Budapest is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. There are countless eateries, cafés, and bistros, all bragging about serving excellent food. Finding real authentic eateries that are also a good value for your money is difficult. With such a plethora of choices, it’s easy to get confused and fall into a tourist trap.
If you are looking for a fine dining experience and not just having a meal, the following restaurants are a great choice:
Best Hungarian Restaurants in Budapest
1. Gundel
Budapest’s most famous restaurant. This upscale restaurant has been standing proud at its current location for over 150 years. Gundel has an old culinary tradition and serves some of the most delicious Hungarian dishes.
The restaurant also has a gypsy band that plays a wide variety of music, from old Hungarian folk songs, to waltzes and modern hits. Excellent food, good service and high prices. Dress code is high end casual. Address: 14th district, Gundel Károly street 4.
2. Halászbástya Étterem (Fishermen’s Bastion Restaurant)
Perched high up on the wall of the Fisherman’s Bastion, this restaurant will spoil you with a royal interior and the best location in town. Great panoramic city views and live gypsy music.
Food is good and the atmosphere is nice. Prices are high. Address: Fisherman’s Bastion, North Tower, Buda Castle
3. Csalogány 26
This bistro style restaurant is very popular among the locals and almost totally unknown to the visitors. Located in a residential neighborhood in Buda, Csalogány 26 is so well hidden that you can easily miss it.
The food they serve is absolutely divine! They have a great selection of wines. The restaurant is small and intimate, with a very cozy atmosphere. Address: Csalogany utca 26, Budapest 1015, Hungary (District I / Buda)
4. Bagolyvár Restaurant (The Owl’s Castle)
The Owl’s Castle is a cheaper version of Gundel. The restaurant which is exclusively run by women, is located just a stone throw away from Gundel, in a reproduction of a Transylvanian house from the 19th century. The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner and also has a patio that is opened during the summer months.
This is a better alternative for Gundel if you are looking for a great place to eat. Address: Allatkerti ut 2, Budapest 1146
5. Mátyás Pince (Matthias Cellar)
One of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in Budapest. The restaurant was named after Matthias Corvinus, one of the most beloved Hungarian kings
They serve good, traditional Hungarian food. A Gypsy band plays here every night. Address: H-1056 Budapest, Március 15. tér 7
6. Szlovák Sörözö (Slovak Pub)
This little tavern located in the downtown area is one of our favorite pubs in Budapest. The pub serves excellent authentic Slovakian and Hungarian cuisine at very cheap prices.
If all you want is a tasty, hearty meal after a day of sightseeing, you won’t be disappointed here. Address: Budapest, Bihari János utca 17, (off Szent Istvan körut)
7. Café Gerbeaud
Café Gerbeaud is one of Budapest’s landmarks. Unfortunately, what was once Budapest’s finest café and the meeting place of the city’s elite, became a touristy, overpriced, and mediocre place. If you want to see one of the most traditional coffee houses in Europe, you should stop for a visit.
8. Café New York
Another historic café in Budapest that served as the gathering spot for famous artist figures of the time is Café New York. Built at the end of the 19th century, this architectural gem went through some bizarre transformations over the years.
Located on the ground floor of the New York Palace hotel, the coffee house displays a rich and opulent decor made of marble, bronze, silk, crystal, velvet.
This place is worth seeing, at least for the sake of enjoying the ambiance of a great coffee house. Address: Budapest, Erzsébet krt. 9-11, 1073
9. Ruszwurm
Ruszwurm is one of my favorite spots in Budapest. Their delicious pastries and coffee make your mouth water. Located in the Buda Castle area, the 187 years old tiny little café still operates with great success. Ruszwurm is owned by the Szamos family, a famous confectionary dynasty.
Prices are moderate to high, service is good. Due to its fame and location, it is always a challenge to find a table here. Address: Budapest, Szentháromság u. 7, 1014
10. Europa Café
Europa Café is another very pleasant coffee house, with bot inside and outside sitting. The café has a big selection of pastries and sweets. Europa Café is a popular spot for the locals. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the small Parisian cafés where the old timers meet to catch up with each other.
Address: Budapest, Váci u. 45, 1056
Visit our YouTube channel.
Cuisine is the third most important option Chinese travelers