112 Best Restaurants in Budapest, Hungary

You will need to climb a steep path to reach this old-fashioned café at the foot of the Elizabeth Lookout tower, but the panoramic views are more than worth it. And that's also true for the mulled wine and the charmingly surreal hunting-lodge-inspired interior.

This restaurant's large outdoor terrace in the heart of the Inner Town makes it a popular lunch stop with tourists throughout the summer, who are also tempted by the good-value midweek lunch menus (3,950 HUF for two courses or 4,450 for three). Come later in the day and you will find a full menu of delicious international dishes, including pasta, noodles, burgers, soups, and salads—as well as an unbeatable cocktail menu and (very loud) live music.

There are only a few tightly packed tables and a counter in this tiny, homestyle restaurant that draws an early lunch crowd and bustles well into the evening with downtown professionals and in-the-know travelers. The cuisine is the simple kind Hungarian grandmothers make: sour cherry soup, mushroom paprikash, and baked pork shank. Everything is tasty, reliable, and highly affordable given the quality. In the summer, alfresco tables on the cobblestone streets let diners indulge in Budapest's grand capital ambience.

Kispiac Bisztró is a tiny gem of a restaurant (its name means "little market") that specializes in huge portions of fresh roasted meat, sourced straight from nearby market halls. Delicious Mangalica pork chop, wild boar ribs, or the famed grilled duck is the way to go, along with a plate of homemade pickles. Eating here is a bit like being invited home for dinner by the local butcher. There's a lovely street-side terrace in the warmer months, and during winter no more than a couple dozen diners can fit inside at once, so reservations are a must.

Klauzál Café is a timewarp to a simpler era of Hungarian country-style cooking. In the thick of Budapest's party district, flanked by ruin bars at every side street, this quaint, old-fashioned restaurant holds an enviable position directly facing one of the area's few public parks. With its living room-styled decor, blackboard menus, and quick, friendly service, Klauzál offers a charming retreat from the neighboring rowdiness. Dishes are Hungarian standards like stews and game meats; none of them are particularly innovative, but they're simple, hearty, and wallet-friendly. Make sure to visit on a night when the live pianist or violinist play traditional Roma tunes.  

Here you’ll find French bistro classics done exceptionally well---escargot, steak frites, beef tartare---alongside Austro-Hungarian classics like Wiener schnitzel and goulash. This upscale restaurant is technically part of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, but its separate entrance on pedestrianized Zrínyi utca allows it to feel distinctively independent, with gorgeous interiors plus a terrace offering views of the Danube and Basilica. Prices are steep for Budapest, but the quality speaks for itself.

It may be named after a type of Bundt cake that's popular in France and throughout Central and Eastern Europe, but this place is more than just a café-bakery. A stylish French-style bistro, it's popular for its extensive breakfast and brunch menu, including everything from croissants to banana bread, eggs Benedict to avocado toast, as well as a lunch menu comprising creamy soups, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Hungarian specialties. Come for the food, stay for the pleasant terrace setting, including views to Március 15 tér (March 15 Square) and the river in the distance.

Kürtőskalács (chimney cake) is a traditional Transylvanian spit cake and popular street food, as pervasive in Budapest as Belgian waffles in Western Europe. This charming little shop offers tasty homemade kürtős kalács and classic sweets from an adorable gazebo-style shop in the middle of the park.

Named after the famous Eastern European folktale Stone Soup, this popular restaurant serves flavorful Hungarian–Jewish staples elevated with modern touches. It's all served by chipper hipster waiters in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere peppered with bric-a-brac paraphernalia. The poultry dishes (goose leg, chicken breast) are hearty and reliable, and there is always a rotating selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes on offer. Don't miss the restaurant's beer garden next door: as locals will tell you, no summer is complete without a Fröccs (wine spritzer) at Kőleves Kert.

Tucked away just off Bartók Béla út on Ménesi út, this lovely little tapas bar is run by a Hungarian-Spanish couple. Diners can choose from an array of meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes, as well as several cured meat and cheese platters to share. There's also an extensive Spanish wine menu, and service comes with a smile.

As life in Budapest becomes increasingly mobile and fast-paced, this fast food restaurant caters to on-the-go locals with no time to dither by specializing entirely in soup. While the menu is limited to soups, it is not limited: there are soups of all flavors and origins on the always-changing menu. It's a good spot to dine in or get lunch to go.

Located in a former chemical factory, Lumen Café's greenery-filled industrial setting with glass-covered ceiling, towering chimney stack, and steel frames makes for one of the city's coolest cafés, and a must-stop in the 8th District. For breakfast with a local flavor, try the Bundás kenyér, the local version of French toast, or the Hungarian Breakfast, which comes with Hungarian smoked sausage, ham, and eggs. You'll also find local craft beers and good local wine, which might inspire you to linger a little longer for some of the creative programming. The performance space, a big room in the front decked out with secondhand furniture and an old wooden half-stage, hosts regular jazz concerts, talks, and events.

A short walk from the Gellért Baths, this self-proclaimed "dinky" coffeehouse is all stripped ceilings, huge plants, and globe lights, making a popular hangout with artsy locals and students. The regular lunch and dinner menu offers a good choice of soups, salads, and pastas—try the "extra Hungarian" sztrapacska (a kind of gnocchi with sheep's cheese)—and there are daily menus available, too. Come for a midmorning brunch and you'll find everything from breakfast burritos to French toast.

This is the place to try a traditional Transylvanian "spit" or "chimney" cake, a cylindrical pastry made from sweet yeasty dough. It's cooked over a charcoal fire then sprinkled with sugar. You can also add your own extras, from almonds to poppy seeds, and get it served with an ice-cream filling.

The decor at this high quality Inner Town restaurant is said to be inspired by the Piarist monastery that once stood here, but with its hip industrial lighting, plushly upholstered furnishings, and sleek open kitchen, it takes quite the imagination to picture monks dining here. Instead, you're likely to find a mix of hip locals and food-loving tourists tucking into the bistro's modern takes on age-old Hungarian dishes; think rabbit tenderloin with potato dumplings, duck breast with kohlrabi pottage, and catfish fillet with clams.

This warmhearted pub (look out for the picture of the American detective, Columbo, on the sign) serves a good range of tasty Czech beers as well as ten types---count 'em---of a traditional potato pancake dish with different stuffings and toppings. Family- and dog-friendly, it's cozy rather than rowdy.

This branch of the small chain, which means "Granny's pancake house" in English, is a decent stop for a very affordable Hungarian-style pancake any time of day or night. The location by Batthyány tér is pleasant compared to other branches, and there are tables outside in summer. The only downside is that the pancakes aren't made fresh, but bulk-cooked in advance and then warmed through.

This tiny spot serves up fresh, authentic Tibetan food and embodies the city’s growing multiculturalism. Named after its founder, Tsewang Namgyal—a political refugee who also happens to be an excellent chef—dishes include cattle meat with vegetables and a variety of soups, accompanied by fresh Tibetan bread.

The young and dynamic energy in this hopping Vietnamese spot in Újlipótváros feels a million miles (or, at least, a few decades) away from some of the more traditional dining options in the area. The menu features a wide variety of pho as well as great desserts. Seating is at communal tables with backless wooden stools. Oriental Soup House has two locations, but the one on Balzac utca is a local favorite. Reserve ahead if you want to visit as it is always busy.

Meat lovers will be spoiled for choice at this dedicated steak house specializing in imported Argentine beef, where cuts difficult to find in Hungary (like rib eye and New York strip) are aged and lovingly grilled. Steaks can be ordered by weight and come with classic side dishes like jacket potatoes and creamed spinach. The mostly Hungarian wine list is affordable and well-suited to juicy beef dinners.

Have a taste of old-school Hungarian fast food and burgers at this charming little retro café that's been a staple here since 1964. The cute socialist-modern kiosk used to be an information center during the annual international expo held in the park. 

This kitsch, rustic Hungarian restaurant, with its wooden chairs and tables and village theme, offers a cozy place to have dinner after a long day of walking or bathing at Városliget. It's great value for money: the portions are as truly Hungarian-sized as the courses are authentic. The beefsteak with pepper sauce and almond-crusted trout fillet are evergreens and if you’re lucky they’ll have their roasted wild boar goulash on the chef’s menu that day. Try the classic peasant túrógombóc (sweet cottage cheese balls) for dessert.

The friendly staff in this cozy tapas restaurant serve authentic dishes. Pata Negra is not cheap, particularly as you may find yourself ordering rather more than you had planned (it's that good), but it makes for a quality meal out. There's another branch in Pest.

The colorful Spanish tiles on the wall, the chunky legs of ibérico jámon, and a full wall stacked with rioja tip you off to the authenticity of this tapas bar, just off Ráday utca. Pata Negra was one of the first tapas places in Budapest and it now boasts three spots around town. You can’t go wrong with its appetizers from Spain and beyond. There are all the usual suspects—bacalao (salted codfish), squid in black ink, and imported Spanish goodies like marinated anchovies and chorizo. The street-facing view is to the busy thoroughfare of Kálvin tér, but the charm of this place is its calm, warm environment and slow, Iberian pace.

The main draw of this popular French restaurant, set across the road from the French Institute in Víziváros, is the incredibly romantic summer garden, where wrought iron chairs and cloth-covered tables are bathed in the glow of fairy lights. But that's not all it has going for it: come for the ambience but stay for the delicious French fare, including bourguignon snails, ratatouille with comté, and crème brûlée, all served with a smile.

When touring the sights of Castle Hill, this elegant, long-established restaurant (once a medieval bakery) is the perfect stop for lunch or dinner. Sit in the romantic vaulted dining room or out in the wonderful, plant-filled "secret" garden to enjoy an array of delicious, beautifully presented dishes. It's mainly traditional Austro-Hungarian staples with inventive, 21st-century twists—think flavor-packed chicken paprikash with truffled nokedli (egg noodles) and sour cream foam, or moulard duck breast with pearl barley risotto—along with a good selection of local wines. Come in the evening to enjoy live piano accompaniment to your meal. Pierrot is the flagship for a group of high-quality Castle Hill restaurants, including 21 Hungarian Kitchen (directly opposite) and Baltazár Hungarian Grill (just around the corner).

Rock-bottom prices ensure a crowd most days for lunch and dinner at this well-loved neighborhood vendeglő (restaurant serving home-cooking). Big bowls of jókai bableves (bean soup) are sopped up with fresh white bread, and classics like borjúpaprikás (veal paprikash) are made the way Hungarian grandmothers used to make them—with plenty of lard.

Rock-bottom prices ensure a crowd most days for lunch and dinner at this well-loved neighborhood vendeglő (restaurant serving home cooking). Big bowls of jókai bableves (bean soup) are sopped up with fresh white bread, and classics like borjúpaprikás (veal paprikash) are made the way Hungarian grandmothers used to make them—with plenty of lard.

An extremely cute and colorful little café where the focus is on elegant, delicately constructed cakes, along with other desserts, pies, puddings, and cookies. The sweet treats are baked daily by the owner and make for fun energy boosters for weary travelers.