City trip Budapest: the best restaurants
If someone asks what the nicest city in Europe is, we might say Budapest. On the banks of the Danube River, there is that raw edge. In combination with the beautiful architecture, luxurious thermal baths and impressive castles, that raw edge is softened. Add to that the fantastic nightlife and you also have the students. The capital of Hungary is hot and happening and ideal for a romantic city trip, holiday with friends or family holiday. These are the nicest restaurants in the capital of Hungary, Budapest.
The rest of the restaurants on this list will not be for a quick bite before you go into town. This one does, because hey, that breakfast has to come from somewhere if the hotel doesn't serve it or you're in an Airbnb. The crompouce in the Netherlands was a hit, but in Budapest they have the pistachio croissants. The best way to start your day at VAJ is with a sugar breakfast. The local bakery/café has many options for pastries and sandwiches. In addition to the heavenly pistachio croissants, there are also fresh sandwiches with mozzarella, pesto and basil. There are a number of tables where you can work with your laptop, and a few are marked as 'no laptops' for tourists and Hungarians who want to start the day on a good note.
Nothing fancy (or better said: horrible decor), but budget-proof and typical Hungarian food at Frici Papa. Typical Hungarian food? What on earth should we be thinking about then? Of course Goulash. And no, that is not a stew dish, because real goulash is a soup based on beef, veal or pork meat, onion and pepper. Pörkölt, on the other hand, is also a typical Hungarian dish and this is more like a stew. Don't be discouraged by the line that may be at the door, because it will be gone soon. You can fill the entire table with dishes for under ten euros.
End your dinner at Frici Papa with a Palinka, Hungary's national drink, made from collected fruits that are placed in barrels to ferment. Strong permission.
Mák Restaurant, on the other hand, is anything but simple. But the price for modern dishes is also a lot higher. Still a lot lower than the fine dining restaurants in our country, but still high by Budapest standards. The Mák team travels around the country to discover the important, special producers and sources of ingredients of a particular region, so that it appears beautifully on your plate.
The restaurant's chef, János Mizsei, creates a progressive, innovative menu – inspired by the specialties of the ingredients they discover through their travels to the country. Nice story, even better menu. The full farm table menus come in different sizes: from a small selection to the grand experience. With Chef's table you really go all out. You can of course choose a wine menu, but it is actually much more fun to opt for the alcohol-free JUICE PAIRING. In collaboration with the fermentation bar program of the two Michelin-starred Slovenian restaurant Hisa Franko, you then get x amount of homemade kombuchas, and it was absolutely amazing. Delicious, especially the one with pumpkin.
Now we just have to wait until they receive the well-deserved Michelin star.
The tourist restaurant of the city. TikTok, thanks. While in Amsterdam we sometimes have to look twice to see where that TikTok row is leading, in Budapest we understand why. Behind the neglected facade and door lies a hip and cozy tent. Reservations at the Mazel Tov courtyard are a must. In the Israeli restaurant you order several bites to share. You just don't want to lick the bowl of hummus, the dishes with lamb are surprising and you would prefer to come back the next day (and the day after that and the day after that) for the Mazel Tov Pastrami (a brisket smoked for 14 days, homemade yellow mustard and pickled cucumber served in rye bread with Middle Eastern BBQ sauce).
Be surprised by the sommelier about the wines. Although ordering a cocktail can't hurt either. Keep in mind that prices have most likely become slightly higher due to the TikTok hype (still not crazy) and that a tip is mandatory.
Another hip hotspot in Budapest is Twentysix. Lots of plants, making it the greenest restaurant in town. Twentysix Budapest calls itself a cozy urban jungle feel good hub for all nature and gastronomy friends; a nourishing, soulful Mediterranean restaurant. A bit muscular, but hip.
The Twentysix Budapest GARDEN is the restaurant where we personally would rather go for breakfast or lunch, with pancakes and shakshuka for example, than for dinner (although dinner is also good). They organize events in the corresponding HOUSE section and at KAA the cocktails are top notch.
If there is Steak House Restaurant somewhere, then there is a chance that we will move on very quickly in the Netherlands. However, we will stick around at Beerstro14 in Budapest. You come here for the tastiest steak (super tender) in Budapest. Not that they only have steaks, there are also a number of vegetarian options and chicken or fish. But you also come there for the friendly service and the good beers. Although the wine here is not disappointing either. It is cozy and often busy both on the terrace and inside the restaurant.
Busy, touristy and overpriced. Still, we like to come there. Simply because it is cozy and easy. With this one street food court everyone orders what he or she likes: burgers, fries, Hungarian dishes, etc. There are many seating, standing or hanging options and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. The cocktails are affordable and there is such a nice festival atmosphere.
You can also order langos here, the street food dish of Budapest. It looks (and tastes) like deep-fried pizza dough with a topping of often sour cream and cheese. There are also many other variants available. Another typical dish from Budapest that you can enjoy here is Kürtőskalács, or “cake on a stick”. A flavorful, sweetly spiced dough (often with cinnamon) that is spread and wrapped around a cone-shaped stick (baking wood). This is hung over the wood fire to bake.
Yes, Mexican cuisine is also represented in Budapest. When the craving for tacos and margaritas strikes, Tereza is the place to go. The restaurant is run by the owners of Mazel Tov. Although there is a covered area, Tereza is best enjoyed in warm weather when the courtyard turns into a lively hangout – with an illuminated terrace in the evening.
The dishes are not all equally good (the fajitas here do taste good), so to avoid disappointment, many people just stick to the frozen margaritas, which are also available by the pitcher.
Hip, casual and a DJ during dinner is what we want. And what we get when we get a table at the Bestia. Bestia is located at the foot of the Basilica and under the leadership of Norbert Krizmanics, the kitchen delivers exciting dishes, such as charcoal-grilled steaks, prepared in the Josper oven and an ever-changing menu including vegetarian fusion options. All that combined with the most suitable wines.
Dining is great, lunch is nice on the terrace with plenty of sun.
New York as hip as the East Village? Dobrumba proves this with a cool design and a Middle Eastern menu. You will find Dobrumba in the vibrant Jewish quarter of Budapest. Wonderful in the summer when the large windows are open and the electronic music is playing.
The hot and cold mezzes, the tender chicken tagine and the basbousa are delicious. Reservations are often necessary.
In 2010, one of Budapest's first wine bars opened and Dobló was the name. Because it is located in the middle of the Jewish Quarter, today's party district, there are many tourists. But thanks to the dim and cozy interior, it is always atmospheric at Dobló. For a more intimate atmosphere you can sit upstairs. Please note, it is not cheap here (so don't order ten glasses without mercy).
The wine list only contains Hungarian wines. No wonder the wine list is not large, but what is there is good. Let yourself be informed by the friendly staff.
There are so many different cuisines represented in Budapest. Yet you don't see many Spanish restaurants here. At Vicky Barcelona you can order perfectly cooked Spanish tapas. We often start with what you order first, but here we have to start with dessert: the churros and cheesecakes are divine. The beautifully decorated tapas bar is located just outside the hustle and bustle of Budapest.
Ooooh and the good sangria! Delicious. The tapas are also great. And the service too.
Whenever we go to Budapest, we end up in a place where they serve good burgers. Simply because there are many burger options in the city. One of the better ones are the burgers we had at Café Csiga. You get a large burger with steak, fries and a salad. You don't have to order a burger, because they also have vegetarian dishes and soups, for example.
The interior is a bit chaotic but artful, and there are nice large windows. In addition to the normal menu, they also serve a weekly (cheaper) menu for lunch.
