Boasting six Michelin-star restaurants, and a handful of annual food and wine festivals worth travelling for, Budapest is a city whose food scene continues to explode.
Whilst Budapest has traditionally been known for its inexpensive prices, leafy streets and ruin bar culture, the city is redefining itself as a gourmet haven for those in the know. Street food such as lángos (fried bread with various toppings), chimney cake, strudel, hurka sausage and the national dish goulash can be sampled in the many kiosks that make up the bustling Great Market Hall’s food floor.
For a more refined dining experience, uber-cool Dobrumba offers fantastic flavours of the Middle East, and hole-in-the-wall Rostenstein blends Jewish and Hungarian in a delicate, modern way. Hungarian-owned restaurants like Onyx and Michelin-starred Babel showcase the best of Hungarian innovation in food and wine.
Food and wine festivals:
Budapest International Wine Festival 2023 – 7-10th September
The Budapest International Wine Festival, held annually in the grounds of the stunning Buda Castle, is a great opportunity to taste award-winning Hungarian wines from over 200 wineries, as well as numerous international wines, over the course of this four-day event. Visitors can learn about their history, meet renowned wine makers, and taste Hungarian culinary delicacies. Considered the top attraction in Budapest Old Town in September, people from all around Europe gather here to taste great wines, experience live music and enjoy the city at its best.
Budapest Goose & Wine Festival – November
In celebration of St. Martin’s Day, November is the month of goose and wine in Budapest, where for four weeks the area of Erzsebet Square turns into a gastronomic hub. Visitors can sample everything from roast goose and foie gras (goose liver) to goose soups. This festival is a brilliant way to warm up to the winter festivities, and mulled wine and traditional sweet treats are also on offer.
Where to stay:
At the heart of this foodie mecca is W Budapest hotel which, located on Andrassy Avenue (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), directly across from the State Opera House on Budapest’s most luxurious shopping street. The hotel brings three innovative dining concepts to the capital including Nightingale by Beefbar, which is curated by world-class restauranteur Riccardo Giraudi. Bringing together Asian-inspired dishes, menu highlights include crispy carpaccio drizzled with chipotle dressing and yellowtail sashimi with yusu truffle sauce. In addition to Nightingale, the hotel has opened Society25, which is housed in the old palace’s magnificent underground bar. The bar’s eight bespoke cocktails pay homage to significant names and events in Budapest’s history. Finally, W Lounge is a vibrant space boasting colourful decor matched by its world-class, experimental food and cocktail menu and accompanied by the bar’s late-night DJ sets. Guests can unwind at the hotel’s tranquil AWAY Spa, FIT fitness centre, or WET pool,
Prices start at £294 per night for a double room in September. For more information, please visit www.marriott.com
Hotel Dorothea (opening November this year)
Merging three historical buildings, Dorothea Hotel, Budapest, Autograph Collection is the vision of acclaimed architect and designer, Piero Lissoni. Named after Archduchess Dorothea, who was an influential character of the 1800s in Hungary, Dorothea Hotel will be a melting pot of architecture and interior design, where history and modernity meet, connecting guests with the local community and its heritage. Guests will be welcomed by a breathtaking foyer filled with restored columns, an ornate ceiling and portraits adorning the walls. At the heart of the hotel, an impressive, lush garden awaits, where guests can forge connections surrounded by nature and grandeur.
Within the inner courtyard is Pavilon, the hotel’s main restaurant serving modern interpretations of regional cuisine with locally sourced, fresh ingredients finding inspirations in the culinary traditions of Dorothea’s era. In the lobby, guests can discover Anton, a chic bar serving signature cocktails and herb infused sodas, alongside a delicatessen for delicious bites. There will also be an Andalusian Brasserie on the rooftop called BIBO, and Alelí, an authentic osteria brought from Italy on the ground floor with a menu designed by the renowned 3-star Michelin 2019 chef Dani García. Guests can seek inner sanctuary at the spa with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, as well as a fully equipped gym.
