10 Quintessential Best Restaurants in Budapest

Budapest has some of the best restaurants in Europe – and I’m not the only one who agrees. Visitors flock to Budapest to soak in the baths, marvel at the architecture and photograph the architecture, but the food? Budapest is pure heaven for foodies. Goulash, paprikash and more traditional flavors pack a punch. Pair it with their legendary tokaj wines? You’re set. We’ve been to Budapest a handful of times – always, always to eat the best food – and these are the best restaurants in Budapest we visit time and time again. Trust me, with this list, you can’t do wrong! These are the best restaurants in Budapest. 

The Best Restaurants in Budapest

Budapest is known for their history…But their food? The best restaurants in Budapest bring out the best of the city’s inventive cuisine, steeped in their rich history. These are my essential, can’t miss best restaurants in Budapest. 

1. Mazel Tov

Mazel Tov was one of our favorite finds on our first trip to Budapest, and we continue to come back again and again…it’s just that good. Think of Mazel Tov kind of like a ruin bar concept, but more upscale. 

This Middle Eastern restaurant is located in the middle of Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, and while the facade might look a bit rough, the inside is anything but. Expect snazzy cocktails, overflowing mezze plates, and delicious takes on local cuisine, all served in a modern space. Mazel Tov truly deserves its number one spot on my list of the best restaurants in Budapest. 

2. Gettó Gulyás

I can’t tell you how many people have told me about their visit to Getto Gulyas, even years after their trip to Budapest – us included. 

The cozy, upscale Gettó Gulyás is located in Budapest’s Old Jewish Quarter, and has a short menu of mostly Hungarian classics. Expect goulash, chicken, lamb or veal paprikash, and various seasonal vegetables; the restaurant has a seasonal menu which alternates depending on what’s in season. 

If you plan on visiting, you absolutely must reserve in advance. Combine your visit with a stop at Szimpla Kert, a famous ruin bar around the corner.  

3. Rosenstein Vendéglő 

Sometimes, you’ll need to step outside the historic center to taste the best of Budapest. On our second trip to Budapest, we tried out this often-recommended spot, Rosenstein. Rosenstein is widely considered to have some of the best traditional Hungarian food in Budapest, and I can attest – it’s clearly one of the top restaurants in Budapest. 

This family-run spot opened in 1996 and serves up a wide variety of traditional foods, like stuffed peppers, pan-seared foie gras and of course, paprikash. On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant also serves cholent, a slow-cooked Sabbath fish with beef and baked beans, in a nod to the family’s ancestry. 

On an average day, you’ll find plenty of locals dining here with their families. You don’t need to reserve, but it is recommended during peak times. 

4. Dobrumba

Come for the fashionable interior, stay for the excellent cuisine. Dobrumba, among locals, is known for their North African and Mediterranean food, and you simply can’t skip their hot mezze, featuring flavorful baharat-spiced pomegranate chicken livers or the classic Moroccan lemon chicken tagine. Pair your meal with Hungarian wines – a must. If you’re visiting, you need to book in advance. 

5. Menza

Menza remains one of our favorite restaurants in Budapest – and no list of the best restaurants in Budapest is complete without Menza. This retro restaurant came highly recommended before our first visit, and we took a chance and reserved it in advance. Now, we’re the one recommending this place to people. 

This neighborhood isn’t exactly known for the best restaurants in Budapest, but Menza? Menza is worth the trip. This retro-modern restaurant is known for their local dishes, but they have a couple burgers and pastas on the menu for pickier eaters, too. 

Don’t skip the beef broth soup (húsleves) and the tender pork schnitzel or their veal paprikash. Whenever we visit, I always check their local specials, which are consistently divine. And, in case you’re wondering, the desserts are divine, too. 

Menza is normally filled with tourists (not a knock against it!), but locals will flock to Menza for their two-course lunch menu. Don’t visit without a reservation. 

6. Macesz Bistro

Located right in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, Macesz Bistro serves a unique pork-free menu in a special hat tip to the neighborhood. This bistro specializes in dishes popular with the city’s Ashkenazi residents.

Expect matzo ball soup, cholent (the classic shabbat stew), and ludaskása, among other traditional dishes. It’s pricier than many of Budapest’s best restaurants, but only because it’s in such a high traffic location; expect to spend €15-20 per main. 

7. Paprika Vendéglő

If you’re willing to travel outside of Budapest’s historic center, you’ll be wonderfully rewarded with Paprika Vendéglő, a locally owned spot just outside of the downtown. We stumbled upon this place by happy accident – on our way home from a Formula One race, we noticed a massive line in front of a local restaurant. 

We didn’t snag a spot at Paprika Vendéglő the first night. But on night two? We got lucky. To this day, Paprika served us some of the best Hungarian food we have ever had in Budapest. The goulash was truly divine, as was just about every other dish our group tried. If you’re going, try to grab a reservation – or show up early and wait for no-shows. You won’t be disappointed! 

8. Costes Downtown 

If you’re looking for fine dining in Budapest, Costes Downtown is for you. Budapest has many excellent fine dining options (we also loved Babel Budapest), but Costes remains one of the best known options as one of the best restaurants in Budapest.  

Located on the ground floor of the Prestige Hotel, Costes is a striking restaurant – it feels like nature has crept indoors. Costes brings modern interpretations of Hungarian classics with a sprinkling of an Asian influence, a unique and flavorful combination. 

One of the best ways to experience Costes is by sitting in one of the booths or, if you can snag it, at the chef’s table for an excellent view of the kitchen. Reserve in advance – if you can grab a reservation. 

Pro Tip: This fine dining restaurant in Budapest has a fully vegan tasting menu! 

9. Stand25 Bistro 

If you find yourself on the Buda side of the city, don’t skip Stand25. Hungarian celebrity chefs Szulló Szabina and Tamás Széll run this modern eatery; they’re also in charge of the  two-Michelin-starred Stand on the Pest side. Updated traditional Hungarian food is on the menu at this upscale bistro.

Think reimagine goulash and delicious cottage cheese dumplings, or túrógombóc. One thing to keep in mind: prices will be steep here, but the food is absolutely worth the ticket price. 

10. Circo Pizza 

A Neapolitan pizza spot serving up natural wines? Circo Pizza was one of the most delightful finds on our last trip to Budapest, when our group of post-Formula-1-friends was craving some pizza. Their pizzas are a fair, reasonable price…and the taste? It’s out of this world. Truly some of the best Neapolitan pizza outside of Naples. If you’re heading to Circo Pizza, make sure to reserve in advance as it can get busy. 

Samantha Tatro

Samantha Tatro is a Czech-American third culture kid who grew up living and traveling abroad. Many years later, after living in California and working as a journalist, she decided to take the leap and move abroad again…this time to Prague, Czech Republic. Samantha started Undiscovered Path Home to help couples and solo female travelers find the courage to visit countries – and locations – off the beaten path. Her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, NBC News, The Adecco Group, and more.