Where To Eat in Budapest: A Food and Wine Lovers Guide For Every Meal

When Caleb and I lived in Budapest, we were on a mission to find the best places to eat in all categories because we really, really like to eat. It’s why we travel, and Budapest is a mecca for foodies. SO MUCH TO EAT!

So, if you like to eat and you’re looking for where to eat in Budapset to make the most of your vacation, you’re in the right spot, friends! Honestly, this guide made us so hungry to write, so I’m warning you about that.

In this guide, we’re getting deep into where to eat in Budapest with our best and second-best foodie spots in all categories so you can plan your vacation around the best eats, just like we do! Let’s dive in, starting with a sneak peek from the restaurants on this list!

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A Quick Guide To Budapest

When to go and how long: April, May, September or August for 2-7 days.

Where to stay: We love staying in the 7Seasons Hotel for the cheap, large rooms, friendly staff, and epic, central location. It’s in one of the best districts for first time visitors!

How to get around: walking or tram.

Must-do foodie activities: this wine tasting (see more below,) this local cooking class with flowing wine, or this food tour if you’re short on time and want to eat all the top traditional foods.

Quick Navigation: 🍳 Breakfast // 🥐 Bakeries // 🤤 Langos // 🍰 Chimney Cakes // 🥩 Traditional Foods // ❤️ Romantic Spots // 🍷 Wine Bars // 🍸 Cocktail Bars

Our favorite breakfast and brunch spots

The winner: Dobrumba – For funky, middle-Eastern eats

Lovers of Middle Eastern food, cancel your brunch plans, and RUN to Dobrumba! It is a funky Middle Eastern-inspired place that serves lunch, dinner, and a unique brunch menu. The brunch options are diverse, including hummus bowls with lentils, eggs, veggies, caramelized tahini and banana, lamb sausage with pomegranate glaze, hummus, and bread.  I know you’re drooling.

Caleb got the lamb sausage dish, and I had the challah toast with labneh, sage butter, za’atar, poached eggs, veggies, and spicy pickled peppers. Literally unreal flavors are exploding in these dishes! It was one of the best brunches we spent money on in Budapest!

The vibe inside is chic and trendy, making it a great spot for a brunch date. The staff were also so smiley, nice, and helpful, which made the experience that much better!  We got in right at 10 am on a Sunday without a wait, as it’s a lesser-known brunch spot, and most people go for dinner!

📍 Budapest, Dob u. 5, 1074 Hungary

Runner up: Cork Breakfast and Wine

We almost didn’t go here because we were like, “What kind of restaurant specializes in breakfast and wine?” but then we were like…,” But we love breakfast and wine, so maybe this is genius?” 

Yes, friends. It is.

The vibe inside is modern, dark, and sexy, with exposed brick and wine bottles everywhere, and the food is unique and just as trendy. It was super hard to decide with all the options like Hungarian scrambled eggs or poppyseed cottage cheese DONUTS with pistachio sauce.

I opted for the savory zucchini pancakes with sour cream and smoked salmon, and holy-freaking-moly, I almost licked my plate for real. Garlickly, herby, perfection!  Caleb had the tomato, poached egg, and halloumi cheese toast, which has BRICKS of halloumi cheese and was pure taste-bud magic.

We also love that you get a free coffee if you order breakfast between 9–11 am!

📍 Budapest, Hajós u. 17, 1065 Hungary

Honorable mention: Deszka – for super unique, Instagram-able eats

Deszka is a hidden gem just outside the city center, and we loved their SUPER unique dishes like the seasonal pumpkin spice eggs benny. They are also SO beautiful!

I opted for the gravlax eggs royal, which was like an egg benny but on CHEESE SCONES (!!!) with perfectly- poached eggs, ginger gravlax, pear, and pesto sauce. Caleb tried the Deszka toast with soft-yet-crispy thick bread, cheese, and crispy Serrano ham chips.

Like all good brunches, the Americano was strong and smooth and served in grandma-style tea cups, which was a cool mix with the vintage yet modern interior.

It looks small from the outside, but there’s a hidden upstairs area with additional seating, so don’t worry if you walk in and see it full!  Plus, the owner brings his dog most mornings, and he’s the real star of the show. SO CUTE.

📍 Budapest, Veres Pálné u. 31, 1053 Hungary

Our Favorite Bakeries

The winner: Artizan – for Life-Changing pistachio cheesecake

Honestly? Did you need more information than that? Artizan bakery is good we’ve been multiple times and stood in the line of locals getting their pastries and bread to prove it.

The staff here are SO nice and eager to help you choose even though they’re crazy busy, and each pastry we’ve tried has been an actual flour-and-butter-made masterpiece.

Caleb loves their signature custard Danish-type thing with cardamom and berries, and I always get their thick pistachio cheesecake with some sort of pistachio sour cream top.   Don’t share it because you will want it all to yourself.

📍 Budapest, Hold u. 3, 1054 Hungary

PRO TIP: It looks small,  but there is an upstairs area to chill if you need to!

Runner up: NOR\MA – for Scandinavian treats

We fell in love with Scandinavian pastries when we were in Copenhagen, so Caleb and I were psyched to find Norma. The downtown location is super tiny, like one table, but they also have a large, beautiful location on the Buda side called Norma Grand.

What you have to get here is the Cardamom bun. We tried other things but just don’t bother.  The cardamom bun is like a cinnamon bun but with cardamom. It’s gooey, and honestly, I am starting to tear up just writing about it because I want it to be in front of me right now.

📍 Budapest, Kecskeméti u. 11, 1053 Hungary
📍 Budapest, Margit körút 75-87, 1024 Hungary (Grand)

Honorable mention: Butter Brothers – interesting, savory options

When we walked in, we almost left because the pastry selection was kinda small, but we decided to persevere in the name of bakery exploration, and we are so glad we did.

We tried a savory ham and pumpkin twist, a cheddar jalapeno and chorizo twist, their most popular chocolate swirl, and a cinnamon swirl. The chocolate was the kind of chocolate you want – kinda melty and not just a hard chunk of chocolate, which was so good with the crispy pastry. The savory one was so crispy and crunchy and tasted like fall pizza.

The pastries are butterier and flaky (hence the name), not doughier, and the prices are lower than in many other places!

📍 Budapest, Lónyay u. 22, 1093 Hungary

AVOID: Crocante

You’ll see it (and smell it as you walk down the main road, and we got suckered in and immediately regretted it. The pastry was definitely frozen and then baked, and it was literally so bad we threw our croissants away. 

Our favorite Langos Spots

The winner: Langos Papi – a literal hole in the wall

Okayyyy, Langos is probably the most famous and best street food in Budapest, and Langos Papi is an actual hidden gem. It’s just a little window on the street that is super easy to miss, but the Langos will make your taste buds fall off your head.

We got the fully loaded version with sausage and bacon, and the sausage was super smoky and good. It really made the langos. Plus, the Langos were bigger than our heads, so we could share it and still be full.

The dough here was our favorite because they spread it so thin that it was crispy and not gooey like some other langos places. 

📍 Budapest, Madách Imre út 3, 1075 Hungary

Runner up: Retro Langos

We heard this was the best in Budapest (we disagree, but it’s good!). The langos are puffier, smaller, and less crispy than Papi, which is where it fell short in comparison. But the classic Hungarian version with sour cream, cheese, and onion was still a knockout.

We really love that they have gluten-free and lactose-free options if that’s what you’re looking for!

Try both because are you really in Budapest if you don’t stuff your face with deep fried Langos? No, you are not.

📍 Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 25, 1065 Hungary

Our Favorite Chimney Cake Spots

The winner: Gelateria Pichler Fagyizó – for pistachio-aholics 

Hi, my name is Taylor, and I am obsessed with pistachios. So, when we found that Pichler specializes in chimney cakes filled with PISTACHIO CREME, I was ecstatic. We’re talking a thin, crispy, fire-grilled cake SMEARED with the pistachio version of Nutella and then rolled in pistachios or cinnamon sugar.

The cakes are baked when you order them, so you have to wait 10 minutes, but that’s what makes them GOOD, not like the stalls on the sidewalk that give you a hard, dry cake baked yesterday. Ya, no, thank you. Our best tip for Budapest is to AVOID those.

📍 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos u. 4, 1053 Hungary

PRO TIP: get the cinnamon sugar. We had the pistachio covering and missed the cinnamon-sugariness.

Runner up:  Kiraly Kalacs kurtokalacs

This teeny-tiny little blue shop is basically the size of a closet, so it’s easy to miss.  There’s one guy inside making fresh-at-order chimney cakes from the traditional cinnamon-sugar version to coconut and walnut.

The chimney cakes here were HUGE and so fresh that I literally could barely hold them for a few minutes; they were so hot. The outside was crispy, and the inside was so pillowy and soft, and we really loved the hint of nutmeg along with the cinnamon sugar.  I’m hungry.

📍 Budapest, Király u. 57, 1077 Hungary

Our Favorite Spots For Traditional Foods in Budapest

The winner: Cafe Kor – For a local, hidden-gem 

WE LOVE CAFE KOR OMG. It was super quiet inside and felt unexplored! It’s fancy without being pretentious, and the waiter spoke English and was super friendly.  

They have a MASSIVE menu and two separate menus – one for the “always available” and then a parchment paper menu that changes weekly (and you can scope it on their Facebook page.) They have all the traditional dishes, as well as some unique options that sound kinda Asian.

We shared the Hungarian beef strips, which had a creamy, stroganoff vibe and were served with the crispiest potato croquettes.  We also had duck legs with red cabbage, which were unreal. So crispy, so juicy, and so flavorful. Plus, you got 2, which was some real value!

📍 Budapest, Sas u 17, 1051 Hungary

Runner up:  Hungarikum Bizstro – for a whole experience 

Folks, you need reservations here, or you won’t get in (learn from our mistakes.) We love Hungarikum because it is SO lively, and the servers feel like friends. You get free smoky bread and bacon to start your meal, which is SO good, and you end your meal with a free shot of palinka, which is so NOT good. But it’s still fun!

We had the pork loin wrapped in bacon and duck legs with cabbage (we like duck, okay?), and it was all perfectly seasoned and super delicious. This spot is an experience and a meal!

📍 Budapest, Steindl Imre u. 13, 1051 Hungary

Our Favorite Romantic Dinner Spots

The winner:  Szaletly – to feel like a local

This spot is outside the city center, but it’s SO worth the effort! The vibe inside is super local, with everyone speaking Hungarian. It’s trendy but a little quieter and more romantic than the restaurants downtown, so we think it’s a great spot for couples to visit in Budapest. You should definitely put it on your Budapest itinerary!

Caleb had the winter venison, which was exceptionally cooked and had pumpkin puree with graham-cracker-like cake squares, cherry sauce, and pears.  He said it was one of the best meals of his life! I had some delicious fish in a creamy sauce with grapes.  I would call this “modern Hungarian food” as they had some of the typical foods but some more unique options!

📍 Budapest, Stefánia út 93, 1146 Hungary

Runner up:  TATI Farm To Table

This spot is in the 2023 Michelin Guide, and we really liked that the menu said which local farms they used to source different ingredients! Inside has his rustic-farm-chic vibe with hay bails, industrial accents, and dim, sexy lighting, which makes it great for date night.

The menu isn’t huge, but what they do, they do it well! We shared the beef stew with spaetzle, which was tender but still chewy. It had soft dumplings and an incredibly deep flavor with perfect seasoning. We also had the sturlet (like small sturgeon), which was perfectly cooked and juicy and tasted slightly smoked over perfectly seasoned parsnips puree and a delicious pesto and some apple or pear sauce as an accompaniment, and it all worked so well. One of the best fish I’ve ever had. 

The food here is also “modern Hungarian,” and it is on the pricier side, but not astronomical! 

📍 Budapest, Dohány u. 58-62, 1076 Hungary

Our Favorite Wine Bars

The winner: Wine The Gap – best experience in Europe. Hands down.

We sing the praises of Wine The Gap everywhere. We usually don’t go to the same place more than once or twice, but we were at Wine the Gap almost nightly. The owner, Mickey, is the friendliest and most knowledgeable man, and he ruined us for liking any other wine in the world.

Hungarian wine is truly FREAKING good, and you HAVE to do his wine-tasting experience if you’re planning a trip to Budapest. We talk about it to this day, and it’s fun and educational at the same time. GO HERE. It’s our top foodie experience for couples too!

📍 Budapest, Tompa u. 26, 1094 Hungary

Runner up: Kadarka – for chilling with wine

If you want a super low-key wine bar with a HUGE selection of local wines at good prices, Kadarka is for you. We ended up going here a few times and loved the friendly staff who gave excellent recommendations when they saw that glazed and confused look in our eyes because we had no idea how to order Hungarian wines.

📍 Budapest, Király u. 42, 1061 Hungary

Honorable mention: WINE NOT? – for a romantic evening

This spot is the spendiest on the list, but it does have a quiet, beautiful, and romantic atmosphere, which makes it good for couples like us! The wine list is a little small, but they have some delicious options, and it’s mostly Hungarian varieties!

📍 Budapest, Nádor u. 20, 1051 Hungary

Our Favorite Craft Cocktail Bars

The winner: Warm Up Bar – when you’re feeling daring

This is one of our favorite cocktail bars in all of Europe! The inside is dark and vibey and kinda feels like a cocktail bar meets club without the dancing or drunk teenagers. 

But, what we really love is there is no menu (well, there is, but it’s small and mostly unused) because you just tell the waiter what you like and don’t like and they surprise you with a cocktail they invent for you.

📍 Budapest, Nagy Diófa u. 26, 1072 Hungary

Runner up:  Tuk Tuk Bar – For a trip to asia

Tuk Tuk Bar features Asian-inspired cocktails that are super unique and really delicious! Inside, it feels like you’re in a stylish bar in Asia, and it’s small and cozy – you definitely need a reservation on the weekend!

We had the same waitress the 3 times we went here, and she’s SO cool and friendly and always remembered us and the drinks we liked. The menu changes regularly, so I can’t say our favorites, but everything we tried was so. Dang. good.

And strong. Just as we like it!

📍 Budapest, Paulay Ede u. 31, 1061 Hungary

One Place To Avoid Like the Plague: Frici Papa

Locals told us to go here because it’s cheap, so we waited in line to go in. WHY DO PEOPLE WAIT IN LINE? Yes, it’s cheap. But it’s the worst meal we’ve *ever* eaten. The meat Caleb had was fatty, cartilaginous, and low quality. 

All the spots on a map

How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

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Phew- we made it to the end of our Budapest food guide! These are all our top picks for where to eat and drink in Budapest, which we discovered after living there. From one foodie duo to another, we feel confident that you’re going to have an epic meal if you eat at any of them!  If you have any questions, just leave a comment!

Now that you know where to eat, you have to know what traditional foods to prioritize! Check our guide to traditional Hungarian food here.

Posts From The Budapest Files

• Ultimate Guide To Planning A Trip to Budapest
• How To Get Around Budapest
• 5 Best Hungarian Restaurants in Budapest