48 Best Restaurants in 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.

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).

With its hearty Hungarian fare, rustic atmosphere, and unbeatable location in full view of the basilica, the Pork Knuckle Tavern has long been popular with locals and visitors alike. Knuckles are, of course, the specialty here, and if you've never tried this succulent dish, now's your chance. Bean soup with knuckle is enough for a small meal but to really fill up, try the Baking Dish Knuckle: smoked, sliced pork knuckle fried with potatoes and smothered with a garlicky sour cream sauce and served in a baking dish with bacon bits sprinkled on top.

On a quiet side street a block from Várkerület, away from the main tourist drag, this excellent restaurant serves delicious, inventive dishes in a choice of beautiful settings: take your pick from the wood-beamed rooms upstairs, the beautiful 18th century brick-vaulted wine cellar below, or the leafy garden terrace outside. The menu features high quality, overwhelmingly meaty and fishy Hungarian fare, like roasted duck leg and paprika catfish, though some vegetarian options do exist. If you find yourself too deep in the extensive wine list, there are 18 comfortable rooms available to rent.

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.

A restaurant since the late 1800s but most recently refurbished in summer 2019, Hableány remains a Badacsony favorite for its delicious Hungarian dishes incorporating fresh, local ingredients—think slow-cooked Mangalica chuck, or squash with grilled paprika and dill. As well as a bistro, the building incorporates a state-of-the-art winery; you can take the factory tour, sample a glass at the wine bar, or pick up a take-out bottle in the wine shop. "Hableány" means "mermaid," and there's a large mural outside that depicts the local legend of a hill god who fell for a mermaid; he leapt into the lake, creating a splash that extinguished the volcanic Mt. Badacsony.

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.

This elegant Győr restaurant is widely considered one of the best in Hungary, renowned for its refined dining room—all dangling chandeliers and white tablecloths—and its distinctive dishes, which take the conventions of Hungarian cuisine and give them subtle Mediterranean twists. Think beef tenderloin strips with pappardelle and gorgonzola, or duck breast with port wine and roasted gnocchi. Everything's beautifully presented and servers are happy to help with wine pairings. Room for dessert? If it's on the menu, opt for the flódni, a traditional cake of Hungary's Jewish community that has five layers of dough filled with plum jam, walnut, poppy seed, and apple.

Considered one of the best restaurants not only in Eger but in the whole of Hungary, Macok is the city's most coveted dining experience. Yet it isn't formal and stuffy: this is a playful, colorful, and elegant bistro offering a menu full of upscale comfort food, including confit duck leg with cabbage-flavored pasta, toasted rabbit with potato donuts, and risotto with porcini mushrooms. As this is Eger, wine also plays an important part on the menu, with vintages culled from the best Eger has to offer.

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.

Its dramatic setting under soaring vaulted ceilings in the old basilica's cellar is just one of this contemporary dining room's many attractions. Add an enticing menu of Hungarian and international dishes, the city's best wine selection (with information boards on all of the country's distinct wine-growing regions), and surprisingly low prices, and you've got the top choice in town. Dishes change seasonally, but there is always a good mix of delicious meat, fish, and vegetarian options that aspire to something beyond your average fare, always fresh and well prepared. If it's on the menu when you visit, opt for the fluffy pancakes stuffed with paprika chicken, spinach, and sour cream. Though popular, the space is big enough that it never feels crowded.

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).

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. 

Tucked away in a pretty valley to the west of Castle Hill, Villa Medici is widely considered to be one of the region's best restaurants—and for good reason. The setting is simply beautiful, whether you dine in the attractive interior, featuring walls lined with original artworks, or out on the charming lamplit garden terrace, set around a lily pond. The service from the formal white-gloved staff is impeccable, and the food is superb. Choose from a selection of five-course set menus (prices range from 23,900 to 26,900 HUF) to enjoy well-presented dishes à la carte, including porcini cream soup, smoked red tuna steak, and quail breast and thigh. Villa Medici also has a few hotel rooms, though some old-fashioned decor means they don't reach the standard of the restaurant.

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.

Set on the ground floor of the historic Storno House on Sopron’s delightful cobblestone main square, Corvinus combines a café, pub, pizzeria, and restaurant all in one. Among the traditional Hungarian specialties are breaded pike-perch with parsley potatoes and roast venison goulash with mushrooms, but the most popular items on the menu are the pizzas. Service is formal yet friendly, whether you dine inside under vaulted ceilings or at an outdoor table.

Traditional street-food sweets, the Kürtőskalács (chimney cake)—made the traditional way: over fire—are impossible to resist, as is everything else at the Sweet Teddy Bear Chimney Cake Confectionery.

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.

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.

The festive Fish Garden has won numerous international awards for its fine Hungarian cuisine. The extensive menu has such fresh-from-the-lake dishes as catfish stew with topfenfleckerl (curd noodles) and pike-perch with wine sauce and tagliatelle. Inside are wooden rafters and tables draped with peachy-pink tablecloths; outside is a large terrace with umbrella-shaded tables. There’s live music several nights a week, as well as regular wine and brandy tasting events. The restaurant is attached to a 45-room hotel, though there are better accommodation options in town.

HILDA prides itself on elevated Hungarian cuisine made exclusively from local, sustainable ingredients. A chic restaurant planted firmly in downtown Budapest, the interiors are beautifully done, where tasteful contemporary design blends seamlessly with old-world stained glass. The dishes are as elegant, featuring contemporary fusion takes on rich stews, smoked raw fish, and Hungary’s marbled Mangalica pork. Prices are in euros and aren't cheap (by Budapest standards, at least)---but with every morsel sourced from farmers they trust, you’re paying for both quality and a clear conscience.

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. 

A short walk from the Inner Town, this charming restaurant is a perennial favorite for its cozy, rustic interior of wooden-beamed ceilings, cast iron light fittings, and checkered tablecloths, as well as for its "guzzle guts" menu of homemade Hungarian specialties, often with an inventive twist. In warm weather, you can also sit outside in the lovely, leafy courtyard. The portions here are enormous, so don't be shy about asking them to pack up leftovers to take away—everyone does it.

This pricey but laid-back, sepia-toned neighborhood tavern is on a hard-to-find street near the Óbuda end of the Árpád Bridge. Practically all the food here arrives in huge servings, which was just the way that Hungarian writer Gyula Krúdy (to whom the restaurant is dedicated) liked it when he was a regular customer. Dishes like the hot pot with marrowbone and toast, or lecsó (a stew with a base of onions, peppers, tomatoes, and paprika) are great comfort food on a cool day.

This cozy, csárda-style eatery tucked away on a side street a 10-minute walk from the main square is warm and bright. The inner area has wood paneling and upholstered booths; the outer section has simple wooden tables covered with locally embroidered tablecloths and matching curtains. Food is heavy, ample, and tasty, whether it’s “outlaw” paprikas with barley-shaped, egg-based pasta; tripe stew with crushed potatoes; turkey breast; or goose liver. Request a plate of dried paprikas—usually crumbled into soup—if you really want to spice things up.

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.