4 Best Restaurants in Szentendre, Hungary

A favorite of early-20th-century Hungarian writer Frigyes Karinthy, the Golden Dragon restaurant has been welcoming locals and tourists for decades. Set within a small, sloped-roof house, it's known for its charming Hungarian decor and its meat- and fish-heavy menu; highlights include the velős pirítós (bone marrow on toast), sárkányerøleves (dragon's bouillon) with quail eggs, and mézes-mázas libasteak (honey-glazed goose steak). The extensive wine list offers the inquisitive palate a good sampling of local Hungarian viniculture.

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.

An elegant country dining room, a 16th-century vaulted wine cellar for tastings, a sprawling garden terrace with stunning views of the Danube, and a menu of enticing farm-to-table dishes: what's not to love? Perhaps the fact it's only open weekends. The rather limited menu highlights Hungarian game and fish, with traditional dishes such as venison goulash with potato fritters, crispy roast duck with baked apples, and pan-fried trout with parsley potatoes. The emphasis on food-and-fine-wine pairings keeps a multitude of loyal diners coming back.

This restaurant, which has an excellent wine list and specializes in fish and game dishes, is practically on Fø tér. Lace curtains, antique knickknacks, and lovely old paintings give the small upstairs dining room—which is air-conditioned and no-smoking—a homey intimacy; and, perhaps, the restaurant its name: Old-Fashioned (in the best sense, mind you). The downstairs dining room also has a certain antiques-induced charm to it, while the comparatively colorless seating out front carries only the advantage of allowing you to people-watch. The summer terrace, likewise upstairs, is a delightful place to dine alfresco and look out over the red-tile rooftops.