Budapest Guide

Stay, Eat, Drink, See, & Shop

WHERE TO STAY, EAT, DRINK, SEE, EXPLORE, & SHOP.

Airbnb: look for places in the Jewish Quarter, very central to restaurants, clubs, and not far from the river.

Hostel: Maverick City Lodge, Hive Party Hostel, Hostel One Budapest

Hotels: Prestige Hotel Budapest, Anantara New York Palace, Hotel Gellerent

Cirkusz: trendy brunch spot with delicious food and generous portions. we love the egg benedicts and avocado toast.
New York Cafe: the most beautiful place for brunch in Budapest (but $$). Menu offers classic European and Hungarian options.
Grand Market Hall: one of the best places to try Hungarian food and treats, there are over a hundred stalls with fresh produce, souvenirs, and food.
London Coffee Society: casual spot for great coffee, avocado toast, and other hearty brunch dishes.
Stika: trendy but beautiful brunch plates and specialty coffee drinks.
À Table: French bakery with multiple locations. loved for their homemade bread, baked goods, quiches, and other brunch dishes.
Deryne Bistro: vibrant restaurant on the Buda side with live piano, a garden inside, and a French + Hungarian menu.
CHEAP & CASUAL: gyro stands all over the city, Leves for soup, Taco Market for Mexican bowls, Drum Cafe for affordable Hungarian food, Flour Style Wok Bar for build your own Wok

Mazel Tov: modeled off the Ruin bar concept, this is the trendiest restaurant in Budapest right now. loved for shareable Israeli food, cocktails, beautiful interior, live music. need a reservation.
Tom George Osteria: beautiful restaurant with a view of the basilica. perfect for happy hour or dinner.
Paprika Vendeglo: favorite!! very authentic Hungarian restaurant with generous portions, cheap wine, and a cabin-like environment. try the chicken paprikash, weiner schnitzel, beef goulash, and cucumber salad.
Sao: modern Vietnamese restaurant with delicious food and cocktails. try the fresh rolls, fried rice, pho, and dumplings.
Fat Mama: fun spot for dinner and drinks. menu is a mix of Hungarian and American food, there is something for everyone here.
Trattoria Pomo D’Oro: the best Italian food in Budapest. loved for their pastas, stone-baked pizza, and cozy, traditional environment.
Gozdu: we call this the “tunnel” because it is a covered alley lined with bars and restaurants on each side. this is a safe spot for a walk in dinner or drinks after dinner. some restaurants turn into clubs late night.

Beef Goulash: stewed beef, carrot, potato, spices and paprika seasoning, served with homemade dumplings or in soup with bread.
Chicken Paprikash: chicken in a creamy Paprika sauce, served with nokedli (Hungarian egg noodle dumplings). my favorite!
Chimney Cake: you’ll see stands all over the city for this. they are funnel cakes, coated in sugar, and sometimes served with ice cream inside.
Lángos: fried flatbread with sweet or savory toppings. savory ones usually have cheese, garlic, and meat. sweet ones have Nutella, fruit, or cinnamon sugar.
Mulled Wines: stands on every corner for homemade mulled wine. a delicious way to warm up and get a small buzz.
Palinka: basically Hungarian moonshine. a strong spirit flavored with plums, apricots, apples, pears, and cherries.
Layered Cakes: you can find Hungarian cakes at cafes and bakeshops all over the city. there are tons of different flavors but the most common are walnut or chocolate. there are also tons of gluten free and vegan options.

Budapest is famous for “ruin bars,” abandoned, pre-war buildings that have been converted into spaces for drinking and dancing.
Szimpla Kert: was the first ruin bar (started in 2002) and the most famous. It’s a multi-level, multi-bar space with walls covered in antiques and graffiti.
Instant: dance club with over a dozen bars and several dance floors.
Morisons 2: the rowdiest (can be bad & good) of all the ruin bars with 4 dance floors, countless rooms with techno & disco music, drinking games, & karaoke.
Aether: an underground techno club in the Gozsdu Passage with house music, unique light shows, and dancing.
Okert: a more sophisticated clubbing experience but still has the same party experience as the others with dancing and DJs.
360 Bar: not a ruin bar or club. but a rooftop bar with a beautiful view of the city, craft cocktails, and igloos during the winter.

Parliament Building: the largest building in Budapest with stunning gothic architecture, facing the Danube river.
St. Stephen’s Basilica: beautiful Roman Catholic basilica and the largest church in Hungary.
Danube River & Bridges: the Danube splits Pest and Buda. the two most best bridges to walk across are the Elizabeth Bridge (green one) and the Liberty Bridge (white one).
Shoes on the Danube: Holocaust memorial on the Danube promenade.
Buda Castle: atop of Castle Hill is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest. It was first completed in 1265. it has monuments, churches, and over 200 rooms. reminds me of a Disney movie.
Fisherman’s Bastion: the best place to view the city and Danube river.
Dohany Street Synagogue: the largest Jewish place of worship in Europe.
Széchenyi Bath: the largest outdoor, thermal bath in Budapest’s City Park. the water is heated near 100 degrees and there are parties here every weekend.
Heroe’s Square: a major square in Budapest, famous for the Millennium Monument with statues of the Seven chieftains of the Magyar
Jewish Quarter: vibrant neighborhood with the best restaurants, cafes, clubs and a few cool boutiques.
Fashion District: street lined with brands like Zara, high-end retailers, a few local brands, and souvenir shops.

Fashion District: Zara, Nanuska, Berksha, Cin Cin Amica, Footlocker
Thrift & Vintage: Humana, Szputnyik, Gozdu Weekend Flea Market, Antifactory, Retrock Designer Vintage, Ludovika
Jewish Quarter: PSTR Store, Bazis Store, Judas, Lollipop, Goahome, Emily’s