Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
Just up from Budapest’s most famous ruin pub, Szimpla Kert, this outdoor courtyard with a dozen food trucks offers a variety of snacks from gourmet…
Must-see restaurants in Hungary
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
Widely acclaimed as having the best chain burgers (there are a half-dozen franchises) in Budapest, Zing has the full range – from basic to fancy (loads of…
Castle District
Located in an early 19th-century town house just below Castle Hill, this self-service place offers stodgy vegetarian and vegan platters, salad and pasta…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This cute, spick-and-span cafe in the heart of the Jewish district serves Israeli-style kosher food, from couscous and shakshuka to hummus and pasta…
Castle District
A classic fish restaurant by the Danube where freshwater-fish soup (from 1550Ft) is served in bowls, pots or kettles, and your carp, catfish or trout…
Castle District
This odd place, filled with communist memorabilia and kitsch, is a joke that's now almost three decades old. Top marx (sorry) for the Gulag, Snow White…
Budapest
This attractive cafe-restaurant serves international cuisine that is not especially inspired but is of a certain standard – and it's there in the Allee…
Lake Balaton & Southern Transdanubia
Ignore the lakeside ice-cream stands and head uphill to this elegant cafe for scoops of the best ice cream in town (including local favourite, poppy-seed…
Pécs
This wine restaurant takes pride in its silver service and venue; the Zsolnay Room evokes past grandeur. Formerly one of the town's best restaurants, the …
Budapest
This Thai eatery on two levels offers dishes with a base of rice or noodles (1290Ft) with accompanying toppings (390Ft to 890Ft), and sauces free of…
Budapest
This unpretentious little bistro on the Big Ring Road, courtesy of Wang Mester out by City Park, has delighted Asian foodies and disappointed others in…
Budapest
Visit this neighbourhood restaurant on the corner of Pozsonyi út for the ultimate local Budapest experience: gargantuan portions of Hungarian classics,…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
Less well-heeled sister restaurant of the ESCA Studio next door, 'Blackboard' (yes, it has one of them) is now open for breakfast and brunch only. Expect…
Keszthely
The service can be a little haphazard here, but there's a pleasant garden terrace. Park serves the likes of pork medallions with garlic sauce and paprika…
Budapest
This is the place to head when you really could eat a horse (which may or may not be on one of the tables). It’s an enormous buffet of more than 100 cold…
Budapest
This brightly coloured cafe that used to be on Roosevelt tér is a modern take on a Hungarian önkiszolgáló (self-service restaurant) where, along with…
Budapest
If like us you need a fix of pork dumplings and fried rice every once in a while, the 'Nine Dragons' at the southwestern end of City Park can oblige…
Tihany
With fabulous views of the lake from its enormous terrace, this thatched-cottage restaurant attracts the attention of many passers-by. The food (mostly…
Lake Balaton & Southern Transdanubia
A convivial pizza/pasta joint away from the flashy waterfront, Arany Csillag is a local favourite that attracts a mix of people from every age group. Its…
Kecskemét
This simple eatery hiding in the middle of a shopping centre is just the place to try Hungarian soul food, including the eponymous főzelék, twice-cooked…
Keszthely
Keszthely’s lively food market combines the best and worst of Hungary’s markets, packed with overflowing fruit and vegetable stands, stalls selling…
Lake Balaton & Southern Transdanubia
Join fans of Lujza Blaha and take coffee and cake at the cafe where the famous actress used to while away the hours when not in residence across the…
Kecskemét
Italia is a little short on atmosphere, but it does a roaring trade with students from the nearby colleges. A full menu also includes pasta dishes (990Ft…
Castle District
This small eatery serves Hungarian pancakes – both savoury and sweet – round the clock and is often packed. Peckish night owls may also wish to consider…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
This branch of ‘Granny’s Palacsinta Place’, the popular chain selling pancakes with savoury and sweet fillings, is handy when visiting Aquincum. Baked …
Budapest
This very basic (and very central) functional eatery serves vegan sandwiches, pizzas and 'burgers’ and is very popular with students from the nearby…
Northern Hungary
Head for this simple little eatery on the main square under two mini lindens for lunch or early dinner. It serves the usual Hungarian staples as well as…
Keszthely
This small vegetarian restaurant down the hill from the palace has buckets of good energy and healthy (if not terribly inspiring) daily menus during the…
Northern Hungary
This riverside restaurant with its back terrace looking in the general direction of the Tisza is a cheap and cheerful option among Tokaj's rather limited…
Debrecen
Some of the cheapest (if not the best) pizza in town awaits in an interior courtyard just off the main square. A substantial number of the 50 choices are…
Debrecen
This upbeat pasta and pizza restaurant, with more than two dozen of the former on offer and almost four dozen of the latter, is as central as you could…
Eger
Chinese, Hungarian and Greek self-service restaurants are among your choices on the top floor of the Agria Park shopping centre west of the basilica.
Pécs
Pécs’ excellent fruit and vegetable market is next to the bus station; food stalls lining the interior sell gut-busting sandwiches and sausages.
Budapest
This popular pizzeria, with more substantial pasta dishes as well, is conveniently attached to Gödöllő's Szabadság tér HÉV station.
Great Plain
This central place does Hungarian main courses but most people come to the Sfera for the pizza (1190Ft to 1450Ft).
Kecskemét
Locals love the quick and tasty self-service cafeteria on the ground floor of the city’s largest central hotel.
Pécs
This place has been serving its very own Italian-style lapátos fagyalt (scooped ice cream) since 1992.
Pécs
One of two cake shops on the main square serving gooey sweet delights and multiple gelato flavours.
Northern Hungary
This eatery offers covered outside dining in the warmer months but closes early otherwise.
