Blog

The best restaurants in Budapest

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Budapest Guide

The capital of Hungary is a really popular destination for vacation and every year millions of people are coming to Budapest to have a unforgettable holiday. The city offers a lot of things to do during a visit and there are plenty of activities, programs and attractions to see. In Budapest there are several restaurants to go to and Gault and Millau made a list of the best restaurants in Budapest.

Gault et Millau is a French restaurant guide which rates the restaurants on a 1-20 scale, 20 is the heights. So we will list some of the best restaurants in this article according to the list of Gault et Millau. There are three restaurants from the list by Gault Millau which got the highest scores among the restaurants in Budapest.

Three best restaurants in Budapest

The first one is the Costes Restaurant which is located in the heart of Budapest really close to Kàlvin tèr and the place is in the famous street Ràday utca. It is a perfect place for a romantic dinner or business meetings as well. The service in the restaurant is excellent and it is highly recommended on other sites too. The restaurant is not among the cheapest, but the quality of the meals and the matching wines and the service is the best. The restaurant got 17 points out of 20 from Gault Millau, and this restaurant also has a Michelin star.

The second restaurant on the list, also with 17 points, is the Onyx restaurant in the central of Budapest right at Vörösmarty tèr. It is one of the most popular restaurants in Budapest and the location of the place could not be better. It is based right at the heart of Budapest where the main shopping area is in the city. The restaurant has the most delicious meals with the matching wines. The service is really quick and friendly and the whole atmosphere and the design of the place is remarkable. It is also a perfect place for business meetings or a romantic dinner. It has one Michelin star, and the cook is the famous Tamas Szell.

The third restaurant with 17 points out of 20 from Gault et Millau is ZONA Bisztró. It is a really cozy, friendly and small restaurant also located in the heart of the city. The restaurant is based at one of the most beautiful bridges of Budapest at the Chain Bridge. The restaurant offers a wide range of foods and pairing wines to the meals. The service in the restaurant is quick and friendly. It is not the cheapest restaurants either in the city but it is highly recommended for everyone who is looking for something unique. It has high rates on every site and listed one of the best in Hungary.

Second best restaurants in Budapest

These were the best restaurants in Budapest which got 17 points out of 20 from G&M but there are plenty others as well from the list such as Alabárdos ètterem, Borkonyha, Laci!Konyha!, Olimpia Vendèglö and Salon restaurant which all got 16 points out of 20. Following these are Aranykaviár étterem, Babel, Csalogány étterem and Lou Lou restaurant which got 15 points out of 20.

It is important to know that G&M has never rated a restaurant with 20 points so far. So these restaurants are definitely the best of bests in the capital of Hungary.

What do you think? Do you have a personal favorite restaurant in Budapest? Agree og disagree? Feel free to share your thoughts!

Which are the best bars and pubs in Budapest?

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Budapest Guide

There are lot of attractions and places to go on a holiday in the capital of Hungary. Budapest is a really exciting city with several bars, restaurants and pubs to go while vacation and there are a wide range of activities and festivals during the whole year in Budapest.

In the downtown of Budapest there are some nice cafes, pubs and bars on every corner and the night life of the city is always really vibrant. Every year thousands of people are coming to Budapest to be part of the exciting and unique atmosphere the city has and every year there is a new pub, bar or restaurant that just shows up different point of Budapest. So in this article we will go through one of the city’s best and most popular bars and pubs.

Szatyor Bár és Galéria is one of the most popular bars in Budapest. It is located on the Buda side and it is really close to Móricz Zsigmond körtèr which is one of the junctions of the city. It is not exactly in the clubbing zone but it is a really unique and comfortable place to have some drinks with friends. At Szatyor there are a wide range of drinks you can choose from and you can even have your dinner or lunch there. The place always offers a daily menu for favourable prices and they cook really delicious meals. The bar has good quality alcoholic drinks and a wide range of meals which are changing seasonally.

Szimpla Kert is a really famous place in Budapest. It attracts a lot of people every day and it is one of the most popular ruin pubs among the tourists. The pub is placed in the really heart of Budapest and it is located in one of the old houses in the inner city. It is a good place to get together with friends and drink one or two drinks. The pub also offers a range wide of unique and colourful programs such as film festivals and exhibitions. At Szimpla you can also have a snack if you got hungry, they sell carrots, pizzas and other interesting foods.

Another popular place among the locals and foreigners is Anker club which is based also in the centre of Budapest. It is located really close to Király utca which is one of the main street of the night life of Budapest. Anker club is a really nice bar and pub to go to even at the day time but it is also a perfect choice if you want to start your night near by other pubs, bars and the best clubs in the city. At the bar you can not only drink but you can try the most delicious meals for a good price. Anker club also offers a wide range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks for the night.

Kolor is one of the fanciest places in Budapest nowadays. It is based also in the central of Budapest in Király utca really closed to Anker club. The bar offers a wide range of foods and drinks. The price of the meals and the drinks are a little more expensive than at the other places but the location of the bar is perfect just next to all the other fancy bars, pubs and restaurants in the heart of Budapest. It is also really popular among the locals and foreigners. It is a perfect place to go and have lunch or dinner and to have the best night during your visit.

Keksz is a nice little bar also located in the centre of Budapest. The interior of the bar is really nice and sweet and gives a really nice and unique atmosphere. Keksz is more like an eating out place not a pub. The prices of the food are reasonable and the food they cook is really delicious. There are a wide range of meals you can choose from starting from the most common breakfasts in Hungary such as scrambled eggs and sandwiches to the best hamburgers and salads. The place is highly recommended to everyone who wants to have a nice night out with good quality food and drink for the best price.

These are some of the best bars and pubs in Budapest, but there are of course tons of other places worth visiting as well. Maybe the most famous bar in Budapest is the one located in the A38 boat, located next to the Petöfi Bridge, voted as the number 1 bar in the world by Lonely Planet readers in 2013.

What do you think? If you have thoughts, warnings, recommendations, write a comment and share what is on your mind!

Andre Rieu concert Budapest 2015

Posted on October 12, 2014August 2, 2022 by Budapest Guide

Andre Rieu is a Dutch violinist and conductor. He is best known for forming the Johann Strauss Orchestra. With the Johann Strauss Orchestra he turned classical and waltz music in to a world wide known music concert tour which is as successful as some of the best rock or pop shows in the whole world. Andre Rieu was interested in music from a really early age and he started playing on the violin at the age of 5. Later from 1974 to 1977 he studied at the Music Academy in Brussels. Andre Rieu formed the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987 and his own production company. In the beginning the Orchestra only had a few members but nowadays it includes between 60 and 150 musicians.

Andre Rieu and the world wide known Johann Strauss Orchestra is on a world tour this year. They will visit and perform in different countries and cities all around the world. They are touring with the “Eine Nacht in Venedig” The visitors will have the chance to experience a really unique and colourful performance from Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra. They will be on stage in several European countries such as Hungary, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic and so on. In Hungary the concert will be held in Budapest at Papp László Sportaréna. The concert will be held on Wednesday 20th May 2015. Tickets for the concert are already available.

If you want to buy your ticket for the concert check this site: WorldTicketShop

Cirque Du Soleil Quidam Budapest

Posted on October 11, 2014August 2, 2022 by Budapest Guide

The Quidam is the ninth stage show by the Cirque Du Soleil. The show premiered in 1996 and it has been watched by millions over the years. The whole story is imagined by a little girl called Zoè who is ignored by his parents. She dreams the world of Quidam which is the only way of escaping her monotony and boring life. The shows title refers to a character in the show, to the man without a head who is carrying a bowler hat and an umbrella. According to the show “Quidam: a nameless passer-by, a solitary figure lingering on a street corner, a person rushing past. … One who cries out, sings and dreams within us all.”

During the years Quidam received several awards and nominations and became one of the most popular shows in the world.

The Cirque Du Soleil is on a world tour and they are performing Quidam several countries and cities all around the world from North America to Europe. They will be on stage in several European cities and countries such as Germany, Italy, UK, Poland and Hungary as well. Quidam will be shown in Budapest the capital of Hungary. It will take place at Papp László Sportarèna between 13th and 15th February in 2015. Tickets for the shows are already available.

For the tickets check the following site: WorldTicketShop

World Press Photo 2014 in Budapest

Posted on October 7, 2014June 6, 2016 by Budapest Guide

This year in 2014 the World Press Photo exhibition will open its gates again. The exhibition will take place in the heart of Budapest in Hungary.

Every year the exhibition shows the current issues and events around us in the world. This is one of the most popular events in Hungary and in Budapest. The World Press Photo exhibition shows a wide range of pictures from last year and at the exhibition visitors will have the chance to get more information on the events such as the biggest sport events and political happenings, every day life and the most outstanding figures of last year. The exhibition displays more than 143 pictures.

The World Press Photo is an independent non-profit organisation which was formed in 1955 and based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The World Press Photo is focused on presenting the world how it is and to let the visitors discover and explore more of the world we live in. During the exhibition visitors will have the chance to see the best pictures of the world from last year and to understand the outer world around us. The World Press Photo 2014 will take place in Budapest at the Nèprajzi Múzeum from 26th September until 26th October 2014. The tickets for the exhibition for adults is 2100Ft but there are family and reduced tickets as well.

If you want to know more on the museum, the exhibition and the prices check the official site.

Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival 2014

Posted on October 6, 2014February 5, 2025 by Budapest Guide

The Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival was originally called Budapest Autumn Festival. The festival celebrates the creativity and the achievements in the contemporary arts this year again in the autumn in Budapest.

During the Contemporary Arts Festival the cultural life of the city will come alive and the festival will offer a wide range of programs from the best classical and pop music to film, dance and children’s activity. The festival takes place at different points and places of the city including the most popular and well known Hungarian cafés and pubs such as A38, Cafe Jedermann and Szatyor Bar. In addition the contemporary art galleries such as Trafó and several theatres in the city such as Àtrium cinema or the National Theatre will be presenting the best pieces of the contemporary arts during the festival. The Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival offers a wide range of programs for everyone and the programs offer the best theatre, film and music performances. The festival takes place in the capital of Hungary Budapest from 3rd October 2014 until 19th October 2014.

If you want to know more on the festival and the programs in Budapest visit the official site for more information and details.

Budapest Christmas Market 2014

Posted on October 1, 2014October 1, 2014 by Budapest Guide

Finally they are here, the dates for the Budapest Christmas Market 2014. Are you coming to town to check it out? It will be just as amazing as earlier, with beautiful decorations and beautiful lights in the evening.

The dates for the Christmas market mentioned beneath are the dates for the Christmas Market at V0rosmarty square, the most famous and popular Christmas market in Budapest and Hungary.

Budapest Christmas Market 2014 dates

November 28th – January 1st

Did you know by the way that the ones renting the biggest stands at the Budapest Christmas market (where they are allowed to sell food and drinks) have to pay a bit more than 75,000 Euro in total. That is quite a lot, but with all the visitors coming to town to check out the event and to taste all the traditional Hungarian foods and drinks, they will for sure earn the money back, at least hopefully they will!

At the Christmas market you will also be able to taste the delicious Hungarian chimney cake, so do not miss out on it if you come to town. More information about the Budapest Christmas market can be found here. If you want to read about other happenings and events in Budapest, read the following article.

Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age – Exhibition

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Budapest Guide

The exhibition Rembrandt and the Golden Age shows the visitors the 17th century which was one of the golden ages in the European and its art works in the Netherlands.

The exhibition has a wide collection of the best paintings from this period of time and it is focused mostly on the best Rembrandt paintings. Rembrandt is one of the most outstanding painters of the Dutch Golden Age. He was a Dutch painter and he is considered one of the biggest figures in the Dutch history and in the European art. The National Museum of Fine Arts display more than 170 paintings from different artist from this period of time and over 20 masterpieces from Rembrandt. The exhibition is focused on the Dutch Golden Age and visitors can have the chance to discover this age from a different point of view.

The exhibition gives the opportunity to the visitors to explore the best masterpieces from this period of time and to get familiar with the life back in Rembrandt’s days. The exhibition is in collaboration with other museums from Europe. It works with Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam and the Kremer Collection. The exhibition will be held in the capital of Hungary, Budapest at the Museum of Fine Arts from 31st October 2014 to 15th February 2015.

For more information on the museum and the exhibition check the official site.

Kürtöskalács Festival in Budapest 2014

Posted on September 25, 2014September 25, 2014 by Budapest Guide

The Kürtöskalács Festival (Chimney Cake festival) is coming to Budapest again this year. This has been the second time visitors can enjoy the best and most delicious kürtöskalács at the festival.

The kürtöskalács is one of the most popular pastries of Hungary and Hungarian speaking regions. It used to be sold as a treat at different festivals but nowadays is a part of the normal Hungarian life. It is made from sweet and yeast dough which is rolled in sugar. During the baking the pastry gets lubricated with melted butter and it gives a golden-brown colour to it. While baking the kürtöskalács, the sugar that stuck on it becomes caramel which makes a crispy crust on the pastry. It is a really delicious and popular cake among everyone who has ever tasted. This year the festival has even more to offer the visitors apart from the most tasty kürtöskalàcs.

At the festival you can get to know and enjoy the best kürtöskalàcs and there will be several other programs you can choose from. This year’s festival is organized by the Vitèz Kürtös Team. There will be multiple programs such as live concerts and children activities as well. At the festival you will even have the chance to learn to bake your own kürtöskalács. The II. Kürtöskalàcs Fesztivàl will take place in Budapest the capital city of Hungary at Vàrosliget. The festival will be held from 10th October until 12th October 2014.

If you want to know more about other festivals, programs and events in Budapest, check the events calendar.

Oktoberfest in Budapest

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Budapest Guide

The original and authentic Oktoberfest will come to Hungary the second time to bring the good mood of the traditional German beer festival from Germany.

The first festival was held last year in 2013 in the capital of Hungary, Budapest. The original Oktoberfest takes place in Germany, in Munich every year in October. In Germany it is a 16 days long festival which starts in the end of September until the first weekend of October. This German tradition has been held since 1810 and it got worldwide known and popular in no time. It got so famous during the years that Oktoberfest is visiting many countries and cities to show a real beer festival for anyone who is interested. This year, in 2014 Oktoberfest is coming to Budapest the second time and the visitors will have the chance to try all the authentic German beers during this event. At the festival there will be plenty of delicious food to try out and visitors can get to know the real authentic German sausages, cheeses and all the handcraft foods.

During the festival there will be several programs apart from drinking and eating, there will be multiple concerts and handcraft markets as well. The beer festival will take place in Budapest at Városliget from 9th October until 12th October in 2014.

If you want to do a brewery visit while in Budapest, click the link!