Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at any of the many beautiful banquets served across the Magyar metropolis every Sunday, along with several exceptional brunches for Advent, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. We visit all 12 of Budapest's premier brunch destinations and discover tempting attractions awaiting at each of them, from freshly made sushi rolls to seasonal local specialties to ever-flowing chocolate fountains.
2/10
Brasserie and Atrium
No matter what the weather brings, enjoy the bright spirit of terrace dining on Sundays when a sumptuous brunch is served here in the graceful glass-covered courtyard of the Corinthia Hotel Budapest. Themed brunches provide diverse flavors from all corners of the globe, while the restaurant’s sister eatery Rickshaw provides delicious pan-Asian specialties like sushi and Peking-duck salad for these sunlit banquets. To begin the meal, try appetizers like Norwegian salmon rillettes with red onion, before moving onto the carvery and grill station; nearby, the assortment of seasonal entrées includes dishes like grilled turkey breast on a bed of fennel with shallot sauce. This brunch is popular with families for its ever-entertaining kids’ corner and live music.
When: Every Sunday, Noon-4pm
Cost: 8,900 HUF, 50% discount for children between 6-12, free for children under 6; price may be higher for special events
Holiday-season events: Christmas Tree Lighting Brunch – Nov. 30 (11:45am-4pm); Santa Claus Brunch – Dec. 7; Advent Brunches – Dec. 14 & 21; Christmas Day Brunch – Dec. 25; Year End Brunch: Dec. 28; New Year's Lazy Day Champagne Brunch – Jan. 1 (11am-4pm) More details
6/10
Gresham
Indulge in a smorgasbord of epicurean delights amid one of the world’s most impressive Art Nouveau buildings, Budapest’s Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace. In the timelessly stylish restaurant here overlooking the Chain Bridge, “Mercato Italiano” Sunday brunches present exquisitely prepared Mediterranean specialties (such as octopus salad and beef carpaccio) along with homemade pastas and authentic Italian desserts like tiramisu and panna cotta. On Christmas Day, brunch guests enjoy a deluxe buffet starring lavender-and-honey-roasted turkey with giblet gravy and paprika-crusted fillet of pike-perch with Tokaji sauce, while the midday feast of New Year’s Day features a carving station with roast beef and Prague ham, and also salmon steaks.
When: Every Sunday, noon-3pm
Cost: 8,500 HUF, 50% discount for children between 6-12, free for children under 6; price may be higher for special events
Holiday-season events: Santa Brunch – Dec. 7; Christmas Day Brunch – Dec. 25 (11am-3pm); New Year’s Day Brunch – Jan. 1 (11am-2pm) More details
7/10
Gundel
It may surprise you to see City Park’s classic Gundel restaurant packed with time-traveling diners every Sunday afternoon, sitting before impeccably starched tablecloths and gleaming porcelain plates amid live piano tunes; this place can take you back to the bourgeois milieu of the turn-of-the-century Golden Age in a snap. The food assortment is not overcomplicated: begin by devouring breads and small croissants, cheeses, cold cuts, fruits, and cold hors d’oeuvres, moving on to salads and a satisfying entrée selection. For dessert, the small cakes and dessert cups are a must, as are the obligatory Gundel crêpe and the crème brűlée, singed before guests’ eyes. If you like the nostalgic Grand Budapest Hotel vibe, you have to visit this place.
When: Every Sunday, 11:30am-3pm
Cost: 6,800 HUF, 50% discount for children between 4-12, free for children under 4 More details
9/10
Panoráma
The Art Nouveau splendor of Buda’s waterfront Danubius Hotel Gellért imparts a venerable air to brunches at this monumental location, found directly below Gellért Hill with a perfect vista over the ornate Liberty Bridge. This dignified all-you-can-eat buffet provides guests with a pleasing assortment of regional favorites – specialties this month include paprika catfish in baked cottage-cheese pasta, pumpkin cream soup, and baked turkey with orange and clove. Quintessential Magyar desserts include chestnut purée with sour cherries, and Hungary’s traditional Christmastime beigli cake with walnut or poppy seeds. Best of all, brunch at Panoráma offers unbeatable value for money – particularly with unlimited beer and wine included in the price.
When: Every Sunday, noon-3pm
Cost: 5,990 HUF (+10% service charge), 50% discount for children between 6-14, free for children under 6
Holiday-season event: New Year’s Day Brunch – Jan. 1 More details
10/10
Paris Budapest
Set before numerous city landmarks – including the Chain Bridge, Royal Palace, and Matyás Church – the “Sunday Market Brunch” here is always a beautiful banquet of French cuisine and local delicacies. Within the riverfront Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge, this charmingly sleek dining destination presents an enticing assortment of fresh produce for salads, excellent French cheeses, and flaky croissants – and this is just a sampling of first-course options. Guests choose from a variety of entrées cooked to order, like grilled entrecote, lamb chops, and a nice seafood selection. The sprawling dessert section here truly sets this brunch apart; from fruit-flavored mousses to incredible éclairs to the chocolate fountain, this is sweet-tooth paradise.
When: Every Sunday, 11am-3pm
Cost: 9,000 HUF with wine, 8,000 HUF with soft drinks, 5,000 HUF for children between 6-12, free for children under 6; price may be higher for special events
Holiday-season event: After Christmas Market Brunch – Dec. 28 More details
