One of the reasons we keep returning to Budapest is the mouth-watering Hungarian food. Hungarians take their food very seriously, so finding good food in Budapest is not a problem. There are countless eateries, cafés, and bistros, all bragging about serving excellent food. However, finding quality traditional Hungarian restaurants in Budapest that are also a good value is not that easy.
With such a plethora of choices, it’s easy to get confused and fall into a tourist trap. We know that from our own experience. With that in mind, I decided to put together a list of the best Hungarian restaurants in Budapest which we tried ourselves on many occasions.
Overview
World Class Hungarian Restaurants in Budapest
If you are looking for a fine dining experience and not just having a meal, the following three restaurants are a great choice for memorable dinner in Budapest:
1. Gundel
Gundel is Budapest’s most famous Hungarian restaurant. The restaurant serves the best and most authentic Hungarian food. It is also one of the oldest restaurants in Budapest.
The 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 that I have ever tasted. You can order à la carte, or a prix fixe menu (with up to eight courses). Each corse is paired up with the wine that best compliments the food.

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, nice atmosphere, but very high prices. A dinner for two may cost anywhere from $450-$600, depending on the kind of wine you order.
On the downside, the food portions are rather small, so you are more or less forced to order more courses if you don’t want to leave with an empty stomach. But I guess you don’t go to Gundel to eat, you go for a culinary experience. Dress code is high end casual. Don’t show up without a blazer! Address: 14th district, Gundel Károly street 4.
2. Halászbástya Étterem (Fishermen’s Bastion Restaurant)
If you want to dine Budapest Old Town, you should give the Fishermen’s Bastion Restaurant a try. Perched high up on the wall of the Fisherman’s Bastion, Halászbástya Étterem is one of the fanciest Hungarian restaurants in Budapest, enjoying a royal interior and the best location in town. Great panoramic city views and live gypsy music.
In summer you can enjoy a drink on the terrace. The central section of the restaurant features the Knight Hall, with a round expandable table that can accommodate a party up to 25 guests.

Food is good (but not excellent), the atmosphere is nice and romantic, but prices are high. This is the ideal place if you want to impress your date, or if you want to propose.
Address: Fisherman’s Bastion, North Tower, Buda Castle
READ NEXT: The Ultimate Itinerary for 3 Days in Budapest
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.
Don’t be fooled by its unassuming appearance and non-ceative name (named after the address). Csalogány 26 is one of Budapest top ten restaurants, despite its remote location.

The food they serve is absolutely divine! They have a great selection of wines. You can choose from an à la carte menu or a prix fixe menu with several courses paired up with wine.
Prices are high, but portions are reasonable. I ordered a single entree from the à la carte menu and didn’t leave feeling hungry. The restaurant is small and intimate, with a very cozy atmosphere. Service is great too.
Address: Csalogany utca 26, Budapest 1015, Hungary (District I / Buda)
Medium Price Range Hungarian Restaurants in Budapest
4. Bagolyvár Restaurant (The Owl’s Castle)
The Owl’s Castle is a cheaper version of Gundel (has the same owner and shares a kitchen with the much more expensive establishment). 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.

For dinner the restaurant has live piano music, alternated with short appearances of the the gypsy orchestra from Gundel. The food is wonderful, reasonably priced, and the service is good too. 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)
Matthias Cellar is one of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in Budapest. The restaurant was named after Matthias Corvinus, one of the most beloved Hungarian kings.
The restaurant is located in a former brewery, very close to pedestrian Vaci utca right next to the Danube. Although very touristy, the restaurant preserved its atmospheric authenticity.

They serve good, traditional Hungarian food. A Gypsy band plays here every night, from 7 PM to midnight. Prices are a little high, but the restaurant is still a good value. It also serves lunch on week-ends.
Address: H-1056 Budapest, Március 15. tér 7
Inexpensive Hungarian Restaurants in Budapest
6. Szlovák Sörözö (Slovak Pub)
This little tavern located in the downtown area close to the Comedy Theater, is one of our favorite pubs in Budapest. The pub serves excellent authentic Slovakian and Hungarian cuisine at very cheap prices.
Their signature dish is “sztrapacska” (potato dumplings with sheep feta cheese and bacon), but they also serve an excellent Goulash, soups, grilled meats and deserts.

The locale is totally unpretentious, but very atmospheric and is frequented mainly by the locals. 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)
Famous Cafés in Budapest
7. Café Gerbeaud
Located at Vörösmarty Square (at one end of the pedestrian Vaci street), Café Gerbeaud is one of Budapest’s landmarks. If you asked me a while ago, I would have told you that no visit to Budapest is complete without savoring a Sisi cave (Sisi coffee) at the opulent Café Gerbeaud.
Today the legendary Gerbeaud tries hard to hang on to its old glory. Unfortunately, what was once Budapest’s finest café and the meeting place of the city’s elite, became a touristy, overpriced, and mediocre place.
Still, if you want to see one of the most traditional coffee houses in Europe, you should stop for a visit. The grandeur of its chandelier-lit rooms covered with red velvet may justify your money. Too bad the quality of the service is lost. I used to love Gerbeaud.

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.
uring the Communist era, the place became a sporting goods store (of all things!) In 1954 it reopened as a restaurant and was renamed Hungaria. Only in 1989 it became a café again and was reopened under its current name.
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. The place is over the top luxurious! And still maintains the old time tradition of serving coffee on silver trays.

Prices are very high (around 980 HUF/$4 for a regular coffee and 2000 HUF/$8 for a slice of cake). Even so, 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 famous coffee house in Budapest, serving a big selection of pastries and sweets. The café has both inside and outside sitting and is very popular among the locals.
Europe Café is located on Szent Istvan körut, opposite one of Budapest’s most famous venues –the Comedy Theater. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the small Parisian cafés where the old timers meet to catch up with each other.

Prices are moderate, service is good and the atmosphere is very pleasant. Because of its proximity to our apartment in Budapest, we visit the café quite often when we are in town. But even if you don’t stay in the area this place is definitely worth a visit.
Address: Budapest, Váci u. 45, 1056
And while you are in Budapest, check out their famous Ruin Pubs, a series of quirky bars and nightclubs opened in abandoned buildings.
Headed to Budapest? You may find these posts helpful:
Budapest Practical Information for First Time Visitors
Buda or Pest? Where to Stay in Budapest as a Tourist
10 Interesting Facts About Budapest

Iuliana Marchian
I stayed in Budapest for almost 4 days some 5-6 years ago. Even though I live pretty near (just cross the border to Romania), I explored Budapest only once. But I remember how much I enjoyed the food scene and tasting a variety of local dishes for the daily menu (napi menu). My plan is to go again to Budapest and explore more of the capital and then I will certainly try the restaurants you shared here. Europa Cafe looks fabulous – I’d like to have my cup of coffee there watching people passing by.
Anda
Hope you will get to see the Europa Café, Iuliana. It has delicious cakes.
Dionna Highman
I found your article very educational. I’m headed to Budapest and I’ll try to eat in some of these restaurants.
Chris
As a local, none of these are places locals eat. They are almost 100% tourist…and many overpriced and overrated
Anda Galffy
I agree, Chris, some of them are a little overrated but still worth visiting. When you are a visitor to a city like Budapest, you are not looking for the hole-in-the-wall-good-food restaurant, but rather to a place where you can enjoy some authentic food and a good atmosphere. My relatives in Budapest took me to some of the locals’ favorites, but I haven’t enjoyed them as much. Besides, we had to travel far outside the center of the city to get to them.
Suze
Whilst I’m not sure I could pronounce the names of most of these restaurants, they all look great! I’d like to visit Mattias Cellar as it looks so cosy
Anda Galffy
Ha,ha,ha, I hear you Suze. These Hungarian names are really hard to pronounce, but the food they serve is so tasty!
Victoria
Saving this list, Anda. I have not been to Budapest (or Hungary) but it is high on my list (and I know about the spas:)
Anda Galffy
Yea, their spas are great indeed, Victoria. But the food is even better.
Kevin Wagar
Looks like some really classy places here! I can’t wait to get to Budapest and chow down on some of these amazing eats.
Anda Galffy
I believe you won’t be disappointed, Kevin.
Catherine
Everything about your experience in Budapest is magical. Looks interesting. Further photos are really beautiful. Hope you have a great fun!
Ruth
You know I love to eat so, I enjoy reading about places to eat in different cities. We found the food in Budapest absolutely delicious. We liked everything we ate there. We had several Hungarian dishes at several restaurants and we bought food at the Great Market Hall. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Jessica Norah
Yum, many of those sound really delicious, do you have a favorite? Will have to keep this list in mind whenever we get to Budapest!
Jessica
Wow, what beautiful restaurants! I’m hoping to visit within the next year, I’ll have to keep this in mind! Thanks so much for the great reviews.
Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels
I had cakes at Gerbaud:) excellent cakes
Anisa
I loved the food in Budapest but I can’t remember the restaurants we went to.
Anda Galffy
Hmmm…. you probably didn’t go to any memorable ones then.
Sandra
I loved exploring Budapest’s food scene. Looks like I need to go back and eat some more.
Rhonda Albom
I can’t imagine Café New York as a sporting goods store but I guess the communists could. I like the opulence of many of the restaurants. Thanks for honest opinions on the quality and value of the food options in Budapest. This information is invaluable to the traveller.
Anda Galffy
Thank you Rhonda. I’m glad you appreciate my honesty about that. I like to tell people what they can expect when they go to a place a recommend.
Sharon
Oh, boy! This is perfect or my upcoming trip to Budapest! Pinning and studying (mouth watering!).
Emese
Haven’t been to all of these, but I agree with you on Gerbeaud. It used to be our favorite place to eat and especially have some traditional Hungarian pastries and perfect coffee… but the last few times we visited, it felt different, it lost something. The old “call something paradise, kiss it goodbye”; it became too well-known, too touristy. Your list is great, thanks for putting it together.
Anda Galffy
Thanks, Emese. I am with you on that. Google became a little touristy too. This is partly because of the huge prices they charge for food. Locals can’t afford to come there anymore, unless is a business meeting and the employer pays. Pretty sad.
jill
They all look enticing -and interesting! I think I’d have to be wary of eating too much, especially the sweets. And I think I’d definitely love the place with the gypsy band.
Katherine
Now I want to dress up in my best 1920s-style dress and have a meal at Gundel! It looks like the dining room is straight out of the old world and you’d totally feel like you were in another time if you visited.
Anda Galffy
Hahaha, you are right. Gundel feels like that kind of place.
Kelsey of Route Words
This is a great resource for visiting Budapest! I think Mátyás Pince is at the top of my must-visit list with the gypsy music and folk dances! And then Ruszwurm, of course! Good coffee and pastries? Count me in!
Anda Galffy
Yea, I hear you. I’m the same way: I love sweets.
Bobbi Gould
I’m not much of a foodie, but I’d eat at any of these places! I am like you..the sweets get me every time. Great list! Thanks!
Mia
I have a friend who lives in Budapest and she said you did a wonderful job on this list! There are a few places that you mentioned that she had already added to our list of things to do when I visit. This one goes in the travel folder!
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Mia. I hope you’ll enjoy some of these place on your next visit to Budapest.
RaW | Ramble and Wander
Have been to Budapest before but never really was on the look out for restaurants & cafes. It is however one of the cities that I’d love to go & visit again for a longer period so this should be handy! Definitely won’t be going for a USD500 dinner though, even if it’s for two ?
Sophie
I absolutely love the food in Budapest – I couldn’t live there because i’d eat all of the delicious cakes all of the time. I remember going to Café Gerbeaud and our hotel was next to Cafe New York.
Jen Seligmann
Well I am definitely set for places to eat when I visit Budapest someday. Thanks for sharing your expert knowledge on this Anda. I’ll be saving this post in my travel file for when I one day get to this beautiful looking city.
Anda Galffy
Hope you’ll get to visit Budapest, Jen, and eat in some of these fine places.
Jennifer @ Made all the Difference Travel Blog
These look amazing. I will mark this for when I go to Budapest. I think Szlovák Söröző will be my first stop.
anna
Budapest is definitely on my bucket list! This list looks great and I love the architecture of every place.
Erin
Definitely bookmarking! I haven’t been to Budapest yet so this is a great list on places we should check out. Love that these are less touristy places.
Adelina
I’m terrible. Even though I lived there for a couple years I never made it to any of these. I went to a networking even at the New York Hotel which had food so I sort of ate there but not really. I’ve heard of most of them though. Great list!
Anda Galffy
You should try to visit one of these restaurants if you go back to Budapest.
Carmen | Carmen's Luxury Travel
What a great list of restaurants! I love the ceiling decor in Mátyás Pince. I’ll have to make sure to go try some these when I travel to Budapest.
Andy
Excellent pictures! I love how you really bring out the character of the sites you photograph.