During the week of November 11th, sumptuous goose-filled feasts pop up across the country, and bottles of 'new wine' crack open in celebration of St Martin. Legend has it that those who miss out on eating goose on this day might find themselves starving for the entire year. So if we were you, we'd book a table fairly soon. We have rounded up 5+1 St Martin's Day events where hunger will certainly be the last thing on your mind.
Explainer: St Martin's Day
As autumn paints countryside villages with patches of orange, brown and yellow, families gather around tables full of harvest-season specialities around a succulently roasted bird. This may seem like a description of America’s cherished Thanksgiving feasts, but it also depicts another seasonal celebration dating back hundreds of years before Europeans discovered the New World: St Martin’s Day. Observed every 11 November around Europe, it holds special significance in Hungary, whose borders encompass the birthplace of this patron saint. Keep reading about the tradition in our previous article here.
As autumn paints countryside villages with patches of orange, brown and yellow, families gather around tables full of harvest-season specialities around a succulently roasted bird. This may seem like a description of America’s cherished Thanksgiving feasts, but it also depicts another seasonal celebration dating back hundreds of years before Europeans discovered the New World: St Martin’s Day. Observed every 11 November around Europe, it holds special significance in Hungary, whose borders encompass the birthplace of this patron saint. Keep reading about the tradition in our previous article here.
Festivities at the Római-part market
If you'd like to follow the St Martin's Day tradition while shopping for local produce, Római part market will be a great place to be on November 11th. At this farmers' market, the festivities kick off at 8 am with live folk music, which will serve as the perfect backdrop for browsing fresh veggies, cheese, and other goodies. Then succumb to a goose feast, including goose thigh with roasted cabbage and steak potatoes.
- When? 11 November (8 am -1 pm)
- Tip: While at the Római-part, pop to the food court Miamor for lantern making, a parade from 5 pm, and a children's disco
Figi and Lipike
Figi and Lipike is a lovely and creative gastro spot in Budapest's 13th district. On November 11th and 12th, they are cooking up goose consommé with vegetables, ‘sólet’ with goose thigh confit, and a surprise dessert to celebrate St Martin's Day. Don't forget to pair your delicious meal with a glass of wine, to keep up with the tradition.
- When? 11-12 November
- Book a table here
Edison&Jupiter
Stylish downtown brunch spot Edison&Jupiter is also putting a special menu on offer celebrating St Martin. The feast features 'freshly baked brioche bun with smoked foie gras, figs and pomegranates', 'delicious goose rillette, homemade brioche bun with sesame seeds, fermented beetroot and pearl onions', and fruitcake. The best bit is that the delicious goose dishes are available not just for a day but throughout the entire week! You can also indulge in the luxurious foie gras brűlée, served with signature homemade brioche buns, a delicacy that has found a permanent home on the regular menu. Tasting the 'new wine' is also a must here as well.
- When? 6-12 November
- No need to book
ÉS Bisztró
Goose meat is in the spotlight at the elegant downtown restaurant ÉS Bisztró between November 7th and 20th. The menu includes mouthwatering dishes such as 'goose liver baked in its fat, walnut bread, balsamic onions', 'goose leg confit, cholent, quail egg, red onion' and a delicious Chocolate cherry 'Lúdláb' dessert. If you schedule your dinner after 17 November, you can even visit the reopening Christmas market on Vörösmarty tér, only a few steps away.
- When? 7-20 November
- Book a table here: +36 20 474 5000
- See the menu under 'Blackboard specials'
St Martin's Day at Vígvarjú
If you feel like tucking into goose rillette, goose liver mousse, and rosé goose breast with baked polenta, pumpkin, and marinated beetroot at a historic location, book a table at VígVarjú ('Cheerful Crow') restaurant. Housed in the majestic century-old building of the Pesti Vigado, standing on the riverside near the Danube Promenade, the restaurant offers bohemian yet elegant vibes, top-notch service, and hearty meals. It is spacious and homely and boasts a kids' corner, making it ideal for both friends and families.
+1 Etyek
This celebration is for those up for a day trip and some delicious wine. Hilly Etyek is a wine region to the west of Budapest (1-hour bus ride from Kelenföld bus station). At Rókusfalvy Birtok, an all-day event awaits families from 10 am, where you can join fun activities such as a goose race, wine tasting in the cellar, and a live concert. While adults can pop wine bottles open, children will be treated to grape juice (must) spritzers. For goose-indulging feasts, book a table at their Michelin-recommended restaurant, and if you don't feel like travelling all the way back to the city, you can even spend the night next door at the Rókusfalvy Inn.
- When? 11 November (10 am - 6 pm)
- Book a table here: +36 20 264 6429
