16 Best Restaurants in Hungary

Whatever you do in Tihany, don't miss this extraordinary hilltop bakery-café. Not only does it have the best coffee and cake anywhere in town, with many of the brews and bakes incorporating Tihany's signature crop lavender, but its terrace offers breathtaking views across the shimmering blue waters of Lake Balaton. And they don't only do cakes: there's also a great choice of ice creams—including, you guessed it, lavender flavor—as well as light bites from sandwiches to salads. Located just below the Benedictine Abbey, Apátsági Rege is rightly popular, so prepare to wait for a table in high season.

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.

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.

This cozy, tucked-away café, just off Templom tér, is a great option for brunch, lunch, or just a quick coffee and cake. You'll find everything from salads and pasta to bagels and nachos, as well as an impressive range of vegetarian and vegan options. On a warmer day, you can sit in the shaded passage or out front, where there are occasional live music performances.

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 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.

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.

Need something to take the taste of Kossuth Spring water out of your mouth? Stroll to this nearby café and patisserie, once a popular haunt of actress Lujza Blaha (who lived opposite), to sample its fine selection of homemade cakes, pastries, and pies. As well as offering excellent coffee and baked goods, Kedves is also a popular spot for breakfast and brunch; try the fried bread with blue cheese and pears. In the summer there's a lovely tree-shaded terrace that blocks almost the entire sidewalk.

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.

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 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.

Billing itself as a breakfast and coffee specialist, Reggeli serves a nutritious and delicious brunch menu every day from 8 am to 3 pm. Order a coffee or cold-press juice then take your pick from the lengthy, egg-heavy menu, which includes American pancakes, French toast, and English breakfasts. As you await your order, take a moment to soak up in the achingly hip interior, including the exposed brick ceiling, pressed wood-chip paneling, colorful chairs, quirky artworks, and giant tropical plants.

Splendid food and picture-perfect views across the river are on offer at this gorgeously situated restaurant attached to the baths of the same name. You can make a day of it with a soak and a feast, or come to the restaurant on its own to enjoy the peerless panoramic vista from the fairy-lit terrace, often accompanied by music.

Fresh, quick breakfasts and light lunches are offered in this cheery little street-side café, open 9 am to 4 pm. As the name suggests the menu is simple, but the ingredients are good, the food looks beautiful, and the service is great. There are plenty of vegetarian options, too. You'll find Szimply down a small, café-packed alleyway known as Röser udvar; it's between Semmelweis utca and Károly körút.

One of the city's loveliest breakfast and brunch places, Villa Bagatelle is set in a charming refurbished villa in the Buda Hills, replete with a terrace and winter garden. Entreés include Hungarian, German, and French specialties that range from simple egg dishes to the full Champagne breakfast, as well as a tasty seasonal lunch menu.