Budapest offers an array of Hungarian and international cuisine in its restaurants, so you won’t find it hard to discover a great place to eat. Feast on traditional goulash, gourmet tasting menus and moreish Italian dishes.
Here’s our pick of the best Budapest restaurants…
ONYX
Head to this popular restaurant if you’re after some high-end Hungarian cuisine in a glitzy setting. This place has scooped several awards, two Michelin stars, and is considered to be one of Budapest’s best. The food here combines traditional Hungarian flavours with modern twists and precision cooking. Choose between two six-course tasting menus and enjoy dishes like water buffalo tartar, oxtail consommé and goose liver.
Blue Route, Stop: Elizabeth Square
onyxrestaurant.hu
BORKONYHA
Borkonyha is another of Budapest’s Michelin-starred eateries and the menu here changes every week or two, in case you need an excuse to go back. Despite the fine-dining offerings, the vibe here is relaxed and casual so you’ll feel at ease while you enjoy the food. Regular dishes include fresh fish with a paprika seasoning, local game and Hungarian cheese with homemade jam. Each dish is exquisitely prepared and a visual treat, so take plenty of snaps. This place also boasts 200 types of Hungarian wine, with most of them sold by the glass.
Blue Route, Stop: Elizabeth Square
borkonyha.hu
GETTO GULYAS
You can’t visit Budapest without tasting some of city’s best goulash. This hearty stew is Hungary’s signature dish, and it’s made with slow-cooked beef and vegetables, and seasoned with plenty of paprika. Pick Gettó Gulyás in the Jewish Quarter if you want to try traditional goulash. This cosy, low-key restaurant specialises in old Hungarian dishes made with handed-down recipes and simple regional ingredients. As well as goulash, you can tuck into 14 different types of stew, chicken paprika and cheese curd dumplings too.
Blue Route, Stop: Great Synagogue
facebook.com/gettogulyas
POMO D'ORO
Italian cuisine is popular in Budapest, and there are several award-winning Italian restaurants to choose from. Pomo D’oro in Buda is one of the best and it attracts locals, tourists and celebrities alike, with past visitors including Steven Spielberg and Calvin Klein. You can dine on all your Italian favourites here – risotto, seafood pasta, succulent steaks, and, of course, wood-fired pizza. The wine selection includes a huge range of Hungarian and Italian varieties, so you’ll find the perfect white or red to pair with your meal.
Blue Route, Stop: Chain Bridge
pomodorobudapest.com
COSTES
Costes was the first of Budapest’s restaurants to be awarded a Michelin star back in 2010. The menu here constantly changes and adapts according to the seasonal ingredients on offer, and the wine selection here is vast, with over 300 varieties to choose from. Pick one of the four to six course tasting menus to get the full gastronomic experience. The experimental and well-presented dishes include caviar and green pea soup, coffee-coated lamb, and summer truffle.
Red Route, Stop: National Museum
costes.hu
Ready to eat your way around Budapest? Start planning your food-inspired break today and tick off these top restaurants. Browse our Budapest bus routes and attractions for more itinerary inspiration.
