A taste of the Mediterranean
You don't have to look far for a Mediterranean atmosphere in Budapest. At DICA! Dispensa & Cantina, for example, it's easy to slow down after the first glass of wine and a plate of Italian cold cuts or cheese. That's exactly what the place is about: sitting around with friends, sharing a few bites, chatting and easing into the evening over an Aperol Spritz or a glass of wine. At lunchtime, the kitchen serves homestyle Italian dishes, with a daily-changing selection of meals and pasta, while the house-made bread adds to the warm, homey feel.
A similarly holiday-like atmosphere awaits at NANÁ Pizza, located in the courtyard of köz_hely, where Neapolitan-style pizzas are made with authentic Italian ingredients. Alongside the classics, you'll find more creative toppings, while the laid-back setting feels more like a casual Italian getaway than an ordinary dinner in Budapest.
Pita Budapest is one of the city centre's standout spots for Greek street food, where gyros is far from a quickly thrown-together snack. Spiced, juicy meat is paired with fresh vegetables, while the salads, pitas and platters offer particularly good value for money. At Pintxo, it's the flavours of Spain's Basque Country that take centre stage. Authentic recipes and ingredients meet imaginative creations of their own, whether you're after a few small plates to share or a more substantial dinner. The street-facing terrace and authentic drinks add even more to the Mediterranean atmosphere.
Materia - Trattoria Moderna offers a more elegant take on the Italian lifestyle, reinterpreting traditional dishes with a modern twist. With Italian owners and an Italian chef at the helm, the restaurant also serves wines exclusively from small Italian wineries. Majorelle, meanwhile, brings together the flavours of Morocco and the Mediterranean, with seafood playing an important role on its new menu - including octopus, prawns and mussels.
A Balkan feast
If your favourite holiday moments involve smoky, spiced meats and freshly baked flatbread rather than Mediterranean elegance, the flavours of the Balkans might be just the ticket. Yu Grill, Csevapivo and Yugo Resto-Bar all put the region's hearty, grill-focused cuisine centre stage, making them great choices when you're in the mood for a generous, no-frills dinner.
Pljeskavica and ćevapi are naturally at the heart of the menu, accompanied by all the classic sides you'd expect with grilled meats. Fresh flatbread is perfect for soaking up the juices, while creamy kajmak and smoky, peppery ajvar bring the kind of informal, communal feel that makes Balkan dining as much a social occasion as a meal. There's no need to overthink dinner at these places: order a few different meats, add some sides and sauces, then settle in for plenty of sharing and conversation. Bold spices, charcoal-grilled meats and dishes made for the table come together to create the feeling that, for a few hours at least, you've travelled somewhere south of Budapest.
Flavours of the East
If holidays make you think of Asian markets, fragrant spices and unfamiliar dishes, Budapest's Eastern food scene has plenty of exciting destinations to explore. Goli showcases Israeli cuisine through bold, intense flavours and its own interpretations of traditional dishes. Alongside its meat-based options, the kitchen takes a dairy- and egg-free approach, while its breakfast selection is particularly creative and worth discovering.
Hachi-ko approaches Asia from a very different angle, combining playful flavours and ingredients with serious culinary expertise in its unconventional ramen dishes, giving even a classic Japanese soup an unexpected twist. Meanwhile, Gim-Tteok, tucked inside the friendly, local atmosphere of Rákóczi Square Market Hall, offers a more everyday taste of authentic Korean cuisine. Rather than sticking to the best-known dishes, the family-run spot also serves lesser-known Korean favourites, while the market setting gives the whole experience a particularly casual and welcoming feel.
At first glance, Pivot Café & Uyghur Cuisine might look like a cosy Friends-style café where you can settle in with a quality cup of coffee, but the menu brings an unexpected twist: Chinese-Uyghur classics with distinctive spices and bold flavours. The various members of the 101 family, meanwhile, explore several different sides of Asian cuisine, from bistro-style dishes and noodles to soups, all united by a thoughtful and highly professional approach in
A taste of Latin America
Latin American cuisine perhaps captures the holiday feeling more easily than any other, with its vibrant colours, fresh ingredients, juicy meats and a touch of heat. Sarita takes a simple but effective approach to Mexican food, serving quesadillas, burritos and salads alongside tacos. Bold, distinctive seasoning gives the dishes their character - the aim isn't necessarily intense heat, but rather making sure every bite is packed with flavour. If it's specifically a taco fix you're after, BIRRIA is well worth a stop. Here, the focus is on tacos filled with juicy meat, with a deliberately straightforward approach: quality ingredients, generous fillings and no unnecessary fuss. The cosy terrace tucked away in the inner courtyard also makes it easy to linger over your meal on a summer afternoon or evening.
Near the Római riverbank, Los Monos offers an even more immersive trip to Mexico. Its authentic kitchen centres on traditional dishes, delivered with the high quality associated with the Smokey Monkies team, while the setting fully embraces the Mexican spirit. Colourful décor, eye-catching food and drinks, and a cheerful atmosphere all add to the experience, making it the kind of place where there's no rush to leave after a long lunch or dinner. Downtown TODO takes a similarly authentic approach, combining traditional recipes and cooking techniques with Hungarian ingredients to create distinctive dishes of its own. In 2026, the restaurant received the Sello M certification, awarded by Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mexican Gastronomic Academy to restaurants around the world that represent traditional Mexican cuisine. The atmosphere channels the spirit of a Latin American fiesta - the kind where a tequila alongside your meal feels only natural.
(Cover photo: Los Monos, Forgács Zsuzsi - We Love Budapest)
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