The Hungarian capital on the banks of the Danube offers charm, character, thermal baths, and value for money. Plus, a fine dining scene to rival any major European foodie hotspot.
With half-a-dozen Michelin-starred restaurants in Budapest, the city is the best place on the planet to sample Hungarian cuisine – as well as some very good food featuring global influences.
From a creative, contemporary eatery with two Michelin stars to a clutch of Michelin-recommended restaurants, I share all the top dining spots in my guide to the very best Budapest restaurants.
My picks are based on my own experiences of dining in the city, plus a few recommendations from fellow foodies and travellers who’ve sampled the city’s culinary delights.
Read on to discover 15 of the best Michelin restaurants in Budapest.
Author Bio: Jessie Moore
Jessie Moore is a luxury travel expert with years of experience travelling the world to find the best destinations, hotels and adventures.
1. Stand
Address: 1061 Budapest Székely Mihály utca 2.
Accolade: Two Michelin Stars
Stand is a buzzing, modern restaurant in Budapest, with an impressive two Michelin stars to its name.
Specialising in contemporary, Hungarian fare with a creative edge, Stand is centred around a show kitchen with glass walls, so you can watch the skilled chefs at work.
Fresh, seasonal Hungarian ingredients and wines are the stars of the show, and the owners are justifiably proud of their local heritage.
Stand is open for dinner between Tuesday and Saturday, and booking your table is essential.
2. Rumour
Address: 1052 Budapest, Petőfi tér 3-5
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Rumour by Rácz Jenő boasts one Michelin star, and serves up food that looks far too beautiful to eat.
Aesthetics aside, owner and chef Jenő’s menus draw upon his global travels, and showcase his passion and flair.
Perch on a high-backed leather bar stool at the wrap-around counter to witness culinary magic.
Or take a pew at a table among monochrome surroundings, brightened up by splashes of red, with a modern soundtrack setting the scene.
You can book a table for dinner at Rumour between Tuesday and Saturday.
3. Essência
Address: 1051 Budapest, Sas utca 17
Accolade: One Michelin Star
A Portuguese-Hungarian husband-and-wife team is at the helm at one Michelin-starred Essência.
The tasting menu combines both cuisines, or you can dine a la carte from the Hungarian or Portuguese menus.
This place is packed with character, from the blue-and-white Portuguese tiling to the dramatic arches and navy-painted pipework.
Essência opens four days per week, serving lunch between Thursday and Saturday, as well as dinner between Wednesday and the weekend.
4. Salt
Address: Hotel Rum Budapest, 1053 Budapest, Királyi Pál u. 4
Accolade: One Michelin Star and Green Star
Housed within the boutique-style Hotel Rum Budapest, Salt is an eatery worth staying over for.
A Michelin star reflects the expertise of the chefs, plus the dedication to detail. Butter, preserves and even ham are all produced on-site.
Expect a bright, light-flooded interior with pops of Danube blue. The open kitchen means you can see culinary mastery at work while waiting for your feast.
Dine at Salt between Wednesday and Saturday, from 6 pm until late.
Discover more of the best boutique hotels in Budapest.
5. Borkonyha Winekitchen
Address: 1051 Budapest, Sas u 3
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Borkonyha Winekitchen has proudly boasted a Michelin star for a decade. As the name suggests, there’s a focus on wine as well as food, with around 200 options on offer.
Food-wise, it’s all about Hungarian ingredients and influences, and dishes invariably pack a powerful, flavoursome punch.
Though the exterior may be nothing special, step inside to find a refined, elegant dining room, plus an outdoor terrace for summer use.
Borkonyha Winekitchen is open daily except for Sundays, and serves lunch on Saturday in addition to dinner six evenings a week.
6. Babel
Address: 1052 Budapest, Piarista köz 2
Accolade: One Michelin Star
Step into Babel, and you’ll discover a setting that’s steeped in history: watermarks from a 1838 flood can still be seen on the walls.
You can also expect the interior to ooze style, given a leading interior designer’s input.
The setting combines classic and contemporary components, and there’s a terrace too for al fresco dining.
Tasting menus showcase modern Hungarian cuisine, comprising multiple subtly-flavoured and carefully balanced courses.
7. Zincenco Kitchen
Address: 1055 Budapest, Bihari János u. 20
Accolade: Michelin Recommended
If you like to dine somewhere deliciously different yet want to sample Slavic and Hungarian fare, head to Zincenco Kitchen.
As it’s housed within a city apartment, only 14 covers can be accommodated, and guests are seated by 7pm.
It’s an intimate and very memorable experience, with the passionate hosts sharing the inspiration and rationale behind each dish.
Expect contemporary takes on local classics, with perfectly-balanced flavours. Book a table in advance for dinner on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights.
8. Laurel
Address: 1073 Budapest, Kertész u. 29
Accolade: Michelin Recommended
It’s about more than the food at Laurel, which offers a tempting list of cocktails and serves tasty vegan fare alongside the regular menu.
Located in a cellar with a soaring, vaulted ceiling, the scene is set for a fine dining experience with a local flavour.
Dishes fuse Hungarian and Asian influences to impressive effect. Don’t skip dessert here, which could well be the highlight of your meal.
You can also expect seamless service, and an interesting Hungarian wine list.
As well as dinner from Wednesday to Sunday, lunch is available on weekends.
9. FLAVA
Address: Verno House Hotel, 1051 Budapest, Október 6. u. 26
Accolade: Michelin Recommended
This downtown Budapest, Michelin-recommended eatery is situated within the Verno House Hotel.
You can expect fusion food drawing on global influences and ingredients here, plus delicious cocktails, an outside terrace, and a smartly-clad clientele.
Stand-out features include the smoking cocktails and the meat dishes, steaks in particular.
Menus at FLAVA for carnivores and cocktail fans alike feature flavours from the Middle East, Japan, and South America, as well as Hungary.
I also loved the live DJ that resulted in a wonderfully relaxed and very cool vibe.
10. Arany Kaviár
Address: 1015 Budapest, Ostrom u. 19
Accolade: Michelin Recommended
Expect the unexpected when booking a table at Michelin Recommended Arany Kaviár in Budapest.
Caviar is a house specialty, with a pair of tasting menus showcasing salt-cured fish roe from Siberia and Hungary.
The main menus also feature Russian and Hungarian dishes, or you can book the World Table Menu for a more global culinary experience.
The refined decor of the dining room adds a sense of occasion when taking a table here for dinner, between Tuesday and Saturday.
11. Onyx Mühely
Address: 1051 Budapest, Vörösmarty tér 7-8
Accolade: Michelin Recommended and Green Star
Innovative, creative cuisine is the name of the game at Onyx Mühely.
Dining at this compact test kitchen is a sociable experience, with all 16 guests arriving en masse for pre-dinner canapes and drinks.
The glass-walled library and open kitchen provide plenty of conversation starters.
Gaining guest feedback is a key part of the ethos here, before the scheduled opening of the new Onyx in 2024.
I think the vegetarian options are a highlight, and the restaurant has a Green Star for sustainability.
Book your sneaky Onyx proper preview for any evening, except Tuesday or Wednesday.
12. Textúra
Address: 1051 Budapest, Sas u 6
Accolade: Michelin Recommended
Textúra almost directly faces Borkonyha Winekitchen, its sister establishment.
This one’s Michelin recommended rather than Michelin starred, but that might make it easier to bag a table.
Textúra has a natural, outdoor feel, thanks to a central wooden tree sculpture and a wall of living moss.
Local celebrity chef Ákos Sárközi is at the helm, and you can expect a funky vibe, plus fine dining dishes with surprising touches.
Hungarian wines are also served alongside dinner, between Monday and Saturday.
13. Hoppá! Bistro
Address: 1051 Budapest, Október 6. u. 15
Accolade: Michelin Recommended
Even on Budapest’s dining hub Október Street, Hoppá! Bistro stands out, offering something deliciously different.
Traditional French and Hungarian flavour combinations form the basis of the menu, but you can rightly expect original, inventive twists.
Service is slick, yet there are unpretentious touches like chalkboard specials and local beers to wash your food down with.
Unlike other Budapest restaurants, I’m pleased to say that this one opens daily for lunch as well as dinner.
The great value midday menus always go down a storm, delighting guests from both local and far-flung places.
14. Mák
Address: 1051 Budapest, Vigyázó Ferenc u. 4
Accolade: Michelin Recommended
This Michelin Recommended Budapest eatery is named after the Hungarian term for a poppy seed, reflecting the fact that it serves rustic yet refined fare.
Here it’s all about sourcing seasonal produce from local artisans.
Chef János Mizsei takes time to build fruitful relationships with local producers, and also looks north for further inspiration: Nordic influences add zest to Hungarian classics.
Open for dinner between Wednesday and Saturday, Mák’s menus are always seasonal, focusing on different parts of Hungary at various times of the year.
15. Tati
Address: 1076 Budapest, Dohány u. 58-62
Accolade: Michelin Recommended
Tati is located in District 7, a part of Budapest that’s currently starting to make waves. And the same can be said of the restaurant itself, where food centres on Hungarian flavours.
Much of the produce is sourced from the eatery’s own farm, based on the fringes of the city.
If you’re into brunch, the lunches served at Tati are served along the lines of this hybrid style.
Menus offer a good balance of fish, meat, and plant based meals, accompanied by bio, organic, and natural wines.
Have you visited any of the top Michelin-star restaurants in Budapest? Let me know your favourites in the comments below!
Planning a trip to Hungary? You may also like:
- 15 top tips for visiting Budapest
- 15 fun things to do in Budapest in December
- Ultimate guide to visiting Hévíz in Hungary
- 15 amazing day trips from Budapest
- Prague or Budapest: which city to visit
- 12 best restaurants in the world
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