Budapest is a striking, elegant, beautifully designed city packed with Michelin star restaurants, here are the best in Budapest.
It is often labelled the “Paris Of The East” for good reason.
But it is the food that makes it a sensational European city to visit. It is packed with Michelin star dining, and restaurants with extraordinary interiors, creative, innovative dishes, and service to match. Every type of food is available at the highest possible standards.
There are sophisticated cocktail bars too, but the whole city is packed with upscale fine dining experiences. And the real surprise is the prices – this city is not expensive. Even Michelin star dining is surprisingly affordable.
Book before you go, but go to as many restaurants as you can.
Kollazs Brasserie and Bar
Kollazs Brasserie and Bar sits in the front of the five star Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest, one of Budapest’s more elegant and grand hotels.
The light-filled restaurant serves modern European and French Brasserie cuisine of a high standard, and typical Hungarian specialities including escargot and paprika chicken are also on the menu.
Staff are friendly, informed and helpful. Wines are largely local and excellent.
The interiors are club-like with leather seating, parquetry floors, and huge windows overlooking The Danube and Chain Bridge.
The Sunday Brunch has a reputation amongst locals as the best in Budapest and serves unlimited alcohol, and super high-quality buffet food at a set price.
This restaurant has only been opened about a year and is serving Michelin standard food in a modern, fresh setting with outstanding service and natural light.
The interiors are as entertaining as the food, and are super modern, and include feature a large white, arty tree-like sculpture, black panelled walls, white segmented chairs and white and grey flooring.
Staff are passionate not only about the food but about wine pairing, and about ensuring customers receive the food they like and want to eat. They make it their mission to ensure their guests enjoy their experience.
Chicken dishes, meat, pigeon and fish were all on the menu this month. Some modern and deconstructed versions of typical Hungarian dishes such as cabbage stuffed with pork were a delight.
There are several degustations of varying courses which really are the best way to indulge in this extraordinary restaurant with wine pairings, and take in as much of the cuisine as possible. There are daily specials usually including freshly caught seafood options.
Food is experimental and in most cases, as much art as food is presented in every dish (even their website is amazingly creative and worth a look).
This striking and elegant restaurant with a neo-renaissance facade sits on the edge of the Danube with a large wooden lion sculpture which sets the scene for the dramatic interiors.
Felix was originally designed by Miklos Ybl, the most influential architect of the 19th century, and was created to supply the royal palace with drinking water.
Inside, it is like sitting in a small but extravagant theatre, as the interiors are so luxurious, fresh, classic and fabulous. Huge ceilings, modern gold light fittings, white tablecloths and panelled ceilings and walls give it a richly elegant, European feel.
The menu is large and varied, with typical Hungarian options like beef tartare, chicken and beetroot soups, duck breast, wiener schnitzel and scallops and a large array of western/European options including rack of lamb, seafood pasta, lobster and caviar.
Portion sizes can be large, especially with desserts, but every dish is of a high standard, and indulgent, and they will pack up leftovers to take home.
This warm and elegant one Michelin star upscale restaurant was just named restaurant of the year at The Dining Guide Awards in Hungary this month.
It feels intimate and cosy, with comfortable pink and grey interiors and an open kitchen providing plenty of viewing entertainment.
Stand Etteram restaurant was created by the original chefs and creators of 2 Michelin star restaurant Onyx.
Food presentation is outstanding, and menu options are designed around Hungarian dishes with a twist. Everything is elegantly prepared and served and taste sensations abound in every dish. The staff are young, energetic and full of recommendations.
There are both local and international wines on offer, great cocktails.
This elegant little modern restaurant sits in front of the famed St Stephens Basilica, with a stunning view of this gracious building. It has a tree inside in the middle and outdoor tables in summer.
La Fabbrica serves some of the best Italian food from both southern and northern areas.
The pizzas are legendary and cooked fresh, bursting with crispy bases and generous, fresh, gourmet toppings, and pasta is made fresh. Great cocktails.
Two Michelin star chef Italian chef Nicola Portinari has opened this modern restaurant serving a spectacular and creative fusion of Italian and Hungarian food.
The presentation and flavours are exceptional, and elegantly combine textures and flavours to create taste sensations in every mouthful.
The tasting menu is the best way to truly indulge in everything this restaurant has on offer.
There’s an open kitchen, intriguing modern art, and a warm setting.
Desserts are show stoppers.
This is world-class fine dining, and this restaurant’s reputation precedes itself.
Costes downtown hails from the fabulous slick, sexy and sassy Parisian Costes brand, and is continually rated in the top restaurants in Europe as well as in Budapest.
This is another restaurant with fine dining at its very best. Appetisers, in-between dishes and other small dishes are delivered along the way to ensure you have the opportunity to indulge in every possible flavour and texture imaginable.
Onyx is one of Budapest’s most famous, traditional and long-standing high end, fine dining restaurants and has 2 Michelin stars.
Located right in the shopping hub of Budapest, this Michelin star restaurant focuses on local ingredients including wine pairings. It is somewhat of a cult amongst locals and visitors.
There are local and international style dishes, all immaculately presented and bursting with taste sensations.
Located in the Jewish quarter, this ruin bar is a fabulous venue for a big night out, and/or for a group.
It is always busy, food is fresh and served quickly and the cocktails (8 Euro) are made to order, and the barman knows what they are doing. The local wines are pretty fabulous too.
The interiors of Mazel-Tov are light-filled thanks to a glass roof. It is light, white and bright and plants abound, giving it a healthy, fresh feel. Israeli-Meditteranean food is on offer, including a shwarma plate and north African sausage, but designer versions, with excellent presentation and fresh local ingredients.
Nobu
You know a city has discerning diners when there is a Nobu there.
The Michelin guide restaurant is located in the heart of the city and features all of the delightful sushi and sashimi dishes Nobu is known for the world over. Plenty of famous names have and do dine here.
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