Restaurants
We are often asked for restaurant suggestions. There are dozens of wonderful restaurants in the city. This is just a sampler of some of our favorites. It is followed by some of our favorite cafes as well. They are listed by district, the Roman number is the district number. If you cannot find something to your liking here, try www.chew.hu for all ethnic restaurant suggestions. Ryan has written the 2008 edition of the Frommer's Budapest & the Best of Hungary guide. We have sampled menus at over 70 eating establishments in the city.
Budapest restaurant tips:
In less expensive restaurants, it is common for the place settings to be piled on one plate with napkins underneath. Only the more expensive restaurants will have individual place settings.
Most often, when getting your check at the end of a meal, the person collecting the money may be different from the one who waited on you. When this person arrives with your bill, decide on the tip (generally 10%, but more if the service was exceptional or a high priced restaurant), add it to the total and then ask for how much change you would like back.
Budget, Moderate, or Expensive are dependent on the current exchange rates. This is a general guide.
If you do not see a famous restaurant on this list that you have read about in a tour book, chances are it is due to the fact that it caters mostly to tourists. We do not recommend these places since our travel philosophy is to absorb culture by eating where the locals eat.
**Although this is not a restaurant, it does have the best rétes (strudel) in the city and we highly recommend it. It is a bit difficult to find, but worth looking for when you are on Castle Hill.
Rétesbár Balta köz 4 - köz is alley. It is almost directly across the street from the TourInform office on the hill. Look for a red banner with the shop's name on it.
Budget Prices:
Frici Papa VII. Kiraly u. 55
This is the best budget restaurant of them all. Unfortunately, the menu is listed on the wall and only in Hungarian. The staff does not speak English. You have to order everything you want at the beginning, including condiments and desserts. They fill up at lunch and run out of food by late dinner time.
Arany Talca (Golden Platter) VII. Akácfa u.
Cash only - On the corner of our street and Wesselenyi
Cafeteria style, good Hungarian menu
Falafel VI. Paulay Ede u. 53
Cash only - Near the Opera House - 10 minute walk from the flat.
A former vegetarian only restaurant, they now serve fried chicken as well. Pay for a small or large bowl and then fill it as high as you can with a large variety of salads, cooked veggies, humus, and of course falafel. You can also get it stuffed into a pita bread. Their fruit drinks are made with fresh fruits and are delicious.
Vista Café VI. Paulay Ede u. 7 Near the Basilica
Breakfast served all day, but they do have other tasty selections.
One of the few places you can get a real omelet.
Amstel River Café V. Parisi u. 6
Cash only - Off of Vaci ut. the tourist pedestrian street by the river.
A Dutch café with Dutch and Hungarian choices. Dutch beer as well as Hungarian. A little higher than budget, but not quite moderate either.
Szeraj Turkish Restaurant XIII - Corner of Szent Istvan korut and Honved u.
Cash only - Take the 4 or 6 tram to Jaszai Mari ter. and then walk back toward Nyugati station.
This buffet style restaurant offers plenty of selections for everyone's appetite. There is a smoking section upstairs and outdoor seating the weather cooperates.
Moderate Prices:
Il Terzo Cerchio VII. Dohany 40 Telephone - 354-07-88 www.ilterzocerchio.hu
Italian food and very good pizzas. Five minute walk from our B and B. Since they moved and remodeled, they have become quite popular, so reservations are recommended.
Magdalena Merlo VII. Kiraly u. 59b
Good Italian food, but Il Terzo Cerchio is better. Reservations recommended for weekends. Five minute walk from our B and B.
Shalimar VII. Dob u. 50
Some of the best Indian food we have eaten. Five minute walk from our B and B, but it has gotten pricey.
Liszt Ferenc ter. VI. 3 - 7 has many restaurants to choose from. All are moderate to upper moderate.
Ten minutes walk from our B and B. All have menus outside. Karma and Vian have been highly recommended. Pleasant outside seating in good weather.
Ket Szerecsen (Two Brothers) VI. Nagmezo ut. 14
Very nice low key Hungarian restaurant with great weekend breakfasts. Other times are good too. Outdoor seating during warm weather. Ten minute walk from our B and B.
Paprika VI. Dozsa Gyorgy 72 Telephone - 06-70-574-65-08 (Mobile)
Reservation recommended most of the time
When you enter this restaurant, you will think you are entering a Hungarian hunting lodge. Very rustic furnishings, but the food is always great. All Hungarian menu (Ryan recommends the Wedding Goose).
Bus 74 and then a 10 minute walk or the Yellow Metro to Heroes Square and a 5 minute walk.
This restaurant has received an A+ from every guest referred.
Fatal (Wooden Plate) V. Vaci u. 67 Telephone - 266-2607
A very popular restaurant where the portions are huge. All Hungarian menu.
Reservations recommended any time you go
Trófea - XIV. Erzsebet Kiralyne u. 5 Telephone - 251-63-77 www.trofeagrill.hu/zuglo
Yellow metro to Mexikói and then a 5 minute walk along the tram tracks on the street level. 251-6377
Reservations are highly recommended, especially weekends.
Before you go to this restaurant, you should fast all day for over 100 choices from Hungarian specialties. For one price, you can eat and drink (beer, wine, coffee, or tea) all you want. There are soups, salads, main dishes (both prepared and grilled to order), and plenty of desserts. Lunch is less expensive than dinner. There are now three locations of this restaurant, but we prefer the one above for atmosphere and seating space.
Vegetarian Restaurants
Éden - I. Döbrentei 9 Telephone - 375-75-75 (Buda side) www.edenetterem.hu
Vegan
Cash only
Closed on Friday and Saturday
Open 12-23 Sunday through Thursday
Near Batthany tér metro station
Govinda - V. Vigyázó Ferenc u. 4 Telephone - 269-1625
Excellent food at reasonable prices.
Buddhist owned restaurant
Closed on Sundays
Cash only
Napfényes Ízek - VII. Rózsa u. 39 Telephone - 351-5649
We have not eaten here, but some of our guests have and give it a thumbs up.
Cash only
Open seven days a week until 11:00 pm
Hummus Bar - VII. Kertesz 39 Telephone 321-74-77
Variety of falafel, hummus and toppings
Locals say it is the best in Pest
Limited seating, some upstairs
Cash only
Wabisabi - XIII. Visegrádi utca 2 Telephone - 412-0427
All vegan restaurant and tea house
Not to be confused with Wasabi, which is a sushi restaurant
Credit cards accepted
Cafes
Many cafés serve light meals, but they are also great places to have a coffee or a beer while relaxing or reading a good book. There are no demands to order food and you will be welcomed to stay as long as you wish.
Spinoza Café V. Dob u. 15
This café is owned by a Hungarian woman who spent many years in The Netherlands. She has created an art gallery on the walls, which changes regularly. There is also a small cabaret in the back with free admission. The schedule is always posted in the window.
Central Coffee House V. Károlyi Mihály u. 9
To think of this as a simple coffee house as the name implies would be a mistake. It is a part of Hungarian history that goes back to the 19th century. Meals are served here, but you are welcome to just savor a coffee as well.
Farger Café VI. Zoltán u. 18 (Szabadság tér)
Owned by an American-Hungarian, there is a large assortment of American style snacks, bagels, and Hungarian desserts and soups. Excellent selection of coffees, teas, and they have Spanish horchata.
Café Eklektika VI. Nagymezo u. 30
Hungarian food on the lighter side, but good sized portions.
Very popular and reasonable.
California Coffee Company VI. Teréz körút 38
Wonderful coffees, sandwiches, and muffins, though the bagels are not the best. This cafe has free WiFi access.
BudaBaB recommendations