Where to Dine in Budapest

This past summer my colleague and I  had the pleasure of staying in the wonderful city of Budapest for over a month to assist the team at the Aria Hotel. Our trip consisted mainly of long days in the hotel followed by delicious dinners, usually paired with a great glass of Hungarian wine. We both consider ourselves foodies and we quickly fell in love with the restaurants and service of the local dining scene. Below is a list of our top picks for dining on your next trip to the Aria Hotel.

Café Kör
1051 Budapest
Sas u. 17.

We happened to stumble upon this adorable little bistro and thought it had an interesting menu, so we decided to try it.  The restaurant is located on Sas Utca which is less than 5 minutes from the Aria. The food was to-die-for! As we often did, Diana and I tasted each others meals and I couldn’t decide which I like better. Diana had the Beef Goulash with the red wine sauce and croquettes and it was amazing and  I had the Spaetzels with ewes cheese and fresh sour cream, this is normally not on their menu as it was a special, but it was delicious. (In the warmer months they have a really adorable outdoor patio)  ***Make sure you have Hungarian Forints or your American Express as they do not take all credit cards.

 Aszú Étterem
1051 Budapest
Sas u. 4.

Aszú is another one of our favorite restaurants in Budapest. The menu is inspired by traditional Hungarian, but has a twist. We both decided on the Roasted Trout with cauliflower, spinach & date tomatoes. The whipped cauliflower was outstanding! The restaurant also often has a small ensemble playing the cimbalom to add to the musical atmosphere that Budapest is so famous for.

Első Pesti Rétesház
1051 Budapest
Október 6. u. 22

The Rétesház is the very first Strudel House in Pest and had some of the most delicious strudels I have ever had.  We went twice while visiting. The first time was for dinner and the second time was strictly for dessert! The first night we were there we got a Salmon Strudel as an appetizer and it was well worth mentioning! The next time we visited we decided to get 3 strudels all to share, we ordered one sour cherry with farmers cheese, one apricot and a chocolate hazelnut one. They were all perfect! I would recommend visiting them even if you want to get a strudel to bring back to the hotel!

Taverna Dionysos
1056 Budapest,
Belgrád rakpart 16.

From the moment we left for Budapest, my colleague had been raving about this delicious Greek Restaurant that she used to visit all the time while living and studying in Budapest a few years prior. She told me constantly, if you are looking for the best Greek food, which she is a fanatic of, you do not even have to go to Greece you can have some in Hungary! After taking a stroll down Váci Utca, which is one of the main streets in Budapest filled with a variety of stores, cafes and souvenir shops and happens to be minutes away from the Hotel, we finally reached Taverna Dionysos. The restaurant is located right on the water by the Danube with a beautiful view of the Citadella! The food was truly amazing; we both shared their Orektiko Piato Krio, the variety of cold starters, the Greek Salad and of course the Paidakia, also known as Ribs of Lamb which were to die for! This time around we finished our meals with some Ouzo and a delicious variety of Greek desserts! OPA!

The patio makes the perfect alternative for guests with pets

Gundel
1146 Budapest,
Gundel Károly street 4.

This elegant Hungarian restaurant was founded by Karoly Gundel in 1894, and they truly stand behind their words “Dining is part of culture.” While dining at this popular eatery we experienced  a great ambiance and terrific service. We decided to go with traditional dishes, my colleague had the Goose liver with the plums and I had the Rose-Seared duck breast. For dessert we enjoyed their signature Gundel palacsinta, which were wonderful! If you are celebrating something special this is the place to go! We absolutely loved our experience; keep in mind it can be a bit pricey, but it was well worth it!

Cyrano
1052 Budapest
Kristóf tér 7

Cyrano was another one of my favorite restaurants, largely because the restaurant has a huge space outdoor seating. The restaurant is about 10 minute walk from the hotel, only a few blocks from Deak Ter.  The menu is quite large and offers everything from handmade pasta with fresh vegetables to a Shepherds pie with Hungarian Goulash. As an appetizer I tried Escargots a la Provence, which was delicious, I would highly recommend it. My colleague had handmade pasta with a vegetable medley, which she loved!

Chicken Paprikas

Last, but certainly not least, we would recommend no other than Stradivari, which is located right off of the beautiful Music Garden inside the Aria Hotel Budapest. We tried so many dishes here and loved each and every one. It is destined to be a Budapest hot-spot! You’ll find traditional Hungarian favorites with a 21st century twist. They offer classic cocktails and a great selection of wines, mostly from Hungary’s wine regions. If you are staying at the hotel or are a local looking for a beautiful setting for a night out on the town, this is the place to be! I highly recommend the Chicken Paprikas. The best part of Stradivari is they also serve meals on the beautiful rooftop garden of the hotel as well as outside on Satchmo’s sidewalk cafe in the warmer weather!

For dessert you MUST try the ice cream from Gelarto Rosa, it is to die for!! My favorite was the Basil-lemon and the Mango, both of which are sorbets, but Diana had the Chili Chocolate and loved it. There is normally a line, but it is well worth the wait! It almost looks too good to eat!

If you need any help arranging dinner reservations at any of these places or would like any recommendations please feel free to email us at concierge@ariahotelbudapest.com. Our concierge, would love to help you plan out the best restaurants to visit!