38 Best Restaurants in Hungary

Half hidden behind the Budapest-Tabán Church (the entrance is on that side of the building, not on Döbrentei utca itself), this excellent little cake shop is a popular option among locals for weddings and special events. Luckily, visitors can also get a taste of their freshly baked treats; simply head inside to order your coffees and cakes, then take them to the one of tables outside.

Cheap, fresh, and tasty, Duran's open-faced sandwiches are the ideal quick lunch or snack to power your day. Choose from cured meats or smoked fish, local cheese or vegetable spreads, all on sliced soft white baguette. The family dates its baking history to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its first Budapest sandwich spot to 1968.

This traditional Viennese-style coffeehouse has one of the most beautiful interiors in Kecskemét, with elaborate wall frescoes, gorgeous mosaic floors, and gold-framed mirrors. Come for the decor, stay for the decorative cakes and pastries, from distinctly Hungarian creations like somlói kocka to French patisserie classics like éclairs and macarons. There are vegan cakes and pastries, too, as well as a small selection of sandwiches and other savory options.

Opened in summer 2023, this small Bartók Béla út gelato place has quickly gained a following for its array of innovative ice cream flavors, including fresh fig and walnut, gooseberry and elderflower, and white chocolate with saffron and lemon. There are also several dessert-inspired cones, including lemon pie and Sachertorte, along with one-flavor classics like pistachio, raspberry, and mango.

Dating back to 1957, this popular neighborhood mom-and-pop café serves classic cakes from the Austro-Hungarian era to rival those at the more tourist-friendly spots, but at a fraction of the cost. It’s small and friendly, with a wide selection that includes Eszterházy, Dobos, and Sacher cakes, among dozens of others.

This little bakery serves some of the best bread in the city, as well as lip-smacking savory and sweet pastries. It's popular with locals, so don't be surprised to find queues outside at breakfast and lunchtime.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. 

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.

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.

There are a few ice cream parlors in Budapest worthy of mention and Fragola is one of them. A locally owned shop featuring 120 original homemade flavors, Fragola is famed for the the quality of the ingredients. With several locations in town, you don’t have to venture to Szent István Park to try it but if you are in the neighborhood, don’t pass it by.

One of Hungary’s best artisanal ice cream chains, here you can choose from a range of unique flavors like turmeric, fig, and sweet pistachio, or something in their new vegan line.

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.

Proudly bearing the name of famed confectioner Émile Gerbeaud, who brought the glamour of Paris with him to turn-of-the-century Budapest, this elegant coffeehouse dating from 1858 has remained the pride of the nation ever since. It's a bit of a tourist spot and can be pricey for Budapest standards, but a savvy tip is that cakes ordered for takeaway are half the price of those eaten in-house.

This Hungarian Middle Eastern fast food chain is the city’s go-to for hummus. The first restaurant opened up in 2005 and the chain has been a local favorite since. Its laid-back vibe and upbeat chickpea-loving theme say it all. For a vegan dish, go for the crispy, light falafel. Venues are all over town, including four branches in this chapter's area alone, but Október 6 utca is the only one that serves up freshly made laffa.

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.

Walking up from Víziváros to Várhegy from the north side? Then pop into this delightful ice cream and frozen yogurt parlor to cool down. There is a range of interesting flavor combinations available, like vanilla and sour cherry, and honey and cinnamon.

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.

Kürtőskalács (chimney cake) is a traditional Transylvanian spit cake and popular street food, as pervasive in Budapest as Belgian waffles in Western Europe. This charming little shop offers tasty homemade kürtős kalács and classic sweets from an adorable gazebo-style shop in the middle of the park.

As life in Budapest becomes increasingly mobile and fast-paced, this fast food restaurant caters to on-the-go locals with no time to dither by specializing entirely in soup. While the menu is limited to soups, it is not limited: there are soups of all flavors and origins on the always-changing menu. It's a good spot to dine in or get lunch to go.

This is the place to try a traditional Transylvanian "spit" or "chimney" cake, a cylindrical pastry made from sweet yeasty dough. It's cooked over a charcoal fire then sprinkled with sugar. You can also add your own extras, from almonds to poppy seeds, and get it served with an ice-cream filling.

This warmhearted pub (look out for the picture of the American detective, Columbo, on the sign) serves a good range of tasty Czech beers as well as ten types---count 'em---of a traditional potato pancake dish with different stuffings and toppings. Family- and dog-friendly, it's cozy rather than rowdy.