local

One of our favourite underground ruin bars. Lámpás offers live music almost every night, with several jam sessions and open mic nights happening as well. Best place to be for an aspiring musician or if you just want try yourself out!

Menza offers a diverse menu that features a mix of Hungarian classics and international dishes. While they pay homage to traditional Hungarian cuisine, you can also find items like burgers, pasta, and salads on their menu. It’s a place where old meets new, blending the nostalgia of Hungarian retro design with modern culinary influences.

The prices at Menza are generally considered to be reasonable and offer good value for the quality of food and the dining experience.

What to eat: beef broth soup, veal paprikash (w/ egg dumplings), pork schnitzel, mákos Guba. Recommended for lunch specials.

One of our favourite venues of Budapest, it’s a must visit for all jazz/music fans around. Concerts are happening almost everyday, with late jam sessions several nights. Best Hungarian and gypsy jazz musicians are performing and their kitchen is worth checking out too!

A great hole in the wall jazz club in one of the restaurant quarters of Budapest with concerts every night and great cuisine!

A traditional Hungarian restaurant located in the heart of Budapest. The name “Disznótoros” translates to “pig slaughter” in English, and it refers to a traditional Hungarian feast that celebrates the butchering of pigs in the winter months. During a Disznótoros event, various pork-based dishes and sausages are prepared and enjoyed.

As seen on Anthony Bourdains visit to Budapest

What to eat: sausages (liver, blood), traditional meat dishes, fried pork

A cozy Hungarian restaurant inside Budapest’s party district, also known as the old Jewish Quarter. The restaurant’s name makes its culinary priorities clear — the short menu features the heart of Magyar cuisine with staples like goulash, chicken and veal paprikash (€10-14), and various seasonal vegetable stews called főzelék. “Gettó” refers to the Jewish ghetto, what this neighborhood became during the winter of 1944, the darkest time of WWII in Budapest.

What to eat: goulash soup, chicken paprikash, stew dishes, Gundel palacsinta, and túrógombóc

Before your meal, you could grab a drink at Szimpla Kert, the world-famous ruin bar just steps from away in Kazinczy Street.

Definitely visit this place! Specializing in gourmet sandwiches, often referred to as “soups in bread,” where a variety of fillings and ingredients are enclosed within a freshly baked baguette or bread roll. The menu features a diverse range of sandwiches, both meat-based and vegetarian, showcasing unique flavors and combinations that cater to different tastes and preferences.

Known for its reasonable prices, making it an excellent choice for those looking for tasty, budget-friendly options in Budapest.

It’s a must-visit for food enthusiasts looking to enjoy a quick and satisfying meal with a gourmet twist.

If you are looking for a truly local, no-frills Hungarian restaurant, do yourself a favour and go to Frici Papa!
It is one of the last remaining eateries in Budapest, serving Hungarian classics at extremely reasonable prices (even by local standards).
Because the word got out, lots of tourists visit this place as well nowadays, but trust us, it’s worth the wait!

Kisharang Étkezde is a true gem in the heart of Budapest, a family-run restaurant with a very friendly service and hearty traditional food. Great place if you’re around the St. Stephen’s Basilica!

A38 Ship is one of the most iconic concert venues and cultural centers of Budapest. Covering a wide range of genres, we’re sure you’re going to find a concert to suit your taste during your stay. Don’t forget to check their website!

Located in the heart of Budapest, Akvárium is a great club and concert hall open all year round. Offering great parties and live events, it’s an ideal place to hang out with locals and listen to Hungarian bands!

If you’re less adventurous, had enough of goulash, or just simply want to have some great comfort food at a reasonable price, give these places a try!

Pizza Manufaktúra serves some of the best pizzas in Budapest, a true favourite of locals.

Bamba Marha is a solid local burger chain which serves great quality burgers at fair prices. With 10 locations in Budapest, you can be sure that you’re always close to one of them.