New restaurants, bistros
Restaurants and bistros have come a long way. Ten years back, we'd have been chuffed with anything a bit different, but now, a good hummus or a decent pho is nothing out of the ordinary, so we're showcasing the places that really stand out.
The year's kicked off well – 101Neo opened on always-buzzing Kazinczy utca, a proper party hub. So if you're ever in need of a delicious and filling soup in the area, now you know where to go.
Another big hit during January's cold snap was Goli, with its charcoal grill, Israeli grub, and a lively, buzzing lounge – they even bagged a Bib Gourmand from Michelin recently. Átszálló is a bit of a foodie hotspot in Óbuda. You can grab locally made pastries and sarnies downstairs in the two-storey building if you're in a rush, but this year they're also adding pizza, pasta, and burgers to the upstairs dining area.
The Meat Boutique didn't actually open in '24, but it's just reopened after a long break. They've given their menu a proper overhaul too – taking inspiration from American steaks to Balkan dishes for both the meat and the sides. As well as the bistro, they've added a deli to the shop.
LuLu's been doing its bit to liven up Széll Kálmán tér since spring, with all-day brunch and healthy options for the locals and those passing through the area. There were loads of openings nearby last year: Zappi, a new Neapolitan pizza place, opened; Giulia was a real summer success with its charming inner garden and Italian treats; and Vineta, a Transylvanian restaurant, and Tamás Bereznay's chicken spot, Rotisserie opened in the Fény utca Market.
Master Wang has also had a busy year, opening two new ventures – a new Biang near the Astoria area and a rather extravagant space at the Budapest Chinatown, Eastwin Square. Far Eastern culinary scene has been further strengthened by Yuru, situated above the fashionable downtown Ötkert club, offering a speakeasy atmosphere and izakaya-style cuisine. The 94' Konyha & Bar on Falk Miksa utca serves up contemporary Vietnamese dishes. Then there's Shibuya, which opened at the end of the year, bringing together Japanese and East Asian cuisines.
In downtown Arany János utca, Scusi has opened a new branch, offering breakfast and midday casseroles in addition to their usual focaccia. Nicaragua has brought a touch of South America to the bustling Buda side with breakfast, snacks, and drinks. Nearby, Amore di Napoli's new location, Amore' – Pasta e Basta, serves excellent traditional Italian pasta dishes, breakfasts, and desserts. Alelí, which opened in spring, brings Italian cuisine to the city centre, while the group's other new rooftop bar and restaurant, BiBo, offers Spanish flair.
Keeping with the Italian theme, Al Piatto in the university area, Mikszáth tér, serves canotto-style pizza and montanara, a deep-fried pizza popular in Rome. Zsiráf has also expanded, opening a bistro on the site of the Tranzit, offering soups, salads, and, of course, Neapolitan pizza. Majorelle, a modern take on authentic Moroccan flavours, has also joined the international line-up, in one of Budapest's most fashionable locations, next to the vibrant Batthyány tér area.
We were especially impressed with the recently Michelin-recommended Bilanx for its pure flavours and minimalist design, and we also have a fondness for Marumba, the younger sibling of Pingrumba and Dobrumba, which focuses on modern Hungarian cuisine. Kicsi Japán, located in the Corvin Quarter, has also welcomed a sibling: they continue to impress in their slightly larger space near Margaret Bridge on the Pest side. Another highly anticipated summer opening was És Margarita, a Mediterranean bistro founded and operated by two friends in Ferencváros. Another summer debut was the IDA Bistro, showcasing monarchy cuisine.
Once again, the new venture from the Bp BARbq team is quite meat-centric, this time emphasizing a Tex-Mex vibe rather than BBQ. Fiktív opened in the autumn, providing a fresh perspective on imagined Hungarian cuisine alongside exquisite wines. A sizable Mexican establishment has also opened in the bustling downtown area – the 101 team launched Todo in October. Cabrio, located next to a downtown gem, Kamermayer Károly tér, offers exciting small plates, as does Bar Lola, which is open for part of the week. The two share a chef: both will delight us with recipes from Tomi Albrecht.
The Művház, opened on Bartók Béla út, on the Buda side, is another project from the Kelet team: light breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, excellent coffee, and also a co-working space. Fans of Lajos Bíró can now also find Buja Disznó(k) in the Gozsdu Courtyard, and for Japanese comfort food, head to downtown Hachi. Finally, the best Spanish tortilla in town is baked by an expat at El Hispano.
New street food spots
Street food – both large and small – has seen two major trends this year: the smash burger and Neapolitan pizza. Although the Neapolitan pizza craze has been with us for nearly a decade, there's been no shortage of new establishments this year. Moto opened two new branches on elegant Andrássy Avenue and Mikszáth tér; Salve surprised the Kopaszi dam area with a new restaurant; and, slightly further afield, Passata 2.0 launched a new venture on Váci utca, offering affordable Neapolitan pizza. Monalizza, which opened in Ráday utca, was a particular highlight – our favourite pizza of the year. While Kalamajka is primarily a pub, they also offer a decent selection of pizzas. For those seeking something different in the pizza department, Crusty, near Astoria, offers giant New York-style slices.
Smash burgers have truly flooded the market, and we haven't managed to sample them all. Our early favourite was Smashy, near Kálvin tér, where queues for a burger persisted for a good six months. Chop N Go also offers a smash burger with skewered meat, and Fini'z offers a variety of simple yet well-executed smash burgers. The genre's pioneer, Simon's Burger, hasn't been left behind, opening a minimalist smash burger joint, Buddy's Burger, on the site of their former restaurant, while The Burger Project team has also opened a new shop with a wide selection of smash burgers.
Out in the suburbs, Kék Tányér in Csepel is the place to go for smash burgers, and they also do home-cooked lunches as a bonus. Of course, it's not all about smash burgers: Quentin's Burger, for example, which opened on Ferenc tér, specialises in good old-fashioned American burgers.
Those with a penchant for Hungarian cuisine will enjoy Strand Lángos & Bistro in Hűvösvölgy, a greener part of Budapest. Nokedlish in the city centre, which takes inspiration from our favourite Hungarian side dish nokedli (Hungarian dumpling), has opened a second branch in Dob utca. For a healthy mix of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, Ichigo in the tourist hub of Király utca is well worth a visit. Indian restaurant Indigo has also shifted its focus to street food, opening a new fast-food restaurant, Indigo Express, next to Nyugati Railway Station.
Mexican cuisine has also made its mark: Casa Mexa offers authentic tacos and Mexican street food, while TAKO in the Röser passageway offers excellent tacos, a brilliant vermouth, and a variety of pop-ups.
In addition to pizza and burgers, potatoes have proven popular on the street food scene: Krumpello, near Astoria, focuses on stuffed potatoes, while Krumpli., near Nyugati, primarily serves chips.
New confectioneries, bakeries, and cafés
Life is certainly sweet again: Déryné opened a permanent bakery at the start of 2024, next to the bistro, offering their renowned delicacies. Läget maintains the fine tradition of Scandinavian bakeries, offering what is arguably the city's best cinnamon buns and other Scandinavian treats.
A new VAJ branch has opened in the city centre, boasting a spacious interior and hearty brunches. In the bustling tourist area of Klauzál tér, artisanal bakery and deli David's Kitchen offers amazing shakshuka, grilled sandwiches, and babaka. Panderas Bakery, located in the outer 15th district, is a charming, homely establishment with excellent service.
The Garden offers an all-day Turkish brunch at Bródy House, and the owners of Horizont and Szimply have opened a tiny bakery called Falatka on the outskirts of the 2nd district. Portobello Cheese and Deli and Maison Fournier have both opened new, excellent cheese shops.
Former Dolcissima pastry chef Davide Deligio has opened a pastry shop in the nearby town of Érd, and we assure you it's well worth the trip from the city for Casa Deligio's cannelloni and cakes. Manyika, located near Batthyány tér, combines Parisian chic with new-wave and traditional pastries, while at Muci in the Margit Quarter, you can sample childhood favourites with a contemporary twist.
Another addition to the area is the French-style Café Rose, offering pastries, all-day breakfast, and fine drinks. Cake and More by Garannikova serves Russian and European pastries and Slavic brunch, while Bruno in Kolosy tér, Buda, has opened a second shop in Újlipótváros district.
There has been no shortage of new cafés either: Flatty, near the Grand Market Hall area, combines desserts with coffee; Rojt és Bojt (Fringe and Tassel) is further enhancing the Castle District with a new location; and Insula has become a welcome, tranquil haven amidst the hustle and bustle of Deák tér. There's always room for another café on bohemian Pozsonyi út (number 33) – Tamp and Pull opened a new space here last autumn.
(Cover photo: Marumba, Attila Polyák - We Love Budapest)
