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Budapest Budapest Restaurants

Eating & Drinking in Budapest



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There's some serious culinary fusion going on in Budapest right now. While you can still find your pure, traditional goulash, you'll also get a tour of Asia or Europe in a new generation of restaurants. The dining experience in the Hungarian capital has not only improved in quality, but also in number of choices.
What remains unchanged is the cafe culture in a number of classic and modern coffeehouses. Order one of the delicious pastries to go with your coffee and admire the faded splendor or the modern attitude of your surroundings.


Café Central
It was renovated not too long ago, but the 19th century atmosphere of this legendary café is still there. It was the center of intellectual life in Budapest ever since it opened in 1887, and although it closed in 1949, its recent reincarnation is equally one of the best places in town for breakfast or a drink and cake in the afternoon. Lunch and dinner menus are also served.

New York Café
As one of the most wonderfully lavish Baroque cafés in Europe, this is a place you should not miss in Budapest. It dates from the 19th century and has been fully restored following much damage caused by World War II. It's part of the New York Palace Hotel and as you'd expect, the prices are higher than at other cafes in the city, but it's worth having your coffee or tea here, as did the city's most famous writers and artists for decades.

Café Gerbeaud
Famous for its cakes, this café has an excellent location, right at the end of the busy Vaci utca in Vörösmarty Square. It was established in 1858 and is one of the city's most popular cafes, decorated with magnificent chandeliers, fine wood paneling, and marble tables. It all creates a classic café atmosphere where you can people-watch or read a newspaper.

Spoon Cafe, Budapest Spoon Cafe
A boat docked by the Chain Bridge is the setting for this trendy café-lounge much loved by locals, expats, and tourists. Featuring a contemporary interior design, it offers a handful of bars and separate dining areas, including an open terrace with panoramic views of the city.

Leroy Café
There are other Leroys but the one located behind St Stephen's basilica is the hippest of all, serving modern European dishes as you admire the view of the basilica.

Café Kor
For the quintessential Budapest dining experience, head to this restaurant with its vaulted dining area serving an extensive menu based on Hungarian comfort food. The daily specials are written on the wall and range from salads to roast salmon. Be sure to also try the pastries, which are among the best in the city and the perfect excuse to drop by for breakfast.

Dio Restaurant
Blending Hungarian folk art motifs with contemporary design, the interior of this restaurant is the first indication of what you'll find on the menu. The chef creatively mixes the old Hungarian flavors with modern tastes and imaginatively presents it on your plate.

Menza
Budapest's Communist days are recalled in the name and décor of this restaurant. The atmosphere is both retro and modern, and the food is simple, traditional Hungarian. Its location on a lively square makes it a popular choice for an artsy and business crowd that also shows up for a drink and people-watching in the afternoon.

White Heaven
The name provides a clue to what the interior is like. It's a sleek white space where international cuisine is served. It's also one of the trendiest spots in the city, especially the bar late at night.

Tom George
Thai and Japanese (including some of the best sushi in the city) are just a couple of the cuisines found on the international menu at this oh-so-trendy restaurant. The décor doesn't get more elegant and sophisticated anywhere else in Budapest, which is why it may come as a surprise that the prices, although slightly above average, are quite reasonable.

Gundel
It's Budapest's most famous restaurant, and with good reason. Dating from 1894, it's housed in an Art Nouveau palace, and the high-style Hungarian cuisine tries hard to justify the high prices. If you're looking for a splurge, dress your best and book your table here.

Mokka
A little piece of Morocco in Budapest is the theme of the decoration while the menu fuses French and Mediterranean cuisines. There are some Hungarian flavors too, along with local wines served in the warm atmosphere that has made this such a popular spot.

Goa Café
The name is slightly misleading, as the menu is not all South Indian. It serves fusion cuisine, including pastas and Mediterranean dishes, and includes a bar that is a popular place for drinks at the end of the day.