Budapest isn't what many would regard as a food capital. It's the capital city of Hungary but when it comes to food? Other cities easily trump it. However, be that as it may, this doesn't mean that Budapest doesn't have a handful of those first-class hotspots that are bang for your buck. The Hungarian capital still offers a slew of amazing places to eat, many of which are even recognized by none other than the very influential
Michelin Guides. They've rewarded some of Budapest's finest restaurants with stars that they truly deserve. Here are a few worth noting.
Arany Kaviár
Arany Kaviár—the clincher is already in the name! If you're one to enjoy delicious, exotic, and extremely expensive caviar, look no further than this Michelin-starred restaurant in Budapest. Offering up a myriad of flavors, each more delectable than the next, of the seafood delicacy, you'll need to prepare both your stomach and your
bank account if you want to eat here. As for which to get, their world-famous golden caviar is definitely one to look forward to!
Source: Arany Kaviár
Babel
Located in the upscale Belváros-Lipótváros
neighborhood of Budapest, also known as the city's district 5, Babel is among the most popular foodie hotspots on this list. Both locals and tourists alike love it for its unique menu of Transylvania cuisine, thanks in large part to chef Istvan Veres, a Hungarian native who grew up in the infamous central Romanian region. Offering up such hearty meat and egg dishes that even Count Dracula himself would happily go for instead of blood, the food here will have you craving for more!
Source: Flickr.com/Jacob Bøtter
Borkonyha
Also in District 5 is Borkonyha, a mecca of European cuisine right at the heart of downtown Budapest. This Michelin-starred restaurant, led by head chef Akos Sarkozi, takes you all over the '
Old Continent' as it mixes all sorts of dishes and delicacies from Hungary and its neighboring nations. With a touch of French here, a tinge of Italian there, and a whole lot of traditional Hungarian cuisine, not to mention an exquisite wine selection as well, it's no wonder the Michelin Guides took notice of this hotspot too!
Source: Borkonyha
Costes
There are actually two Michelin-starred restaurants in Budapest that are named 'Costes.' And while they may be part of the same restaurant group, they couldn't be more different! The first one, simply named 'Costes,' first opened in 2008 on the famous Ráday in Budapest. Despite setting up shop in one of the busiest streets in the city, full of foodie hotspots left and right, Costes was able to stand out and earn a Michelin star. It's all thanks to head chef Miguel Rocha Vieira's innovative culinary skills, regularly producing one showstopping dish after another.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Antal Gertheis, 2011
Costes Downtown
The other 'Costes' restaurant, Costes Downtown, is located in Budapest's District 5 and is a lot bigger than the original establishment. Because Costes became the culinary sensation that it is, they had to open a new and more spacious branch in one of the busiest areas in the city. Nestled on the ground floor of Prestige Hotel Budapest, head chef Márk Molnár takes the reins here, continuing the original restaurant's tradition of serving up both vegetarian and meaty tasting menus that are oh so scrumptious!
Source: Costes Downtown Facebook Page
Essência
With one Michelin star under its belt, Essência in Downtown Budapest, a short walk away from the famous St. Stephen's Basilica and a perfect place to get
public transport, combines the flavors of both Portugal and Hungary in delicious harmony. Husband and wife chef duo Tiago and Éva Sabarigo prepares the food here, never missing any beat when they flex their combined culinary prowess. And the result? A unique fusion menu you never knew you needed!
Source: Essência Restaurant
Onyx
If you had one free
day to spend in Budapest and you chose to visit the famous Gerbeaud House, don't miss the Michelin-starred restaurant here, Onyx. It's an elegant and classically designed hotspot where the food is just as sophisticated as the space. With their innovative spins on Hungarian dishes and delicacies, Onyx's world-class kitchen staff are able to modernize the country's traditional cuisine to excite all sorts of palates and tastes. It's like they're out to prove that Budapest has the potential to be a food capital too!
Source: Onyx Restaurant Facebook Page
Salt
Perhaps dishes and delicacies that are pickled and fermented aren't to everyone's tastes but the dishes that Salt, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Downtown Budapest, serves up are definitely worth noticing. As one of the premier vegan restaurants in the Hungarian capital, it's commendable that this place has put the process of preserving fresh produce at the forefront, inaverdently adopting a more sustainable culinary approach. And while many of their ingredients are pickled, you can still expect them to taste as good as new!
Source: Salt Budapest
Stand Restaurant
Another noteworthy Michelin-starred hotspot in Budapest is Stand Restaurant, located on Székely Mihály u. Offering up six-course, eight-course, and vegetarian menus, their organic way of cooking allows for fresh-tasting dishes you won't want to miss. Think Confit celery root with truffles and cheese sauce. Or venison served with forest cornelian cherry, potatoes, and drizzled with barbecue sauce. And for dessert, caramelized baked apple topped with chantilly ice cream. With such a mouthwatering menu, it's no wonder Stand Restaurant is among the best of the best!
Source: Stand Restaurant
St. Andrea
Located in the beautiful Eiffel Palace, St. Andrea Restaurant is an elegant Michelin-starred restaurant in Budapest that's perfect for a special occasion. Whether you're on a romantic date, celebrating your birthday, or even something as mundane as commemorating your moving to a new
luxury home, this place is pretty special. Such a sophisticated ambiance matches its first-class menu of Hungarian cuisine, complete with traditional favorites like
Csirkepörkölt (farm chicken stew) and pisztráng (roast trout), among many others. Paired with their fine selection of wine, you can enjoy the finest culinary experience in Budapest!
Source: St. Andrea Restaurant
If you think that there are no worthwhile places to eat in Hungary's capital city, think again. Budapest's Michelin-starred restaurants are some of the best of the best foodie hotspots, not just in the city, but in the entire country too!
