📣 Updated in 2025
I’m lucky enough to have visited Budapest on six trips which means having plenty of time to soak up all the sights as well as tasting my way around the city. Hungary has some great national dishes like goulash, lángos and chicken paprikash to try. In recent years, Budapest has grown in popularity as a city for expats to work and live in so there are now more and more diverse food options which are equally as delicious plus a variety of Hungarian fusion restaurants. Whether it’s coffee in the morning, street food for lunch or dinner and drinks in the evening, I’m going to share with you everywhere I recommend you add to your itinerary plus two delicious street foods you can’t miss 😋
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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1. Zërgë Coffeeshop
Best for: cute and quirky location with fun bagel options
This is actually the last place I ate in Budapest and had breakfast here before catching my flight. Zërgë is on the Buda side of the river and I came here with work colleagues after we watched sunrise from Fisherman’s Bastion (see Instagrammable spots in Budapest). This is a really cute and quirky cafe with a floating upper level above the counter area which is really cosy to sit in. The coffee was delicious and they also serve a wide range of bagels alongside the excellent coffee.
2. Mazel Tov
Best for: aesthetic ruins bar location
You can’t visit Budapest without taking a walk through the Jewish Quarter and coming across the ruin bars. They’ve often had a reputation for partying into the night but Mazel Tov switches that up. This ruin bar has been converted into a beautiful space for brunch, dinner and drinks and it’s now one of the most popular places to eat in the city. When I came to Budapest in 2019 Mazel Tov had been recommended to me for brunch by housemate so I booked in and was not disappointed. I’m not super clear if they do still serve brunch (in mid 2023 they announced a breakfast menu but I can’t see one on their website) but they have lots of Middle Eastern & Mediterranean treats for lunch and dinner plus cocktails into the evening.
3. My Little Melbourne
Best for: best Australian coffee in Budapest
The brains behind Little Melbourne helped to bring Australian speciality coffee culture to Budapest in 2012. During various trips to Australia they loved the coffee so much that they wanted to bring that back home to Budapest and Little Melbourne was the result. The coffee is super good and it’s a fun little spot to sit outside and do a bit of people watching. They’ve got the Aussie snacks down as well with this tasty cinnamon roll!
4. Dobrumba
Best for: Middle Eastern food including tapas
I stumbled across Dobrumba in January 2019 when I was looking for somewhere for dinner and now it’s often said to be one of the trendiest restaurants in Budapest. Dorbumba has two locations in the city where you can share tapas with friends and bigger plates as well. The food is a cross culture fusion between North African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern which makes for delicious fresh and fragrant flavour combinations. I had the baked sweet potato which I remember being so delicious and I’d love to go back again 🤤
5. Szimpla Kert
Best for: an afternoon drink (or partying the night away)
An absolute icon of Budapest (and especially the bar scene) is Szimpla Kert. In the early 2000s, the 7th District of Budapest was literally in ruins and full of abandoned spaces that were crumbling. In 2004, Szimpla was the first ruin bar to open and soon others followed to bring the phenomenon that now exists today. It probably is a bit over hyped and a bit expensive for what you get vs other places in Budapest but I do think it’s a must! During the day it’s a fun, airy space to hang out in although with lots of funky hidden corners as well but generally a chilled atmosphere (there’s even a farmers market on Sundays) but at night it transforms into an epic party where you can dance the night away.
6. BiBo
Best for: Spanish cross Hungarian fine dining with a stunning interior
If you’re looking for a memorable date night in Budapest then look no further than BiBo. This rooftop restaurant and bar is part of the Dani Garcìa group of restaurants by the Michelin Starred chef Dani Garcìa. His mission is in bringing Spanish and Andalusian cuisine to the fore and at BiBo Budapest, his dishes combine Hungarian and Spanish cuisine in a fusion you might not have thought of before! The restaurant is located at the top of the Dorothea Hotel and the experience starts as soon as you check in at the front desk at the bottom of the lift. Whizzing up to the rooftop, you’re greeted to a view of Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion, which during our visit was lit up with its night time lights which looked so magical. The interior is just spectacular from the floral detail of the bar to the low lighting and even the toilets with their walled corridor! As an FYI, we had a private dining room which is where the fabulous moon design is pictured above.
We were treated to a tasting menu although this is not part of their actual menu, just a way to try a variety of different dishes for our trip. Before we even got into the meal properly, I’d eaten three pieces of the sourdough because it was so soft, warm and fluffy. Flavours and combinations included goulash croquettes (exceptional), guacamole with buratta and edamame (light and fresh) as well as strudel with yellow beetroot. The service was excellent and the wine pairings incredible as well. Our sommelier was so knowledgeable and each Hungarian wine we tasted was unique.
Top Tip – Data Roaming
If you’re visiting Budapest from overseas then getting online with an eSIM from Holafly is such a game changer. No swapping SIMs. No complicated data roaming. Lots of choice. If your phone is compatible, just download the eSIM and get going!
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7. Leo Rooftop Budapest
Best for: classy drinks with an epic view
Leo Rooftop Bar was a new discovery on my most recent trip to Budapest. It’s so named for the lions that sit guarding the Chain Bridge at the bottom of the bar. Leo is located at the top of Hotel Clark and you can find it by heading around to the right of the main reception doorway and taking an elevator up. We went at night and it’s a pretty special sight when the elevator doors open and you see the city sparkling before you. There are so many cocktails to choose from and you can enjoy yours (or your choice of wine, beer, spirits etc) with the most epic view. I bet it’s just as good during the day as well.
8. Nanu Coffee & Stuff
Best for: the butteriest and flakiest croissant, perfect before heading to Gellert Baths
In the summer of 2023 I booked a ticket to Gellért Baths (sadly closed for refurb until 2028) and because I wanted to arrive as the doors opened I was looking for some coffee and breakfast close by. I came across Nanu Coffee and Stuff on Google Maps so went there. It’s a really cute place and very aesthetic. Probably the most Instagrammable cafe I’ve visited in Budapest in terms of colour and look 🥰 The croissant was so buttery and flaky and, because I was pretty early, straight out of the oven so still warm. Delicious.
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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9. QUÍ
Best for: delicious Thai (and some Vietnamese) food in a beautiful space
QUÍ is another restaurant that I visited with work colleagues and we were all craving Thai food after a week of work canteen meals! Honestly, this was another Google Maps find and QUÍ came up as one of the top rated to eat at. When we arrived it was very busy for a Thursday evening (always a good sign!) but they managed to find a table for us. The menu is mostly Thai food but with some Vietnamese dishes as well to choose from. The setting is very classy and chic with beautiful details and the serving was matched. There were some fun cocktails on the drinks menu with lots of sake and yuzu featuring and even tamarind gin. I am extremely boring and always go for a chicken massaman curry when I eat out at Thai restaurants with a side of sticky rice and it was very tasty! We mixed and matched starters with spring rolls, veggie tempura and chicken satay all of which were yummy and flavourful.
10. Madal Cafe
Best for: one of the original specialty coffee shops in Budapest
Madal Cafe is a small chain coffee place in Budapest with three locations around the city. It was one of the first to introduce speciality coffee culture to Budapest so it’s a great spot to visit if you’re near to one tf their cafes. The team roasts their own coffee at their speciality roasters near to Budapest so they have more control over the process than other cafes will do. I visited the one at Ferenciek Tere which had a great outdoor spot if you enjoy people watching (it was too hot for me 🥵) but a lovely inside space as well. Combine with a visit to the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó library which is nearby.
11. REBEL Burger
Best for: quick lunch or dinner at an affordable price
Do you ever get food decision paralysis when you’re just so hungry you don’t even know what you want? This happened to me on a Budapest trip in August 2023 and was aimlessly walking around trying to work out what I wanted to eat but just not making any decisions! Eventually I chose REBEL (Burger & More) because I was after something pretty cheap and fast. It was a great decision because REBEL was very much both of those things. You can choose from a stack of different burgers or a variety of different tacos and I opted for the smashed burger with cheese and sweet potato fries on the side. It filled the hole perfectly so I would recommend a stop here if you’re in need of a quick lunch or dinner.
12. New York Cafe
Best for: the Instagram shot of the most beautiful cafe in the world
The New York Cafe in Budapest advertises itself as ‘the most beautiful cafe in the world’ and it is rather remarkable inside. Their signature move is adding gold leaf to every hot drink so this may be the only time you can try a cappuccino with gold leaf instead of chocolate powder on top 😉 The glitzy interior means it’s become popular on social media so it’s a very busy spot. Try and come for opening time for the lowest chance of having to queue. I didn’t try the food but I would say that the coffee was ok – the others on this list were definitely better but I wanted to include New York Cafe because it is such a beautiful interior.
13. Bestia
Best for: industrial chic with contemporary twists on classics and an iconic Budapest view to go alongside
In September 2023 I stayed in a hotel near St Stephen’s Basilica for a night at the end of a work trip before flying the following morning. An evening mission to find dinner nearby brought us to Bestia which was only about two minutes walk from where we were staying and is right next door to the basilica. This means if you’re sitting outside or near the window you get of St Stephen’s. Bestia has very industrial trendy vibes and in the evening, the dimmed lights added to the edgy atmosphere. The menu has a similar vibe with classic comfort foods that come with a twist. The menu changes so it looks different to my visit and I had the katsu chicken pictured. It does focus on meaty dishes and particularly steak but there are a couple of vegetarian options as well (but it’s not vegan friendly).
14. Gundel
Best for: the most famous restaurant in Hungary with lots of traditional dishes
Gundel is Hungary’s most famous restaurant. It’s historic and special with its place in City Park next door to the Budapest zoo. Gundel has seen many famous patrons come through its doors from Madonna to ABBA and from Queen Elizabeth to Angeline Jolie! Which really is a testament to the place that it has held in Hungarian society for many years. Unfortunately, for a very long time this gave it an exclusivity, price range and dress code that was not possible for the Hungarian people or for many tourists and so when Gundel reopened after COVID the philosophy changed. In 2021, Gundel reopened with a different angle in the Budapest restaurant scene. The menu became all about classic Hungarian dishes and at more affordable prices. It’s still very much a special meal out (there is a pianist to accompany your meal at certain points of the day after all) but much more within the range of the average tourist and Budapest local.
The main dishes are hearty and traditional with chicken paprikash and schnitzel firm favourites on the menu. I tried the mangalica ragout gratin which was delicious. Plenty of cheese accompanying the mangalica pig (unique to Hungary) ragout. Follow your main course up with one of the indulgent desserts. The Gundel pancake is iconic but the Gundel chocolate cake with sour cherries was exquisite.
15. Kontakt
Best for: speciality coffee and getting an hour of work finished
Kontakt is hidden down a narrow alleyway in the Pest side of Budapest and is a speciality coffee roaster. They take their coffee seriously and have a no sugar policy and don’t serve drip coffee with milk. The staff are very friendly despite their strictness to the caffeinated beverages they serve up and there’s a good amount of space inside and out to enjoy your coffee whilst getting a little work (or perhaps reading!) done whilst you’re in Budapest.
16. SALT Bakery
Best for: a more affordable route to try Michelin Starred SALT food
Budapest is home to Michelin starred restaurant SALT. The restaurant is only available to visit as a 14 course tasting menu which could set your holiday budget back a fair chunk! Thankfully, they’ve also set up a SALT Bakery because their sourdough is so well liked. You can also buy croissants, cookies and buns here so you can try a sweet treat for a considerably more reasonable price 😉
17. Time Out Food Market
Best for: when you can’t decide what cuisine to have
Time Out Markets have been popping up all around the world with their tag line essentially being to ‘showcase best food a city has to offer‘. In September 2025, Budapest was the latest city to open a Time Out Market. There are eleven different outlets installed in the Corvin Palace building which is a rather lovely location. Each eatery offers a unique cuisine and menu covering smash burgers, Vietnamese, pizza, Mediterranean and Hungarian options just to name a few. I was lucky to be in a group so we could opt for a number of different options to taste. My fave dishes were the polenta fries and the ravioli from LIRA by Essência (Essência is a Michelin starred restaurant).
The Time Out Market is a great way to try a few different restaurants at once or if you’re struggling to decide what sort of cuisine to go for. It is best tried in a group so you can mix and match. Don’t miss the wine bar with some exceptional Hungarian offerings and the Cocktail Bar which has cocktails named for each of the bridges of Budapest – the Chain Bridge was delightful and spritzy.
18. Gerbeaud
Best for: historic chocolatier and decadent cakes
Gerbeaud is an institution in Budapest and has been serving sweet treats to the residents of Budapest as well as plenty of tourists for considerably more than one hundred years. Although it was in 1884, when it was taken over by Emil Gerbeaud that the historic coffee house gained its reputation and its present name. Gerbeaud loved chocolates, pastries and all things sweet and brought plenty of treats to the masses. Today, it still serves many of the same original desserts as well as some more modern inventions (the blackberry and yoghurt cake was fresh and delicious!). The interior is also part of the magic of Gerbeaud with its charming countertops, ornate chandeliers and other details that remind you of its opulent heritage.
19. TATI
Best for: farm to table dining and fresh ingredients
TATI is a forward thinking farm to table restaurant where every ingredient you taste has a known farm origin that TATI chooses specifically. An element of this concept means that the menu is seasonal and dishes are chosen to showcase the best of their flavours. Another is that you’ll find some intriguing components in their descriptions like the Hedgerow Negroni which features hay and nettles to balance flavours. The chicken paprikash at TATI is said to be the best in the city and in a city where you can find the dish on nearly every menu, that really is saying something. Of course that’s what I had to try and it was very good. The flavours balanced so nicely and whilst maybe it’s in your head, food does seem to taste better when the link from farm to table is so short.
20. IDA Bistro
Best for: Austro Hungarian cuisine and exceptional service
IDA Bistro sits at the bottom of the Buda Castle Garden Bazaar and is housed in a rather stunning building. The large windows, airy space and pastel shades give IDA a lovely bright and relaxed atmosphere and was particularly lovely for a sunny lunch. The menu blends Austrian and Hungarian dishes thus recognising the history and ties that have linked these two countries through the years.
The restaurant is elegant with crisp white table cloths, charming porcelain and flowers on the table tops. I opted for dishes on the Austrian side of the menu with a schitzel followed by Kaiserschmarrn. In case you’re wondering, Kaiserschmarrn is a dessert that consists of shredded pancakes served with a healthy portion of icing sugar and fruit sauce. An absolute sweet treat. If you do opt for the schnitzel then I very highly recommend you order the mashed potato as a side, it was the creamiest, most buttery and indulgent mashed potato I may have ever had.
21. The Duchess
Best for: luxey cocktails at a hidden rooftop terrace
Blink and you’ll miss it. The Duchess is a secret bar hidden at the top of the Matild Palace hotel. You’re whisked up in an elevator and you can feel the indulgence and intrigue as soon as the doors open. I don’t know what it’s like in the day but if you arrive at night, the bar is pretty spectacular and gives the air of an exclusive James Bond esque establishment. The roof of the hotel was not easy for the builders to navigate and so the terraces (both indoor and outdoor) on the roof are a unique maze of walkways and views.
The cocktail menu at The Duchess features a range of interesting ingredients to make for an unusual yet classy set of drinks to choose from. You can take your pick from cocktails that include brown miso, Szechuan Pepper and Yuzu-tamarind Cordial. The whole vibe and the menu takes inspiration from the founder of the palace, Her Imperial and Royal Highness Maria Klotild. It’s an epic place for a date night in Budapest or to dress up, gather and spill your secrets with friends 🤫
22. Danube River Cruise
Best for: river views and ‘grammable photos
For most people, a sunset cruise on the blue Danube is one of the first things on their Budapest itinerary but I must admit it was only on my sixth visit that I eventually completed this activity! It’s definitely a lovely way to spend an evening with a glass of something sparkling in hand. Particularly if you can nab a sunset cruise because this way you will hopefully get a fabulous sky and the last golden light glinting on Budapest’s iconic buildings.
23. CAUSE Coffee
Best for: pairing with a Salt Bakery pastry and coffee on the go
CAUSE coffee is situated opposite SALT Bakery so it’s an ideal combination to grab a pastry and a coffee together. There’s limited room inside CAUSE although there are a couple of tables outside, but given it’s situated on Zrínyi Utca with an epic view of the stunning St Stephen’s Basilica it doesn’t really matter. Take it to go and keep your itinerary on the go. They’re a speciality roaster but one of their very unusual specials is espresso and orange juice. Hmm yes, not convinced but you might be!
Bonus! 2 street foods you must try in Budapest
1. Langos
Langos is the comfort food of Hungarian street food and consists of a delicious deep fried bread base covered in all sorts of toppings. My favourite is sour cream and cheese and it is best when it’s served hot (and the cheese starts to melt). It’s very dense and you usually get a very big portion so you may want to share if you can! Both times I’ve had langos have been on Margaret Island. The first time from a cart in the park and the second time whilst enjoying the hot weather at Palatinus Strand Baths and bought one at a cafe there.
2. Chimney Cake
If you’ve visited Prague before then you’ll recognise the chimney cake. This sweet treat can be found mainly in Budapest and Prague and is particularly popular in the winter alongside a hot chocolate or mulled wine. There are a number of stalls around the city where you can buy a chimney cake for dessert and add lots of extras like Nutella, sprinkles, cinnamon and ice cream. They’re so yummy and even just the basic chimney cake with sugar is perfect. If you can find somewhere that is baking them in front of you on a spit roast then this is the best way to try one.
For more inspiration and help planning your trip to Budapest, take a look at my other posts about this fabulous city:
Cat x
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