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.

1/10

ARAZ Étterem

1074 Budapest, Dohány utca 42-44.

Providing a delightful two-part program to enjoy throughout an entire Sunday afternoon, brunch at this stylish-yet-relaxed eatery is usually accompanied with free access to the wellness area of the adjacent Continental Hotel Budapest – a bonus also offered with the Advent Brunches starting this weekend. Brunch at Araz often revolves around monthly themes of renowned world cuisine, and during the holiday season special dishes include chicken galantine with chestnuts and coriander mayonnaise, roasted duck-breast slices with red-wine apple stew, risotto with pumpkin, and French bűche de Noël cake. Live music and unlimited glassfuls of house wines add to the serene sensation of dining here, and this leisurely quality is completed while soaking in the spa’s hot tub.

When: Every Sunday, noon-3pm
Cost: 6,990 HUF, 50% discount for children between 6-12, free for children under 6
Holiday-season events: Advent Brunches – Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28 More details

2/10

Brasserie and Atrium

1073 Budapest, Erzsébet körút 43-49.
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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

3/10

Buddha-Bar Hotel Budapest Klotild Palace (Closed)

1052 Budapest, Váci utca 34.

Beneath the enlightened eyes of a gigantic golden statue of Buddha, fantastic flavors await diners at Budapest’s only Asian brunch, served amid the Buddha-Bar Hotel’s opulent atmosphere of Far Eastern finery. Guests are welcomed with live music and a zesty cocktail before indulging in a constantly refreshed selection of starters like crispy spring rolls and vegetable- or chicken-stuffed gyoza, alongside a sushi bar where assorted rolls and nigiri are continually created. Seasonal appetizers include duck salad with pumpkin and couscous or seared foie gras served on brioche, and every diner also enjoys a main dish served à la carte; try the wok-fried beef with Thai basil, or the crispy nori-wrapped salmon with mustard potato and sesame sauce.

When: Every Sunday, noon-4pm
Cost: 7,900 HUF (+12% service charge), 50% discount for children between 6-12, free for children under 6 More details

4/10

InterContinental Budapest

1052 Budapest, Apáczai Csere János utca 12-14.

With a backdrop of amazing views over Budapest’s riverscape – encompassing the Chain Bridge and Royal Palace – relaxed refinement surrounds guests at the InterContinental’s deluxe eatery, featuring a lavish buffet brunch on Sundays. In addition to the salad bar of freshly cut vegetables, a variety of steaming soups, and assorted cold appetizers, skilled chefs provide a tempting selection of succulent carved meats along with savory main courses. Celebrating the spirit of Yuletide, the pleasantly leisurely Christmas Day brunch here includes seasonal delicacies like whole roasted turkey stuffed with chestnuts and dried fruits or sweet potatoes au gratin; like all Corso brunches, this event includes unlimited glassfuls of wine, beer, and juices.

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: Festive Brunches – Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21, 25, 26, and Jan. 1 More details

5/10

ÉS Bisztró

1051 Budapest, Deák Ferenc utca 12-14. (Kempinski)

The Sunday feast at downtown’s Kempinski Hotel Corvinus offers a unique “family table” system instead of a usual brunch – while guests can pile salads and cheeses on their plates from buffet areas, unlimited entrées are brought directly to every dining party, meaning that visitors never have to cross utensils with strangers in a bid to snatch up the last slice of ham. The top-notch breakfast-lunch hybrid kicks off with cold treats, and you can order wines and champagne to wash down the hearty appetizers while kids are kept busy by an entertainer. The famous Tafelspitz beef broth here is a complete lunch in itself, as it comes with cooked beef and marrowbone, as well as spinach with sour cream, rösti, and apple with horseradish. Main dishes include fish, poultry, and the classic Wiener schnitzel.

When: Every Sunday, Noon-3pm
Cost: 8,400 HUF (+12% service charge), 50% discount for children between 6-12, free for children under 6
Holiday-season events: Advent Family Tables – Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21; Christmas Family Table – Dec. 25; New Year’s Day Family Table – Jan. 1 More details

6/10

Gresham

1051 Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 5-6.
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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

1146 Budapest, Gundel Károly út 4.
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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

8/10

Le Bourbon

Sunshine cascades through the stained-glass dome that illuminates Sunday brunches held within Le Méridien Budapest, the dignified five-star hotel at the very center of downtown Pest. For this weekly feast, a sumptuous buffet of French cuisine and regional delicacies continually entices diners with an impressive array of spectacular tastes. Offering one of the city’s best French-cheese selections, the brunch also features a pasta-cooking section, seasonal main dishes, endless sips of fine wines, and crêpes made on demand with assorted toppings. On December 7, the eatery welcomes Santa Claus as an esteemed brunch guest – children can meet Jolly Old Saint Nicholas and learn to bake gingerbread cookies, while parents relax over glasses of bubbly.

When: Every Sunday, noon-3pm
Cost: 8,400 HUF, 50% discount for children between 6-12, free for children under 6
Holiday-season event: Sunday Brunch with Santa – Dec. 7 More details

9/10

Panoráma

1111 Budapest, Szent Gellért tér 1.
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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

1051 Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 2.
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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