72 Best Restaurants in Budapest, Hungary

This atmospheric and intimate Michelin-starred restaurant, which sits in the shadow of the Inner Town Parish Church, serves a choice of tasting menus inspired by the lands of the Carpathian Basin, from Austria in the west to Romania in the east—and, of course, Hungary at the heart of things. Chef Kornél Kaszás and his team specialize in innovative, flavorful, and playful dishes that put gourmet spins on traditional Central European country fare: think oysters served on cheese crackers, layered potato with Mangalica bacon, and schnitzel with sweetbread, as well as surprisingly effective flavor pairings like white asparagus and coffee. There are also thought-provoking experiments with temperature (such as ice-cold foie gras served in a hot pastry cup) and the expected order of food and drinks (with the bread course appearing halfway through the dining experience, for example, or a Tokaji wine paired with a fish course rather than a dessert). The menus change with the seasons, but there's always one constant: the excellent Casino Egg served with sturgeon caviar; another gourmet take on a local classic. For the ultimate dining experience, opt for the decadent 12-course "Experience" menu (69,000 HUF without wine), or slim down your meal slightly with the 8-course "Exploration" menu (55,000 HUF without wine). Vegan versions of both are available on request.

This bustling former butcher shop is filled with hanging plants, eclectic artwork, and trendy locals who come as much for the atmosphere as for the food. The menu changes seasonally, but expect café standards given contemporary uplifts: heaping tapas platters, Asian fusion meat-and-veg, plus a popular assortment of burgers and comforting sandwiches. Snag a table outside in the summer, or up in the gallery when it's cold out.

A classic turn-of-the-20th-century gathering spot for Hungarian writers, this coffeehouse has endured two wars and a communist closure. Today, it offers 19th-century grandeur in 21st-century luxury: coffees are served on silver trays with glasses of mineral water like in the old days, but in air-conditioned comfort. Open early until late, the café's menu spans everything from light, international breakfasts to substantial Hungarian dinners like crispy duck leg and chicken paprikash.

Pre-COVID, Fricska was a rare example of casual fine dining in Budapest, elevating Hungarian classics in a spacious underground spot on a quiet street in the Jewish district. Two years after it closed, Fricska 2.0 has reemerged to fill a significant void in the city’s dining scene. The menu is concise and constantly evolving—just a few starters and half a dozen mains—but everything is exemplary, unifying fresh local ingredients with haute cuisine techniques. Expect staples such duck, boar, and various river fish. Prices are steep for the area, but reasonable given the quality.

For lively, contemporary takes on Hungarian classics, there’s nowhere better than Gettó Gulyás. "Gettó" refers to its inspired setting, in the heart of the Jewish ghetto, and "gulyás" to the country’s most famous culinary export: goulash. Here, rich, hearty stews are served alongside daring seasonal offerings including game meats, river fish, and even rooster testicles. It's all paired with a curated list of fine, affordable Hungarian wines. Save room for the homestyle desserts.

With a blockbuster view like this, a restaurant could be forgiven for lacking a focus on food—but that's not the case at this romantic terrace restaurant, part of the Fisherman's Bastion. From the Jersey cheese mousse, to the Mangalitza pork tenderloin with octopus, to the strawberry and elderberry Savarin, every dish on the minimum three-course menu is perfectly prepared and appealingly presented. Prices are high, but not extortionate: you'll pay 20,400 HUF for three courses (or 24,480/27,880 HUF for four/five courses). The wine list is extensive, servers are knowledgeable, and there is often live music to add to the unique ambience.

Run by three young Vietnamese-Hungarians with a passion for cooking and a background in fashion and design, this trendy Asian-fusion restaurant is a sister restaurant to popular Sáo in the Jewish Quarter. The stylish setting features contemporary art, concrete columns, and Vietnamese ceramic bowls, and the menu includes all the expected (slightly overpriced) pan-Asian staples.

The Art Deco facade of the Little Cuckoo restaurant evokes the history of this fashionable residential neighborhood street. The setting today is comfortable; wood-paneled walls and leather-upholstered chairs give the place a sophisticated, albeit homey, feel. Sunday finds multigenerational Hungarian families enjoying the familiar and attentive service. All the classic Hungarian poultry dishes are well done, including goose and duck leg with cabbage, and there are a few refined dishes, too, such as veal medallions in cream sauce and lamb with rosemary.

On the very edge of District 6, you'll find Menza, one of the city's best Hungarian restaurants, incredibly consistent and serving international spins on classic local cuisine. Hearty, Central European favorites like goulash, lecso (ratatouille), and schnitzel sit comfortably next to cauliflower steak, pulled lamb in Moroccan spices, and fresh pastas. Drinks affordably showcase Hungary's finest wineries alongside contemporary cocktails. The servers are quick and chipper, and it's all very good value. No wonder a line of eager diners forms outside every night.

"Auntie Nancsi" has built a loyal following by serving up straightforward, homestyle Hungarian dishes in the rustic surroundings of a converted 17th century farmhouse. Chains of paprika and garlic dangle from the low wooden ceiling above tables set with red-and-white gingham tablecloths. Big tables of local families can be found here on summer weekends enjoying well-prepared Hungarian food. Sunday chicken soup and catfish paprika are well-loved by regulars. Try the popular túrógombóc (sweet cheese dumpling) dessert; it's the biggest and best in town. There is a garden dining area open during warmer months, when reservations are essential.

You don't need to visit every café in the world to decide that New York Café, often referred to as "the most beautiful café in the world," definitely deserves its title, or at least ranks very high on that list. Located within the luxe Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel and built in Italian Renaissance-style, the interiors feature marble columns, stuccoed angels, and sparkling chandeliers dangling from high ceilings adorned by spectacular frescoes. It's one of the oldest cafés in Budapest, dating back 125 years, and was once a meeting place for struggling artists. The prices have shot up considerably since, but it's still worth visiting to soak up the old-world splendor. During the day, drop in for cake and coffee to appreciate the rich history and decor. Evening visitors might prefer cocktails at the hotel's Poet Bar, overlooking the main café, or a haute cuisine dinner at White Salon---the recently reopened restaurant on the café's upper level---which serves sublime contemporary takes on classic Hungarian cuisine, including Mangalica pork chop and flat-iron steak stew.

Rosenstein is where Hollywood stars dine when they visit Budapest, and it's probably the best place to experience Hungarian cuisine—if you can get a table. The family-run restaurant offers an extensive menu, from classic dishes including goulash and paprikash, to more Jewish-tinged favorites such as cholent and matzo ball soup. Don't let its rundown neighborhood location fool you: inside, it's bow-tied waiters, white tablecloths, and fine wines, but the prices are affordable given the quality. 

A classic turn-of-the-20th-century gathering spot for Hungarian writers of the Nyugat (West) magazine, this coffeehouse has endured two wars and a communist closure. For 19th-century grandeur in 21st-century comfort, this popular café can't be beat. Coffees are served on silver trays with glasses of mineral water just as in the old days, but these days they are enjoyed in air-conditioned comfort. The menu includes substantial dishes like hortobágyi palacsinta (meat pancakes with paprika sauce) and borjú paprikás (paprika veal stew) all day. Don't miss the excellent cakes and pastries, on view in a glass display case.

The recently renovated Széll Kálmán tér has become a hub for young and fashionable Buda residents, which in turn has prompted new restaurant openings, such as that of 101 Bistro. It’s a Taiwanese-influenced lively restaurant with excellent dishes; the braised sweet-sour pork is especially good.

Take a break from sightseeing with a quick coffee in the fairy-tale settings of the Vajdahunyad Castle and enjoy views to the lake that are almost as delightful an experience as actually rowing around it.

Sometimes you just need a good burger and a great beer, and Bölcső delivers. For that reason, and its proximity to the nearby university buildings, it can be busy with students in the evening, but for lunch it's a relaxed stop. In warm weather, you can sit out on the street.

This is a special spot for high-end Hungarian cuisine, with huge windows to showcase the beautiful views of the trees and city unfolding below. From the outside, it looks a little uninspiring, but the inside is decidedly polished (despite the fake tree) and the food is superb: try the paprika veal stew or the slow-baked duck leg, followed by the “Somlói” sponge cake. There are also soups, pastas, and burgers on the menu, including a deluxe burger with duck liver. The restaurant is a bit out of the way—a 10-minute walk southwest of the Citadella (away from the river) or 15-minute walk northwest of Bartók Béla út—but it's worth the trip.

At this cozy two-room restaurant with turn-of-the-century charm, you'll want to ditch your entourage, as tables don’t fit more than four comfortably. Classic, homestyle, and refined Hungarian dishes are reliably served with a range of fish, pork, and beef options. Specialties like wild boar goulash and roasted pike perch are regularly on offer. A handwritten list of the day’s menu is written in marker on a flip chart sheet in Hungarian, but menus are available in English, too. Prepare for old-fashioned service accompanied by fine Hungarian wine.

This trendy café in the heart of Liszt Ferenc tér is popular for coffee in the afternoon and cocktails in the evening. There's a good range of dining options, from warm sandwiches to Hungarian dishes, and a plentiful array of cakes and boutique teas. The mascarpone cheesecake is a killer. Café Vian has sister locations in Gozsdu Udvar and near Szent István Bazilika.

This cute little local-feeling café, just off Batthyány tér, serves up good coffee and great baked treats. A friendly team, who all speak good English, is another plus, as are the street-side tables to watch the world go by in warm weather.

This adorable outdoor-only café and wine bar is set by the entrance to the lovely Károlyi-kert park, known for its colorful flower beds and manicured lawns. A pleasant spot for breakfast, a light lunch, or evening drinks in the glow of lanterns, Csendes Társ is open from April to mid-October only. Be sure to check out its cool sister ruin-bar, Csendes Létterem, just around the corner.

Stone walls and floors, Mediterranean white and blue paint, and a lively terrace will transport you to Santorini. While a little pricey, this authentic restaurant offers high-quality Greek food and service, as well as a welcome palate break from typical Hungarian fare (so welcome, in fact, that there's often a queue outside). If you're not sure what to order, try the two-person Dionysos plate, which comes with a little of everything, including chargrilled pork tenderloins, ribs, gyros, tzatziki, pilaf, and fresh vegetables. There are also plenty of good fish, seafood, and vegetarian options. Save space for some fabulous Greek ice cream desserts.

This charming restaurant just around the corner from all the hustle and bustle of Budapest's Jewish District offers a mouthwatering spread of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes---everything from patatas bravas to fattoush and shawarma---plus a lively, relaxing atmosphere to go with it. There are a lot of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a nice selection of wine. Service is slow, but enjoy a leisurely, unrushed meal. It's incredibly popular with locals, expats, and tourists, so make a reservation in advance.

In a country that isn't always easy to navigate with strict dietary requirements, this canteen-style bistro caters to several of them. Not only is every dish on the menu entirely vegan, from the leafy salads and fresh pastas to the thick soups and hearty stews, but many are also sugar-free, fat-free, gluten-free, and preservative-free. In the warmer months, sit out on the terrace to watch the world go by. It's only open from 10 am to 7 pm (5 pm on Sunday), so a better option for lunch than breakfast or dinner.

For a quick, cheap, vegan fix, it's hard to beat this fast food burger place on Királyi Pál utca. Order from a screen and your food will be with you in a jiffy; you can sit inside or take it to go. As well as a good choice of burger fillings, there are also vegan tortillas and salads.

With an expansive terrace on swanky Fashion Street, as well as an appealing interior connected to the Kempinski hotel, this bistro is a popular choice for lunch and dinner. Steak is the specialty here, with excellent cuts of Austrian Alpine, Angus, and Wagyu beef—regulars can even get a personalized steak knife, which is displayed in a glass cabinet between meals—but there are plenty of other options too, from salads to soups, grilled duck liver to pan-seared salmon. Vegetarian and (especially) vegan options are limited, but the beetroot burger is a popular choice; the goat cheese is optional. For dessert, order the decadent "ÉS triple chocolate brownie," served with chocolate-caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.

The humble decor hasn't changed much since this cheap and cheerful spot first opened in 1997, and neither has the menu. Basically, you'll find Hungarian classics and lots of pickled or fried food. Try the Rántott gombafej (fried mushrooms), Spenót főzelék (spinach pottage), and, for a main course, any of the fried and breaded meats. Save room for dessert, because you can't go wrong with the Mákos guba (poppy-seed pudding) or palacsinta (Hungarian crepes). It's solid fare, but if you see a line formed outside, you might want to reconsider.

An aura of calm permeates this excellent, long-standing Japanese restaurant in the affluent Rószadomb district of Upper Buda. Sushi and sashimi are expertly prepared, as are other Japanese specialties such as teriyaki tenderloin with sesame. There's even a separate dining room where you can eat at low tables, in traditional Japanese style. Comfortable club chairs and big windows make you feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Pest. 

The wicker chairs and café tables of this elegant brasserie, on a quiet and leafy square tucked behind Váci utca, are reminiscent of a scene out of a French movie; the summer terrace is about the prettiest location for lunch in Budapest. At other times of year, visitors can still enjoy seasonal Hungarian favorites like sült libacomb (crispy goose leg) in winter and asparagus soup in the spring, in the Parisian bistro-style interior.