Restaurants
Let’s start from far away: from Szentendre, a popular day-trip destination on the Danube bank. Here, on the edge of Városház tér, Teyföl opened at the beginning of the summer, serving well-known dishes of Hungarian cuisine. You can basically taste the menu of a Hungarian school canteen, prepared in an untraditional way.
Offering turn-of-the-century tastes is the Kréta Bistro on Bartók Béla út, an artsy neighbourhood of Budapest. It started out as a brasserie in May, but soon the food has expanded, and now locals are coming here to eat. Go for anything traditional: the Wiener Schnitzel and potato salad and the curd cheese dumplings swept us off our feet.
Bringing the atmosphere of French bistros, the 'second edition' of local-favourite Fricska, Fricska 2.0, reopened this summer in Budapest's Jewish Quarter. They have partly reinvented their old menu, lunch is reasonably priced, and new dishes are being prepared for dinner.
Plant-based eating and sustainable veganism are the main thrust of the small place Zöld, which opened close to St Stephen's Basilica. They use no processed foods, no oil or sugar, and almost everything is gluten-free. And Kpi’s Soup & More, which opened at Nyugati railway station, straddles the fine line between Japanese and Hungarian cuisine, offering the basics of both gastronomic cultures in a tasty but unadulterated way.
Street Food
The love of Neapolitan pizza is a gastronomic phenomenon in Budapest too. And that is hugely thanks to Digó on Kazinczy utca, which opened a new spot in the City Park this summer. Their massive terrace opposite the Budapest Zoo offers exceptional quality and will be a hit sooner or later.
Cafés, bakeries, pastries
A long-standing fixture in the Gozsdu Udvar (Gozsdu Courtyard) is Lisboa Pastry & Bakery, a Portuguese pastry shop. It has just opened a new unit close to Deák Ferenc tér, with friendly prices, the usual high quality, egg breakfasts, and its own brand of coffee, which is as delicious as their pastel de nata.
The coffee is also very good at the 13th-district spot, Bringiton, primarily targeting cyclists. It is a café and bike shop in one and even offers bike maintenance if needed. And baKudapa, located next to a hidden garden Károlyi-kert, is interesting because it is the city’s first Indonesian café, offering Sumatran coffee specialities, spicy snacks, and positive energy.
It goes without saying that ice cream parlours are increasingly popular in the summer, and there has been no shortage of new places this year. There’s Nour, which opened its second shop at the Basilica. It is more of a dessert boutique, chic and exclusive. It’s no coincidence that we tasted and were amazed by the truffle ice cream. On the other hand, Mikrokosmos opened on Bartók Béla út with a 100% focus on ice cream. Another top-notch parlour MAMO now has a new unit close to Corvin-negyed.
Terraces, bars, night clubs
Let’s start with the terraces! The once-abandoned, now dynamically growing island Népsziget has a new place, the Szitakötő (Dragonfly), where you can enjoy a variety of tasty drinks and three separate food counters (offering fish, pizza, and pulled pork). The other terrace spot, Tütü Tango kert café, was born by reopening a legendary old place. The location is quite special: the lobby and inner garden of the Szakszervezetek Háza (House of Trade Unions). Expect cultural evenings, concerts, exhibitions, and DJs. Although Tütü closes at 10 pm, the Bårom Bar on Dob utca does not; it’s a miniature nightclub that gets more buzzing in this time slot.
Last but not least, let’s see a spot where alcohol takes the stage. Klauzál Craft, located in the Klauzál tér market hall, favours beers, including small-batch delicacies and specialities, but you can also get pálinka, wine, and even soft drinks, so it’s a good idea for anyone who comes in thirsty.
