22 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.

This modern European bistro is considered one of Hungary's best restaurants, so it's well worth the 25-minute walk from the lakeside. The stylish, stripped-back interior—all exposed brick walls, wooden-beamed ceilings, and distressed leather chairs—makes the perfect setting for a culinary adventure. Chef Balázs Elek offers a succinct à la carte menu that changes with the seasons, as well as a comparatively good value five-course tasting menu (21,800 HUF). Dishes might include duck leg with potato gratin, tomato fish stew, and beef cheek with forest mushrooms. The menu suggests wines to complement each dish, but there's an extensive list with many more if you prefer to choose your own.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 is probably Hungary's most famous restaurant, an officially listed Hungarikum both for its historical significance (opened in 1894) as well as its revival in the 1990s by Hungarian-American restaurateur George Lang. Fin-de-siècle grandeur shines through in the glorious dining room, tastefully adorned with 19th- and 20th-century Hungarian paintings, and a 10-piece Romani band adds an earnest nostalgia to the place. The gorgeous setting includes an Art Nouveau bar designed by Adam Tihany. The food, sadly, is just a bit above average, though some classics such as goose liver pâté and Gundel pancakes are well executed. Nevertheless, a visit is a uniquely memorable experience.

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.

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.

It may be named after a type of Bundt cake that's popular in France and throughout Central and Eastern Europe, but this place is more than just a café-bakery. A stylish French-style bistro, it's popular for its extensive breakfast and brunch menu, including everything from croissants to banana bread, eggs Benedict to avocado toast, as well as a lunch menu comprising creamy soups, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Hungarian specialties. Come for the food, stay for the pleasant terrace setting, including views to Március 15 tér (March 15 Square) and the river in the distance.

Tucked away just off Bartók Béla út on Ménesi út, this lovely little tapas bar is run by a Hungarian-Spanish couple. Diners can choose from an array of meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes, as well as several cured meat and cheese platters to share. There's also an extensive Spanish wine menu, and service comes with a smile.

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.

An extremely cute and colorful little café where the focus is on elegant, delicately constructed cakes, along with other desserts, pies, puddings, and cookies. The sweet treats are baked daily by the owner and make for fun energy boosters for weary travelers.

Szamos is a household name in Hungarian chocolate confectioners---their café here has a stunning vista of the Parliament and the picturesque tram lines that run along it. It's a great place to grab breakfast or relax with a coffee and a chocolate bite in-between sights. Try the signature Sacher, Dobos, or Eszterházy cakes. There's also a museum on the first floor featuring a history of the Szamos chocolatier.

This elegant café and restaurant has a delightful lakeside view of the Vajdahunyad Castle and great service. Just next door to the ice-skating rink and boathouse, its wall-to-wall windows assure views for its patrons and the lovely waitstaff are tolerant of weary ice-skaters gutsy enough to come in just for a forralt bor (mulled wine) and a moment of peace in a warm, romantic setting. In summer, the lakeside terrace provides even better views.