2 Best Restaurants in Pécs, Hungary

For dinner with a view, it's hard to beat the Owl Castle, an unusual pseudo-cellar restaurant that is not only aboveground but situated high up on the hill in the Tettye district of Pécs. Take a seat in the brick-vaulted interior to enjoy the carved columns, decorative furnace, and folksy bric-a-brac, or sit out on the terrace surrounded by orchards—the fruit from which is used to make the potent house pálinkas—for spectacular city views. The food is traditional Hungarian fare, from beef goulash to chicken paprikash, but uncommonly tasty and beautifully presented. Don't fancy the drive back down the hill after dinner? Then stay in one of the restaurant's five comfortable suites (unrelated to the nearby, but separately run, Bagolyvár Hotel).

This out-of-the-way bakery and cake shop, a good 20-minute walk from the center, has display cabinets crammed with mouthwatering confections, from honey cream slices to chocolate profiteroles, apple poppy cake to smoked cheese scones. Inside, it appears to be just a small take-out place, but stroll around the back to discover a lovely, sprawling terrace and garden, complete with kids' play area.