Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
One of the more interesting choices along Dob utca, colourful Cirkusz – more of a cafe than a restaurant – serves breakfast and breakfast only throughout…
Must-see restaurants in Hungary
Eger
This little hole in the wall is hidden away in a narrow street just up from the landmark former Neoclassical Synagogue. It's worth a look though as it…
Szentendre
The fashionable 'Golden Dragon' may sound Chinese but it actually serves up mains like Angus steak and goose liver with rose petal jam. It was Hungary's…
Debrecen
Wedged between the Aquaticum Wellness Hotel and thermal baths in Nagyerdei Park is this gourmet restaurant housed in a lovely old theatre. Try the catfish…
Great Plain
The food is surprisingly good at the entirely kitschy Karikás Csárda, next to the park entrance. The gulyás (beef goulash soup; 1100Ft) is hearty and the…
Szentendre
Szentendre has now opened its own branch of the artisanal ice-cream joint from Budapest. Flavours include the signature dark chocolate and lavender, lemon…
Lake Balaton & Southern Transdanubia
This cool, leafy oasis amid all the hubbub is set back from the lake in a shaded park area. It serves generous portions of such Hungarian culinary…
Castle District
This place sells some of the best shop-made ice cream and sorbet in Buda; its three-dozen unusual flavours include fig, pomegranate and Sachertorte. The…
Kecskemét
This is business-account territory but not for nothing as the rather inventive menu changes seasonally, and options might include stuffed trout with…
Pécs
Putting a classy spin on casual munchies, this little place has a short and sweet menu of excellent homemade burgers (including pulled pork – our…
Kecskemét
This place goes over the top with its rustic fishing gear on the walls and costumed wait staff. But the food is good, there's a large open courtyard and…
Danube Bend & Western Transdanubia
This adorable restaurant just up from the Nagymaros ferry has a large photo menu covering a fine array of Hungarian standards. Its leafy terrace seating…
Esztergom
In spite of the name, the dishes at this friendly restaurant tend to be Hungarian (unless you count the pasta). That said, the portions are generous, the…
Castle District
A charming bistro between Széll Kálmán tér and Déli train station, Mezzo has upmarket international and Hungarian dishes – and jazz from 7pm Monday to…
Szeged
This pleasantly authentic Indian restaurant is just metres from the New Synagogue. If you get a hankering for a curry or a spot of tandoor, this is the…
Budapest
This enormous (and enormously popular) Turkish eatery at the northern end of Október 6 utca dispenses kebabs and grills almost around the clock to…
Kecskemét
This cosy place with a small courtyard claims to be a cafe, a restaurant and a pizzeria and perhaps it is. But most come for the pasta (1320Ft to 1840Ft)…
Budapest
Budapest's first bona fide doughnut chain sells dozens of varieties of both coated and filled fried dough. Great place for a quick hit of sugar and…
Danube Bend & Western Transdanubia
In the heart of Pannonhalma village, Borbirodalom has an extensive selection of wines from the nearby Pannonhalma-Sokoróalja region in its cellar, and a…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
This tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant down from the courtyard of a mini shopping mall in Óbuda serves some of the best Japanese food in town, including…
Budapest
Some people say this place serves some of the best pizza in Budapest. We're going to try it again before making a final judgement, though it certainly is…
Northern Hungary
The traditional dishes at this cottage restaurant are the best in the village. The flower-bedecked courtyard down in the back garden is a positive delight…
Tihany
From its high vantage point near the Benedictine Abbey Museum, this cafe has an unsurpassed panoramic view of Balaton. On a sunny day, there's no better…
Keszthely
Korzó is one of the few cafes worthy of your attention on pedestrian Kossuth Lajos utca. It’s a simple place with street seating, but the cakes are divine…
Budapest
Excellent burgers, with lots of different varieties, are served in this small, modern joint that also does snacks, salads and breakfast, available to 1pm…
Castle District
Strudel in all its permutations – from poppyseed with sour cherry to dill with cheese and cabbage – is available at this hole-in-the wall dispensary in a…
Danube Bend & Western Transdanubia
Don Vito is quite a joint for such a small town. Its collection of gangster memorabilia is as impressive as its selection of top-shelf liquor. But we…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
This is a great place to pop in for lunch with shop-made soups, sandwiches, quiche and cakes. Hard to go wrong in an outlet run by a cooking school.
Budapest
This vegetarian and vegan basement restaurant northeast of the Chain Bridge serves wholesome salads, soups and desserts as well as daily one-/two-course…
Budapest
This place is where to head for some of Pest's best ice cream in town, as you’ll be able to deduce from the queues. In winter, its cakes (395Ft to 750Ft)…
Budapest
This branch of the popular sandwich bar is by the Central European University and is always rammed with penny-pinching students. It's branched out into…
Budapest
In the centre of Gödöllő next to the post office is the upbeat Solier Cafe, with a wonderful cukrászda (cake shop) on the ground floor and a lovely…
Budapest
This small shop sells genuine Italian gelato. It's located on a street that has become known as 'Via Italia' because of all the Italian restaurants and…
Northern Hungary
This wonderful little bakery sells bread and both savoury and sweet baked goods, including hókifli, crescent-shaped pastries filled with nuts, plum or…
Northern Hungary
This hotel restaurant specialises in game – as you might have guessed from all the trophies on the walls. Sit in the main dining room or on the pretty…
Budapest
This tiny cafe-restaurant inside a health-food shop on the ‘Sunny Side’ of the street serves fresh salads, pastries and soups. It's all vegetarian and…
Debrecen
More international than Belgian, this restaurant with a beer-hall atmosphere serves many fish and lacto-ovo vegie dishes; a good choice for those…
Szeged
Taking pride of place on Szeged's most attractive square, Pizza e Pasta serves, well, just that, and is said to be the best in town.
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This pretty place, all pastel colours (including the macaroons) and sweet things, serves ice cream and cakes to eat in or take away.
Castle District
Branch of a popular bakery chain that has charmed Budapest with excellent pastries, Danishes and savoury snacks, such as quiche.
