő
Landlocked Hungary may not have much access to seafood, but dishes made with freshwater fish play an important role in the culinary repertoire. Horgásztantya has been around long before the recent clutch of new Budapest fish restaurants arrived. Though the place looks like it…$$I. district - Hungarian, Jewish
Kádár Étkezde
For a truly local experience, don't skip having at least one meal in an étkezde. This category of restaurant is all about quick service (no lingering allowed), inexpensive meals, and traditional Hungarian dishes. At the good ones it's as close to home-cooked food as you'll…$VII. district - Hungarian
Kispiac Bisztro
Most Budapest neighborhoods have covered food markets, which are where locals go to do most of their daily shopping. The "Little Market" restaurant is located next to one of these markets—the Hold Street Market in the fifth district (just behind Szabadság tér), and this…$$V. district - Hungarian, International
Klassz
Klassz is owned by Bortársaság, Budapest's leading wine retailer, and as you'd expect, wine is an important part of the experience here. The wine list, which is pleasantly brief, consists almost entirely of local wines, and offers many good values (try something from…$$VI. district - Soup (International)
LEVES
Any Hungarian will tell you that the soup course forms an integral part of any proper meal here. A few years ago, some young guys took this passion for soup, made it into a successful business, and in the process began a soup trend in Budapest, with dozens…$V. district - Jewish, Hungarian
Macesz Huszár
Located in the old Jewish quarter in the seventh district, Macesz Huszár ("Matzo Hussar") is one of a number of places in the neighborhood where you can sample the varied and elegant dishes of Hungarian-Jewish cuisine. The decor is "modern meets grandma's kitchen"—a few…$$VII. district - Hungarian
Menza Étterem
There's quite a lot of nostalgia for the past in Budapest, at least judging by way its restaurants and bars are decorated. Done wrong, this retro style looks just plain tired, but Menza (which means canteen) has got it right. Done in shades of brown, orange, and pale green,…$$VI. district - Contemporary
Olimpia
If you have a sense of adventure and you are not in a rush, Olimpia is a fine choice. (Otherwise, you'd be wise to go elsewhere.) First, don't let the Greek-style décor worry you. You're not at the wrong restaurant, Olimpia just kept the decorations (and possibly the name)…$$VII. district - Hungarian, Contemporary
Onyx
From its opening in 2007, Onyx had high aspirations of becoming one of Budapest's most prestigious high-end restaurants. It succeeded, becoming the city's second restaurant to earn a coveted Michelin star in 2011. Contemporary Hungarian cuisine is becoming a popular style in…$$$V. district
