JAN 6, 2018 | TRAVEL GUIDE
The Hungarian capital bursts with elegant fine dining restaurants, offering both traditional specialties and international cuisine.
We have taken the liberty of composing a list of 10 best fine dining restaurants in Budapest, adding up to your gastronomic cravings. So call a yellow cab from your hotel and try one of these restaurants before hitting some of the best jazz clubs in Budapest.
Costes Restaurant started back in 2007, when the place was completely transformed by its owners. Before the grand reopening, the owners found Europe’s best suppliers, while the staff underwent rigorous training in France. Stylish and elegant, Costes Restaurant is all about forgetting the outside world for a couple of hours. Having no dress code, the place has a laid back atmosphere where the hungry guests can enjoy top international cuisine with Hungarian touches. In March 2010, Costes Restaurant received a star in the ‘Main Cities of Europe’ Michelin Guide, becoming the first Hungarian restaurant to receive such an honor and only the second in the Central European region. Costes continues to win local and international awards. The service is friendly and impeccable, while the dishes are prepared with the finest and freshest ingredients.
The Spinoza Restaurant includes both an art gallery and theater in its premises, where events take place from September to May, and guests can enjoy them along with a nice dinner and a coffee at the coffee house. The place looks as a very attractive sidewalk café in the Jewish district, being a famous destination for dining as well as for relaxing during the day. The food here is pretty unusual, mainly described as a hybrid between Hungarian and Mediterranean cuisine. Its unexpectedness creates a truly unique experience. There’s live music at the restaurant every night from 7pm and a Klezmer concert every Friday evening.
Serving Hungarian and international cuisine, the Onyx restaurant prides in its quality domestic ingredients and spectacular Hungarian wine selections. The highly skilled chefs here create a real gastronomic journey for every enthusiast, showcasing international flavors and redesigned Hungarian cuisine. As a result of its hard work, this restaurant has gained a reputation as one of Budapest’s top choices when it comes to fine dining. The restaurant is a proud owner of a Michelin star, with the acknowledgement of the Gault & Millau.
At Nobu Restaurant, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s modern Japanese cuisine wonderfully combines the traditional Japanese techniques with South American flavors. Nobu is an amazing place, located in the center of the city. In addition to the public sitting, the restaurant offers a private room for parties of up to 16 people. It is also known to attract many famous names and faces, such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Lady Gaga, Keanu Reeves and Robert de Niro.
The Corso Restaurant is situated in the InterContinental Hotel, being the perfect place to enjoy truly authentic Hungarian cuisine in an elegant and stylish environment. This restaurant has the solid reputation of providing astonishing culinary trips, infusing the finest Hungarian dishes with the latest gastronomic trends in the world. While you enjoy your carefully prepared dish, you can gaze at the Royal Castle and Chain Bridge too.
The “Fisherman’s Bastion” restaurant is located on the Buda side of the river, up on the hill in the castle area. Needless to add, the views from the restaurant are really amazing. And when it comes to the international selection of food, it is a real treat when coupled with first class service, making the dining experience flawless. Even though the interior design is considered to be a real masterpiece, taking advantage of the delightful roof terrace is an even better seating option.
Located in the heart of Budapest, Rezkakas Bistro is one of the most distinctive and elegant restaurants in the city. Their menu is known to offer a selection of characteristic traditional Hungarian dishes, prepared from fresh ingredients that appeal to both authentic Hungarian and modern gastronomic tastes. For all of you looking to try something truly different, this is the place to visit.
The Remiz Restaurant is actually an internationally known restaurant where elite guests frequently book their seats to enjoy the high quality Hungarian and international food. The restaurant offers several dining rooms and an astonishing outdoor terrace, along with the option to host intimate dinners for two or private parties for VIP guests. Its delightful menu offers monthly specials in six languages. From May to September, all grilled dishes are cooked outdoors over lava stones. It is a great place for those dining out on business.
Located in front of the Buda Castle and next to the Chain Bridge, you can enter the wonderfully designed, 246-foot boat restaurant on the Danube – the Spoon. Featuring three kitchens and five bars, the restaurant pampers all visitors with gastronomic pleasures and magnificent view from the restaurant. The cuisine is an exceptional blend of Hungarian and Mediterranean one, equipped to serve up to 600 guests. Additionally, thus vast space is convenient for special events like weddings, conferences, private parties or fashion shows, where encounters with celebrities like Lewis Hamilton, Paris Hilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Shakira are possible.
Conveniently located close to the Basilica, the Borkonyha Restaurant got a Michelin Star in March, 2014. The interior of the restaurant is interestingly composed of beige and dark brown tones, inviting the visitors with its cozy atmosphere. Being one of the favorite places in downtown Budapest, the restaurant has a truly unique setting with a laid-back bistro feeling, paired with subtly attentive service. The relatively short menu offers high quality food made with the freshest ingredients by the talented hands of the chef, Ákos Sárközy, whose efforts were rewarded with a star by the French restaurant guide. The restaurant also offers a pretty impressive collection of Hungarian wines, ordered by the bottle or glass. For those wishing to dine outdoors, there’s a nice terrace as well.
In order to truly experience Budapest and its diverse spirit, we recommend accommodating yourself at one of the best downtown Budapest hotels, and enjoy a dinner in a fine dining restaurant at least once during your trip. After such experience getting to Budapest airport and leaving the city will not be easy.