A Wine Lovers Guide To Budapest: Best Wine Bars and Must Try Local Wines
We hate to break this to you, but after drinking wine in Budapest, you are never going to want to drink wine from anywhere else in the world. This was the most shocking find to Caleb and me when we lived in the city because we had no idea Hungarian wine was SO AMAZING.
Hungarian wine is typically not exported (they drink it all, AND no exporters can read the language 😅), so there is a huge wine world to be explored. If it’s your first time in Budapest, you might be overwhelmed with where to start, so we’re here to help.
In this guide, we’ll help you determine what varieties to try based on what you usually drink and our favorite wine bars in the city. No matter what kind of wine lover you are, Budapest has something for you! Let’s drink up, shall we?
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Quick Navigation: 🍷 Hungarian Wines To Try // 🥇 Top Wine Bars // 😄 Best Wine Experiences
Hungarian Wines You Should Try
Here are the typical Hungarian wines you’ll see on menus, with a wine that is SIMILAR (but not 100% the same because we found Hungarian wine flavors to be so unique!).
Red:
Kékfrankos or Blaufränkisch: Hungary’s most planted grape. It’s medium-bodied with a note of spice and cherry.
Similar to: a Cab Franc or Syrah.
Bikavér: Also known as Bull’s Blood, this commonly comes from the Eger region, right outside Budapest. It’s hearty, spiced, and full of tannins with notes of dark fruits.
Similar to: Burgundy.
FUN FACT: when Hungarians and Ottomans were fighting, the Hungarian warriors went up through Eger to fight, and they drank a dark-colored wine. The Hungarians were victorious, and the Ottomans thought it was because they drank bulls’ blood.
Kadarka: An easy drinker with low tannins.
Similar to: Pinot Noir
White:
Furmint: this is my personal FAVORITE! It has a bold, crisp, and with a slightly acidic flavor
Similar to: Sauv Blanc
Olaszrizling (welschriesling): nothing like German resisingling; this one is acidic, crisp, and a little nutty and typically oaked.
Similar to: Chenin Blanc
Irsai Olivér: a newcomer on the scene who is light, fresh, and juicy
Similar to: Muscat
Hárslevelű: mineraly, bold flavors with a hint of honey.
Similar to: Viognier
Tokaj’s Aszú
The famous wine is the Tokaji Aszu, which is SUPER sweet but has no added sugar. The wine gets a fungus called noble rot, which gives it its sweetness. Then the grapes are hand-harvested, and gravity is used to press them (that’s why it costs so much!)
If you only try one wine on the list, make it this one. In fact, buy some to bring back home as a Hungarian souvenir like we did.
We Think These Are The Best Wine Bars in Budapest:
🥇 Our Top Pick: Wine The Gap – Overall Best Experience
We ❤️ Wine The Gap and we were there almost nightly, even though we usually don’t go to places more than once. The owner, Mickey, is the friendliest and most knowledgeable man, and we loved just sitting and chatting with him – it was our favorite foodie experience!
He also used to be a wine judge, so he is super knowledgeable about Hungarian wine (in a non-pretentious way) AND can pick your PERFECT pairing if you tell him the flavors you like.
It’s a little out of the way in District 9, but only a 30-minute walk from the city center or a 5-minute ride if you’re using a rideshare to get around Budapest. It’s a must when planning your trip to Budapest if you’re a wine lover!
📍 Budapest, Tompa u. 26, 1094 Hungary
💻 Website
🥈 Runner Up Goes To: Kadarka – For Chilling
This is the perfect spot when you want a low-key night with cheap wines and a huge selection. Their list of local Hungarian wines is HUGE, around 140+ options by the glass, and everyone in this bar is just there to enjoy.
It’s colorful and has a chill atmosphere without being fancy or uppity. We saw the most locals here out of all the wine bars on this list.
We ended up going here a few times and loved the friendly staff who gave excellent recommendations.
📍 Budapest, Király u. 42, 1061 Hungary
🥉 Third Place: Wine Not? – For Romance
This wine bar is the most expensive on our list, but it’s the best if you’re a couple like us and looking for something a little more romantic.
It’s a smidge outside the city center but still very walkable, and the inside is warm but trendy. Our server was a little unfriendly, but we kinda liked that he left us alone since we were going for a “romantic vibe.”
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
💻 Website
💎 The Hidden Gem: Tokaj Wine Bar – For Something Local
We have to preface that the wines aren’t exceptional, but hear us out: it’s a must-have experience if you want something authentic.
This little bar is walkable from the parliament building, and it’s so local that no English is spoken; you just point at the menu. Luckily, the menu is in English and says if the wine is sweet, semi-dry, semi-sweet, or dry.
The best part? It’s dirt cheap! The majority of the prices range from .75 cents – $1.50 per 100ml!
A cute old man tried to talk to me in English while I was at the counter ordering, and when I responded, he was like, “I understand you, but I can’t respond.” It was adorable.
📍 Budapest, Falk Miksa u. 32, 1055 Hungary
💻 Website
A Wine Experience YOU MUST HAVE
Mickey, the owner of Wine The Gap, has the most incredible wine tasting in Budapest. Like, if you love wine, do not even think; just BOOK THIS TOUR.
Mickey will teach you SO much about Hungarian wine and let you try equally as much! The value for your money is incredible and you won’t get anything more local in terms of wine tasting!
Plus, it comes with a hefty plate of delicious Hungarian sausages, cheese, bread, and the most glorious spread that tastes like bacon. Tell him that Taylor and Caleb sent you 🙂
>> click here to check prices, reviews and availability <<
Additional experiences if you have time:
If you really want to experience Hungarian wine, you should get out of Budapest and go into the wine country!
We rented a car and adventured into the Lake Balaton region and loved visiting the wineries! We highly recommend staying at Villa Kabala because of the food and wine? UNREAL! And the view is gorgeous too!
They serve wine from their own winery, and their restaurant is actually in the Michelin guide. Their breakfast was out of this world, and their Hungarian-tasting menu for dinner was one of our most delish experiences.
>> Click here to check prices, reviews and availability <<.
A winery you must visit is Vali Pinceszet. We met the whole family and had dinner with them. AMAZING wine and food. Tell him the crazy Americans that interrupted your pig-killing family dinner (a Hungarian tradition) sent you. He’ll know.
We always recommend Discover Cars when renting a car because you can compare prices for all the rental car companies!
IMPORTANT: Hungary has a ZERO tolerance for drinking and driving, so you cannot even have one glass. Keep your car parked at the hotel and take a taxi around!
If you don’t have as much time, then we suggest you consider a day trip to one of the wine regions:
This tour to Etyek is only half a day and includes delicious local food and a visit to 2-3 wine cellars! Plus, you don’t have to worry about driving yourself, so enjoy all the wine you want! 🍷
>> click here to check prices, reviews and availability <<
Where to Buy Wine In Budapest
If you visit Wine the Gap, you can buy a lot of great wines right there from Mickey!
If you do not visit him (why!?!?), then our wine lovers tip is to visit one Budapest’s best wine shops called Bortársaság. They have a few shops around the city with a HUGE selection. The staff were super friendly to us and gave us some good suggestions for local wine.
Wine Lovers Treasure Map
Here are all our wine bar picks and every location of Bortársaság 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.
Well, my wine-loving friends, that’s a wrap. Now, you have no excuse not to spend your trip to Budapest in an amazing wine-induced haze because Hungarian wine is truly a gem. If you have any questions or want to visit any of these spots, let us know in the comments! We would love to hear what you think!
Now that you know what wine to drink, you have to know where else to eat and drink! We’ve got you covered with our ultimate foodie guide to Budapest!
Or, maybe you want some cocktails? Read our guide to the 8 best cocktail bars in Budapest!
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