Michelin in Budapest: The Latest Guide

In 2023, the international dining guide announced a list of 75 Hungarian restaurants that joined the Michelin ranks, both in terms of stars and recommendations, including Bib Gourmand which highlights cozy eateries with a democratic pricing policy. Out of all the featured projects, 28 are located in the capital city of Budapest. This selection talks about the restaurants that have earned various numbers of stars.

2 Michelin Stars

Stand

Székely Mihály Street 2, Budapest

Stand, led by chef duo Tamás Széll and Szabina Szulló, earned its first star less than a year after opening in 2019. This year, their elegant brainchild received its second. With a monochrome interior, neutral tones, an open kitchen behind clear glass, and a modern twist on classic Hungarian cuisine, the restaurant stands out for its restraint and genuinely high taste. The team’s mission is to explore and present Hungarian cuisine from various angles, showing that it’s not all about goulash and kürtőskalács. Their core principles include working with local producers and farmers, sharing the story of terroir, and adhering to a sustainability ethos. Located at the heart of the city’s social life, between the Opera and the Jewish Quarter, Stand adds a few more reasons to its list of why to visit. Additionally, it boasts a wine list with exclusive Tokaji wines.

1 Michelin Star

Babel

Piarista Köz 2, Budapest

Babel is a melting pot of cultures and perspectives on modern dining. Head Chef Kornél Kaszás and his team focus on Transylvanian cuisine, blending it with Austro-Hungarian traditions and a dash of global culinary influences. You’ll find Ukrainian, Serbian, and quintessentially Hungarian recipes, all grounded in Carpathian roots. Swedish Chef David Berlin also serves as a key culinary consultant. The restaurant’s interior and art components were crafted by renowned Hungarian artists and craftsmen, with ceramics by Russian-rooted potter Ksenia Wallenstein. The Babel team celebrates life in all its forms, declaring on their website, “We all have weekends and free mornings and evenings, so we never tire of delivering an unforgettable experience to our guests.” For this reason, booking in advance is recommended.

Borkonyha Winekitchen

Sas Street 3, Budapest

This “Wine Kitchen” opposite St. Stephen’s Basilica boasts over 200 unique Hungarian wines, including some rare finds. It’s unusual for a Michelin-starred restaurant to offer ¼ of its wines by the glass, a delightful surprise. Besides wines, the menu features somewhat designer a-la-carte and tasting menus, paired not just with wine but also with organic juices. Prices are surprisingly democratic, and the atmosphere is decidedly informal. The interior is enhanced with elegant natural materials (like a large tree installation made of geometric lines), retro crystal chandeliers, and old photographs of Budapest.

Costes

Ráday Street 4, Budapest

This restaurant kicked off Hungary’s Michelin story, earning its first star in 2010. Initially led by a Portuguese chef, the focus now, under Jenő Rácz, is on Hungarian cuisine with a global twist. The tasting menu offers seven courses of creative presentations, predominantly featuring local wines. Michelin experts recommend securing a table at the beginning of the main hall to fully appreciate the restaurant’s spaciousness and ambiance.