Budapest
It's a little bit pricey for what and where it is, but Ooh la la, c'est si bon! A family-run bouchon (small restaurant) with a warm welcome and an art…
Must-see restaurants in Hungary
Castle District
'Rumour' (not 'Fame'!) and its food are what’s on cognoscenti's lips in Budapest these days. An inventive menu of mostly fish and poultry displaying Asian…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This ultra-chic, über-under-designed place (if such a thing is possible) is done in blues and muted browns and russets with a steel trim. It could be in…
Budapest
Owned by local celebrity chef Zoltán Feke, Petrus offers French bistro cooking: boeuf bourguignon, duck confit and snails done in a profusion of ways. The…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
This old-style eatery faces (and, in the warmer weather, has outside seating in) Óbuda’s most beautiful and historical square. Try the signature halászlé …
Budapest
This handy branch of the popular Middle Eastern chain serves cheap, reliable and tasty (mostly) veggie dishes such as shakshuka (eggs cooked in a tomato…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
Auntie Náncsi (Hungarian for any loopy old lady) has long been a favourite with locals and expats alike, and she’s very much of sound mind. Located up in…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
Next to a tram depot (remíz) in the Buda Hills, this veritable though somewhat shabby institution remains popular for its reliable food (try the meats…
Budapest
This wonderful place housed in an outbuilding of the royal palace, a few steps to the southwest and across from the main HÉV train station, serves…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
Sister-restaurant to Bock Bisztro, this almost-luxurious place in the Buda Hills caters to the well-heeled denizens of district XII. The tapas (from…
Budapest
With an enormous outdoor terrace and a cavernous interior, Kiosk wears many hats. It's a casual place to grab an imaginatively prepared lunch midweek (two…
Debrecen
Little sister to a big gourmet-feast palace of the same name just a block south, this hole-in-the-wall has cramped seating on two floors and does a brisk…
Eger
Pop art and a fascinating collection of antique cigarettes still in their packets line the walls in this eclectic eatery. Savoury palacsinta – pancakes,…
Budapest
Next door to a much more extravagant trattoria bearing the same name, on a street locals call 'Via Italia', this Italian delicatessen-caterer has a little…
Budapest
This quaint Hungarian restaurant with long wooden tables and old photos on the wall is quite a find in deepest Józsefváros. Dishes mingle Hungarian and…
Budapest
If you like the idea of dining on a two-level boat but still remaining tethered to the bank, Spoon is for you. The choice of seating is legion: cafe,…
Budapest
If your level of hunger could be described as ravenous, visit this butcher-caterer (a disznótor is where the porker is turned into sausages and other…
Budapest
The restaurant that set a new benchmark for Budapest early in the new millennium has changed its spots and gone all Italian on us. OK, it’s ubertrendy and…
Budapest
It's difficult to say whether this is an Asian restaurant or a temple. The focal point in the dimmed lighting is a giant golden Buddha, the furnishings…
Castle District
The ‘Duck’ (on the corner of Duck St) is the place to go, well, ‘quackers’, though you need not restrict yourself to the eight dishes with a bill …
Budapest
What was once one of our favourite bistros in Budapest has moved to newer and bigger and brighter premises and has caught the attention of hipster…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
In a lovely old townhouse, this rustic place established by former hotel chef Joe Earthy – hey, that’s what his name means! – some years back still serves…
Szeged
The leafy terrace of this interesting place facing the National Theatre is enough reason to make this restaurant your destination on a warm summer evening…
Kecskemét
Italian-owned and operated, Cezar serves dishes made with ingredients almost entirely sourced in Italy. The minestrone and tomato and mozzarella salad are…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
Located in the heart of the Jewish district, Kádár is one of the most popular and authentic étkezdék (canteens that serve simple dishes) you’ll find in…
Szeged
This is a very modern take on an old-fashioned idea – the 'milk bar' so popular during socialist times. Though not vegetarian there are dozens of meatless…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
Sourcing its ingredients from the farmers selling their wares at the Szimpla Farmers' Market across the road on Sundays, this lovely, rustic and very…
Budapest
Hidden in a backstreet beside the ruins of the old city wall, this small cafe is popular with locals and visitors alike for its cosy vintage decor and all…
Esztergom
In the cellars beneath the basilica you'll find some of Esztergom's most creative takes on Hungarian cuisine. We love the gooseberry soup with chicken and…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This is one of those simple ideas that make you wonder why it hadn't been done before. Chicken – that's it – expertly grilled on an open fire (where fuego…
Budapest
If you’re hankering for a fix of authentic Indian curry or tandoori in a bright, upbeat environment, look no further than this attractive eatery just east…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This cafe serves sweets and savoury snacks that are raw, vegan, and gluten- and dairy-free. No soy, no refined sugar, no GMO. Try the chocolate cake with…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
This refined Buda Hills spot is a good place to come for hearty indigenous fare, such as duck leg in orange sauce (3800Ft), at modest prices. The name…
Budapest
This pleasant ‘beer restaurant’ in Újlipótváros serves Belgian (and some Hungarian) specialities, including its namesake, those much-loved bivalves,…
Sopron
The slogan of this rustic pension restaurant is ‘The Restaurant for Guzzle-guts’. It is defined by its extensive, ambitious menu, portions large enough to…
Danube Bend & Western Transdanubia
Next door to the Hotel Visegrád, but very much retaining its own identity, the 'Seagull' is a classy eatery popular with coach parties. It serves…
Debrecen
You can’t miss the giant red flask jutting out from the wall – a landmark in these parts – and you shouldn’t skip the food either. Poultry and pork top…
Tihany
Not only does the chef cook up a Hungarian storm in the kitchen here, but some of Tihany’s best wine is served by the very people who produce the stuff…
Keszthely
Ask locals where they like to eat and one answer dominates: Margaréta. It's no beauty, but the wraparound porch and hidden backyard terrace heave in the…
Budapest
This ever-so-traditional Hungarian eatery with a retro shop sign in front has been serving up classic gulyásleves (hearty beef soup; 1390Ft), veal stew…
