61 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.

This bustling former butcher shop is filled with hanging plants, eclectic artwork, and trendy locals who come as much for the atmosphere as for the food. The menu changes seasonally, but expect café standards given contemporary uplifts: heaping tapas platters, Asian fusion meat-and-veg, plus a popular assortment of burgers and comforting sandwiches. Snag a table outside in the summer, or up in the gallery when it's cold out.

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.

Run by three young Vietnamese-Hungarians with a passion for cooking and a background in fashion and design, this trendy Asian-fusion restaurant is a sister restaurant to popular Sáo in the Jewish Quarter. The stylish setting features contemporary art, concrete columns, and Vietnamese ceramic bowls, and the menu includes all the expected (slightly overpriced) pan-Asian staples.

The Art Deco facade of the Little Cuckoo restaurant evokes the history of this fashionable residential neighborhood street. The setting today is comfortable; wood-paneled walls and leather-upholstered chairs give the place a sophisticated, albeit homey, feel. Sunday finds multigenerational Hungarian families enjoying the familiar and attentive service. All the classic Hungarian poultry dishes are well done, including goose and duck leg with cabbage, and there are a few refined dishes, too, such as veal medallions in cream sauce and lamb with rosemary.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The basic Indian-style dishes at Govinda may not be that exciting from a culinary perspective but everything is vegan and made from fresh products coming straight out of Krishna Valley, a communal village of Hare Krishnas near Lake Balaton that dates back to the change in regime. This religious eco-community is almost completely self-sufficient, using solar energy and sustainable subsidies, and supplying their six Hungarian restaurants with vegetables and other stocks. Though a bit on the heavy side, the dishes are wholesome and satisfying.

This place may not look like much from the outside, particularly among the newer, trendier spots on Bartók Béla út, but it serves some of the most delicious authentic Balkan food in town. A Bulgarian known as Bárni is the proprietor, living out his dream of showcasing the chargrilled flavors of his childhood. The menu is very meat heavy, but the salads are good and there are tasty sides like peppers stuffed with feta cheese.

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.

For substantial German-style cuisine and frothy beer, head for the popular HBH Bavarian Brewery, which has a great location just off Dobó István tér. The menu comprises traditional Hungarian and German fare, along with American-style bar snacks like chicken wings and onion rings. Any of these will go down smoothly with a glass of Bull's Blood—or perhaps a Munich Hofbräuhaus, the beer that gives the restaurant its initials.

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. 

There’s always a festive groove at Iguana, the most popular expat restaurant in town, especially with Americans. Tex-Mex nachos, quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, and jalapeño poppers are tasty and filling, and the setting feels authentic, surrounded by south-of-the-border movie posters. Order pitchers of classic or strawberry margaritas or punchy tequila and mezcal cocktails.

Founded by legendary local restaurateur Hans van Vliet, this inviting jazz bar and restaurant caters to one and all (Jedermann means "everyone"), with an atmosphere best summed up in buzzwords like hip, cool, and laid-back. The menu is nothing spectacular, but everything is wholesome and often made for sharing: think Cobb salad, goat cheese pasta, or homemade dips with fresh bread. Budapest's finest jazz musicians jam on their intimate stage several times a week, and it's best to reserve in advance on those nights—check the website for details.

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.