146 Best Restaurants in Hungary

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.

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 cute little café is within walking distance of the Castle District's top sights, but far enough off the tourist path to not feel or operate like a tourist trap. You'll find warm and friendly service along with delicious cakes and toasted sandwiches. In cooler weather the terrace is a lovely spot to linger with blankets and coffees or mulled wine.

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.

Venture down an unassuming side street off the main square and you will stumble across this tiny subterranean cellar café. It's situated at the bottom of what was once a public well, and the exposed brick walls, vaulted ceilings, and candlelit tables make a lovely setting for sipping a coffee or soda. There are also (very cheap) homemade sandwiches and cookies on offer.

This bustling Italian restaurant and pizzeria, with a huge terrace that opens onto the bustling Jókai Square, is a perennial Pécs favorite. The menu includes some 20 kinds of pizza, all cooked in an authentic wood-burning stove, along with a huge choice of pastas, risottos, and salads. Not an Italian enthusiast? There are plenty of traditional Hungarian meat, poultry, and fish dishes, too.

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.

This old-fashioned bakery-café has a loyal following for some of the lightest, most buttery pastries in Budapest. All the classic Hungarian cakes like rétes (strudel filled with sour cherries, apples, or cheese) and dobos torta (chocolate cream cake with caramel) can be enjoyed here, along with some unique in-house creations. If you find yourself near Széll Kálmán tér across the river (on Metro line 2), you can also check out their original, and still active, shop at Fény utca 8.

It doesn't look like much from outside, but this conveniently located downtown diner has gained a loyal following for its simple but satisfying cuisine. The menu mainly comprises delicious grilled meat and fish dishes, though there are some other Balkan specialties on offer, including lepények (a pizza-like pastry stuffed with meat or cheese). Service can be gruff and unsmiling, but that's almost part of the charm.

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.

After the arrival of New York Bagel (in the 13th District), it took another 20 years before bagels became all the rage in Budapest and you'll now find decent variations all around the city. But only a few places have come close to offering an authentic bagel—Budapest Bagel is the current leader, getting all the attention for great bagels and service at a good price. Keep in mind, they close at 5 pm. 

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 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 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.

Blending Vietnamese informality with professional service and simple, clean, and elegant Scandinavian style, this trendy café on Bartók Béla út offers both light and dark roasted specialty coffees, the must-try Vietnamese coffee, and specialty teas and smoothies. Before you sample the tasty pastries and cakes, be sure to start with a bánh mì sandwich (available in a variety of flavors and sizes, including a vegan version).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This attractive place is a great stop for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner or just a takeaway coffee and ice cream. Enjoy an international menu of soups, salads, pizzas, panini, and burgers (along with a few local specialties) in the simple Scandi-style interior, or else sit outside on the pleasant street terrace. El Gusto also has an outlet Sopron Plaza, on the northern edge of town, as well as a handful of swanky apartments to rent right by El Gusto Gourmet.

Situated on Óváros tér (Old Town Square) at the foot of Castle Hill, this charming little bistro offers an extensive menu of Italian favorites, including pizzas, pastas, and risottos, alongside some distinctly Hungarian grilled and fried meat dishes. If you come at lunchtime, you'll also find a great value daily menu, with main courses typically priced below 2,000 HUF. The interior is cozy and charming, with arched ceilings and, oddly, a built-in aquarium of tropical fish. In nice weather you can sit outdoors on the lovely terrace.

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.