1/11
Baraka Étterem (Closed)
Just a few steps away from the ever-bustling Budapest Christmas Fair at , this fine-dining destination is a pleasantly elegant retreat from the Yuletide crowds. While the restaurant specializes in gourmet lunches and dinners, Baraka’s lounge is a tempting spot for a drink or three along with some top-quality snacks.
2/11
Buddha-Bar
Step into Buddha-Bar from the busy shopping lane of to be transported to a refined refuge of Oriental style and exotic tastes. The upstairs bar mixes up creative original cocktails that will soothe frayed nerves – and for even more far-flung flavors, try the newly opened Baalbek eatery here, Budapest’s first Lebanese restaurant.
3/11
Café Alibi
On tucked-away not far from the teeming stores of Váci Street, Café Alibi is a welcoming hangout at any time with hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners served daily, along with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays until 2pm. The warm interior is a calming sanctuary for sipping delicious coffee; the beans are roasted on-site.
(Café Alibi is no longer operating.)
4/11
Centrál Café
A century ago, this classic Budapest coffeehouse was , and today it is still a comfy hangout for anyone seeking a leisurely drink, a tempting sweet, or a savory meal. The old-fashioned atmosphere features red booth seats to sink into while letting present-related pressures melt away.
5/11
High Note SkyBar
Take a break above it all at the rooftop bar and eatery crowning the new , located right in the middle of multiple Christmas markets at the , , , and Vörösmarty Square. Thanks to ample outdoor heaters and enclosed lounge areas, here guests can stay warm amid one of Budapest’s coolest new places.
6/11
Kajahu
Serving as both an innovative eatery and a welcoming community space, Kajahu is a spacious new destination for holiday-season relaxation, found just one block away from Váci Street, and a two-minute walk from the Fashion Street and Vörösmarty Square Christmas fairs. Here guests can order food or drinks through a computerized serving system.
Kajahu
Address: 1052 Budapest, Petőfi Sándor utca 11.
Opening hours: Mon-Thur 11-22, Fri-Sat 11-midnight, Sun 12-22
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7/11
Kiadó Kocsma
Favored by Budapest’s countercultural crowd, this colorfully unpretentious bar and eatery is located only a few steps away from the international luxury boutiques of . Here guests can hide from the gift-hunting multitudes while nesting in worn-but-cozy plush booths and hidden nooks, perfect for enjoying a few stiff drinks.
8/11
KIOSK
Very close to Váci Street and not far from the Vörösmarty Square Christmas Fair, KIOSK is a cavernous indoor playground for grown-ups that serves delicious meals and excellent drinks – both alcoholic and otherwise. Currently the interior is brilliantly decorated for the holiday season, but this place remains a refuge from all worldly worries.
9/11
Kollázs
This new restaurant of Budapest’s glorious – which is also hosting an amid the ornate lobby of this Art Nouveau landmark building – provides guests with a variety of elegant places to kick back with class and enjoy top-quality cuisine, or cocktails that will erase any holiday stress.
10/11
Napfényes
Most of Hungary’s holiday-season foods involve meat or animal-related ingredients, but at the huge new location of Napfényes (found near Váci Street by Ferenciek Square), a varied vegetarian and vegan delights await, including assorted pastries and sweets. Comfortable booth seating fills this sunshiny spot to provide a healthy oasis.
11/11
Opera Café
Occupying a graceful room within Budapest’s monumental , this recently opened restaurant is an elegantly casual place that welcomes the general public to sit back and enjoy coffee, pizza, desserts, and much more – all found just a few meters away from some of the city’s most exclusive luxury stores that line Andrássy Avenue.
