After you've explored the most important landmarks, done laps on an alfresco ice rink, and ventured into all the Christmas markets, it's time to settle down for a moment. A special brunch or dinner venue can go a long way to help you pause and indulge in the festivities, and we have seven recommendations for amazing meals matched with a holiday atmosphere.
SOLID
With stunning views, an international champagne and wine list, elegant brunch dishes, and unusual 'Satu Mare-style tapas', the rooftop bar on Királyi Pál utca is the perfect choice if you're tired of the gloomy winter days or are getting in the mood for the holidays. Advent brunch kicked off in December – on every Advent weekend (Saturday and Sunday), SOLID offers a special brunch with extra rum, cinnamon, and clove advent grog, the soul-warming counterpart to the official dessert of the brunch, plum pie.
SOLID
- 1053 Budapest, Királyi Pál utca 4.
The Great Hall Restaurant & Lounge
The Great Hall Restaurant & Lounge, located on the fourth floor of the Mystery Hotel Budapest, is the little sister of the summer hangout Sky Garden Rooftop, with the same staff mixing the cocktails. And we have to warn you: the drinks and food quality are top-notch. The only difference is that in winter, instead of sitting under the stars, you can enjoy the view from under a giant crystal chandelier. On Saturdays, The Great Hall Restaurant & Lounge invites you to dine with live music within the fabulous walls of the former palace of the Freemasonry.
The restaurant opens at 11 am, so if you're looking to escape the Christmas craze, a delicious coffee on the sofa is the perfect companion to relax in the morning. A lunch menu is available from noon and the full à la carte menu is on offer between 6 pm and 11 pm. Signature cocktails have been revamped this winter, with the names of gods appearing on the drinks list. At Christmas, the winter menu is extended to include festive dishes, which can be enjoyed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day – the 24th, 25th, and 26th –, even with a large group. Reservations are recommended for all three days. On New Year's Eve, a 5-course dinner, live music, and complimentary champagne will be served to those who wish to bid farewell to 2023 in the Great Hall. (x)
The Great Hall Restaurant & Lounge
- 1064 Budapest, Podmaniczky utca 45.
DNB Budapest
At the renowned restaurant of the Budapest Marriott Hotel, DNB Budapest, December is all about festivities. An Advent Brunch kicked off on December 3rd, taking the limelight every Sunday until Christmas. It starts at noon and runs until 3 pm, and the buffet offers all the traditional Christmas essentials: Fisherman's soup, stuffed cabbage, roast pike, slow-roasted duck legs, and bejgli (a Hungarian Christmas pastry, basically poppy seed and walnut rolls). What is more, unlimited drinks are included in the price. On Christmas Eve, the menu is less traditional, but the Christmas buffet dinner includes grilled roast lamb, venison ragout with red wine, and pumpkin pie, also with unlimited drinks. Dinner runs from 6 pm to 10 pm. If you're spending Christmas Eve privately, you can make up for it at the Christmas Brunch, which will be served from noon to 3 pm on December 25th and 26th, featuring the same menu as the Advent Brunch. On New Year's Eve, a 5-course dinner with international cuisine, live music, and a DJ will be offered at the Marriott Hotel. And if you prefer staying in, DNB also has your back: they offer foie gras terrine, smoked fish selection, whole turkey, porchetta, or Wellington steak, among others, delivered to your door. (x)
DNB Budapest
- 1052 Budapest, Duna-korzó (Budapest Marriott)
Pasarét Bisztró
Pasarét Bisztró has been a popular Christmas dinner spot in Budapest's second district for years, so if you are looking to dine like a local, this is the place to go. They feature a heated glass terrace and festive dishes available only at this time of year. Their December specials include duck liver in lard, Fisherman's soup, stuffed cabbage, and homemade derelye (a Szekler delicacy, sweet dough traditionally filled with plum or sweet curd) filled with plum jam. The biggest hit of recent years, the Wellington steak DIY, is available again this year, but by pre-order only. You are served a pre-prepared Wellington steak, ready to cook at home according to the recipe provided. Reservations are highly recommended for the festive season, and takeaways are also available for New Year's Eve.
Pasarét Bisztró
- 1026 Budapest, Pasaréti út 100.
Nomade
A restaurant, bar, and party place all at once, offering speciality food, a sizzling atmosphere, and cocktails – this is Nomade. Creating not only an interior but also a strong visual experience for guests is part of the concept of the place; it's no coincidence that it was voted Klasszis (Classy) TopDesign Bar of the Year 2023. The details and motifs are eclectically mixed, but the colour scheme and other finishes create a cohesive feel. Nomade's special feature is that it is a restaurant, bar, and club in one, perfect for evenings when you want to dine in the heart of the city, next to the Basilica, and have a nice night out after. The atmosphere is provided, so all you have to do is stay after dinner and wait for the cocktail glasses to clink and the party to begin! (x)
Nomade
- 1052 Budapest, Hercegprímás utca 12.
White Salon
Proclaimed the most beautiful café in the world, the New York Café has forever etched its place in history as one of Budapest's most unique places. And that's the view you can expect if you book a table at White Salon - as the two entities exist symbiotically under one roof. The White Salon is located in the back, on the mezzanine level of the café, but there are also a few tables on the balcony. Here you can sit back and enjoy delicious dishes while admiring the gold and marble furnishings, the huge mirrors and chandeliers, and indulging in the elegant yet bohemian, turn-of-the-century atmosphere. What else do we need to get into the festive spirit? The restaurant is elegant, and while they offer 'casual dining' (meaning they don't want you to fret), the food and service are of a high standard. It's not a place to drop by for lunch every day, but as it's Christmas, you have a great excuse to pop in with your family, partner, or friends. (x)
The White Salon
- 1073 Budapest, Erzsébet krt. 9–11.
Bobo Restaurant
Located in the city, yet a little bit in the wilderness, Bobo Restaurant on Marczibányi tér is the perfect place to turn an ordinary day into a festive occasion. Built in the late 1800s, this neo-Renaissance building even witnessed Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Sissi, dancing the waltz. Furthermore, in its heyday, when it was the headquarters of the Member's Gun Club of Budapest, it was a meeting point for the aristocracy. With a bit of a French atmosphere, the menu offers both international favourites and Hungarian classics. They always have a weekly special that changes seasonally, so if you want something hot to eat in a nice setting on a typical weekday in Buda, Bobo is the place to go.
Bobo Restaurant
- 1022 Budapest, Marczibányi tér 6–7.
