49 Best Restaurants in Budapest, Hungary

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.

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.

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.

A favorite local lunch stop for more than three decades, and recently revived by enthusiastic owner Dániel Andrusch, this cozy streetside restaurant serves the most authentic Hungarian food in Víziváros. It's deliciously hearty, meaty stuff, from thick goulash stews to fist-sized schnitzel cordon bleu, but make sure you save space for dessert—particularly the giant, lip-smacking túrógombóc (cottage cheese dumpling).

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 cool and cheery spot located halfway up beautiful Pozsonyi út is the place to meet for breakfast in District 13. With a range of breakfast plates available all day and unique and healthy salad and sandwich options, it's rarely quiet. The coffee is excellent and if you’ve got a sweet tooth, be sure to try the fresh-baked pastries before they sell out.

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.

Locals line up each morning for the delicate, light pastries made by this local confectioner. Even a novice can taste the real buttercream in the famous Eszterházy torta, which is a truly magnificent cake. Locals say the Sacher torte is every bit as good as it is in the famous Sacher Hotel in Vienna. It's usually crowded on weekends with families.

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.

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 its floral prints, muted colors, and geometric patterns, this calm little café is an away-from-it-all stop for a tasty breakfast, light lunch, or afternoon snack.

The basic Indian-style dishes at Govinda may not be that exciting from a culinary perspective but everything is vegan and made from fresh products coming straight out of Krishna Valley, a communal village of Hare Krishnas near Lake Balaton that dates back to the change in regime. This religious eco-community is almost completely self-sufficient, using solar energy and sustainable subsidies, and supplying their six Hungarian restaurants with vegetables and other stocks. Though a bit on the heavy side, the dishes are wholesome and satisfying.

This place may not look like much from the outside, particularly among the newer, trendier spots on Bartók Béla út, but it serves some of the most delicious authentic Balkan food in town. A Bulgarian known as Bárni is the proprietor, living out his dream of showcasing the chargrilled flavors of his childhood. The menu is very meat heavy, but the salads are good and there are tasty sides like peppers stuffed with feta cheese.

At the swankier end of the coffeehouse spectrum, Hadik is a looker, and knows it: all bare brick walls, beamed ceilings, grand chandeliers, church door-sized windows, and a mezzanine layer of seating. At least, that's what you'll see when you enter through the corner door: a spruced up grand café dating back more than a century. But keep walking through to your right and it's all change, as the classic decor gives way to a ruin-bar-style mishmash of colorful wall paintings, quirky lighting fixtures, and random knickknacks hanging from the ceiling. It's all part of Hadik, so simply choose the atmosphere that suits your mood then order from a menu of excellent coffees, delicious "literary" cocktails (inspired by famous Hungarian authors, some of whom used to drink right here), soups, salads, burgers, and sandwiches.

With its checkered tablecloths and rustic style, this sweet and cheery restaurant has all the charms of its retro theme without the cobwebs. The traditional dishes are served with a modern flair and excellent service, making it feel like the best of both worlds. Though the menu isn't particularly extensive, the Hungarian classics like crispy duck leg and beef goulash are well prepared, using products from local farmers' markets. You can't go wrong, unless you forget to follow dinner with a pálinka. Make sure to reserve online. 

There’s always a festive groove at Iguana, the most popular expat restaurant in town, especially with Americans. Tex-Mex nachos, quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, and jalapeño poppers are tasty and filling, and the setting feels authentic, surrounded by south-of-the-border movie posters. Order pitchers of classic or strawberry margaritas or punchy tequila and mezcal cocktails.

Founded by legendary local restaurateur Hans van Vliet, this inviting jazz bar and restaurant caters to one and all (Jedermann means "everyone"), with an atmosphere best summed up in buzzwords like hip, cool, and laid-back. The menu is nothing spectacular, but everything is wholesome and often made for sharing: think Cobb salad, goat cheese pasta, or homemade dips with fresh bread. Budapest's finest jazz musicians jam on their intimate stage several times a week, and it's best to reserve in advance on those nights—check the website for details.

Karaván is an empty building lot converted into a series of street food stalls, right next to popular ruin bar Szimpla Kert. It's often crowded and can be overpriced, but if you're looking for a fun, friendly way to sample some of Budapest's most popular street foods, this is your best bet. Choose from traditional favorites like langos and chimney cake, to burgers, Mexican snacks, and Asian dishes.

Long a local favorite, Két Szerecsen keeps diners happy all day long with fresh and affordable soups, salads, and daily specials. The kitchen has a light touch with cold soups, especially the cucumber, dill, and gazpacho varieties. The menu is Mediterranean-Middle Eastern-influenced, but retains various typically Hungarian dishes and tastes. The cozy orange and burgundy interior has café tables and copper lamps with vintage posters on the walls. It can get a bit smoky inside in winter, but there's outdoor seating in summer. It's open daily for breakfast.

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.

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.  

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.

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.