Hungarian cuisine is relatively famous around the world for its unique dishes, which you may recognise by the generous amount of onions and paprika in them. There are sweets and desserts that are also typically Hungarian, but have a name or list of ingredients that might be weird for a foreigner who stumbles across them for the first time. In this list, you will find some that, despite their strange concept, are worth a taste.
Téli fagyi (Winter ice cream)
Photo: nosalty.hu
It came out of nowhere in the seventies to replace the summer delight in the colder months. In terms of its appearance, it represents the original. The sticky, thick, chocolaty cream with chocolate coating and the combined experience of the cone’s crunchiness bring back childhood memories to many. Although it is considered a retro sweet, you can still get it in most supermarkets.
Krumplicukor (Potato sugar)
Photo: edessegek.hu
Krumplicukor is one of our oldest Hungarian sweets, a retro treat with an off-white colour and a sweet taste that has been popular since the fifties. Its only ingredient is simply sugar (glucose) and is produced by breaking down the starch found in potatoes. It is a divisive candy, as many people do not like it because of its hard texture or strongly sweet taste, but it is certainly considered one of the best-known retro sweets.
Dianás cukor (Diana’s candy, Spirit-filled candy)
Photo: hazisweets.hu
Diana candy is over 100 years old and was originally thought to cure hangovers, at least according to folk medicine. The treats were originally manufactured by Diana Industrial and Commercial Co. in 1911 as a miracle cure for almost everything. The candy containing sósborszesz, which is basically rubbing alcohol, is also considered one of the most recognised retro Hungarian sweets.
Pharmacist Béla Erényi introduced the spirit in 1907 – he was trying to beat his competition partner, Kálmán Brázay. He dissolved various herbs in alcohol, which he diluted with salt water, which he bottled and sold as a medicine for external and internal use. The spirit is a mixture of water, alcohol, salt, ethyl acetate and menthol. It was used for everything from pain relief to disinfecting. The current shape of the candy was created a few years later when he realised that the solution crystallised during cooling when poured into a mould. Covered in chocolate, it became a candy loved by many Hungarians for decades.
Mákos guba (Poppy seeds bread pudding) and Mákos tészta (Noodles with poppy seeds)
Mákos guba and mákos tészta are not Hungarian sweets, but they are popular desserts in the country that are made with poppy seeds.
Photo: cookpad.com
Foreigners might find it strange that Hungarians eat poppy seed with noodles for example, but it has been one of the most common ingredients of some beloved dishes and desserts of the Hungarian cuisine. There are desserts or main dishes with poppy seed, for example, the mákos guba, which is a delicious poppy seed pudding, and the combination of soft poppy seed bread with vanilla custard is definitely worth a try.
Photo: mindmegette.hu
A similar and popular easy-to-make dish is mákos tészta, which is basically noodles blanketed in ground poppy seeds and powdered sugar. As with other sweet pasta dishes, it is usually served as a main course after a generous soup as a first course. You can find recipes for both dishes and more on mindmegette.hu.
Read also:
Top 10 worst Hungarian dishes according to foreigners – Read here
This year, street food at festivals and beach buffets is likely to increase in price by 8-10%. While this increase might not sound too severe, a hamburger will still cost around HUF 3,500 (EUR 8.8) in the summer, and a lángos with cheese and cream toppings can be close to HUF 2,000 (EUR 5) in many places.
Burger, lángos and other beach foods to increase in price
Photo: depositphotos.com
The holiday and festival season has begun in Hungary. Due to the record-high inflation of the last two years, people continue to spend cautiously at beach bars and even at the larger festival venues, Portfolio writes.
“It can be scary to buy a burger at a street food cart for HUF 3,500 (EUR 8.8), but the truth is that our costs have risen so much in recent years that even a price of HUF 5,000 (EUR 12.56) would not be too much,” Zoltán Horváth, president of the Hungarian Street Food Association, told Portfolio.
He pointed out that the price of raw materials has doubled in recent years, and that labour costs have risen, while energy prices and festival rents have increased. Prices will not increase significantly this year, he stressed. While people used to buy 2 or 3 things at the festival buffets, now they buy only one.
“Even a 20% increase would be justified”
“They try to persuade people to consume by offering better prices on a product. For example, many caterers have a HUF 2500 (EUR 6.3) product, which can be cheaper if it contains less meat, or if it doesn’t contain duck, but chicken. And if the customer is already standing in front of the street food trolley, it’s easier to consume more,” said Horváth.
“A 20% price increase would be justified at events or beach buffets, but this year there will probably only be an 8-10% increase, and entrepreneurs are afraid to raise prices more than that for fear of losing guests,” said László Kovács, president of the Hungarian Caterers’ Association.
Regardless of this, it is likely that a cheese and cream lángos will cost HUF 1800 or a hamburger HUF 3500, he added.
In the summer heat, a light cake in the afternoon is always a nice refresher. The following list features some of the finest pastry shops in Hungary in 2024, which are certainly worth a visit if you have a sweet tooth.
You can taste Hungary’s sweet masterpieces at the pastry shops listed in Dining Guide’s Top 100 Restaurant Guide, reports Turizmus Online. These shops offer iconic cakes, chocolates and French-style desserts among other treats. Here are the top five pastry shops in Hungary, as featured in the Dining Guide.
Málna The Pastry Shop
Photo: FB / Málna The Pastry Shop
Málna The Pastry Shop, established five years ago in Óbuda, quickly became one of the leading pastry shops in Hungary in its opening year. This modern French-style shop is a family business dedicated to renewing traditional Hungarian confectionery and redefining contemporary desserts. Their high-quality creations, such as the Opera cake with coffee and raspberries, apple pie and Esterházy cake, are crafted with great expertise.
Address: 57-61 Bécsi Road, Budapest 1037
Százéves Pastry Shop
Százéves Pastry Shop is Hungary’s second-oldest confectionery, where visitors can step back in time and enjoy the ambiance of historic cafés while sipping coffee and enjoying a cake. Founded by master confectioner András Salis in 1840, the shop was built after the great fire of Gyula in 1801. It continues to serve quality cakes and tarts, handcrafted bonbons and chocolates and offers ice creams during the summer season.
József Auguszt’s confectionery is a leading name in Hungarian pastry. The founder, Elek Auguszt, opened his first shop in 1870, starting a family business that has preserved traditions and values ever since. Now in its fifth generation, the business, led by József Auguszt, stays true to classic Hungarian confectionery traditions while embracing innovation. There are three Auguszt Pastry Shops in Hungary, all in the capital, but Dining Guide rates the Fény Street shop as the highest quality.
Address: 8 Fény St, Budapest 1024
14-16 Múzeum Blv, Budapest 1088
14-16 Kossuth L St, Budapest 1053
190 Sasadi Ave, Budapest 1112
Bergmann Pastry Shop
The Bergmann family’s long-established confectionery business exudes the charm of a classic café. Their selection includes both exceptional quality classic Hungarian desserts and unique creations from the Bergmann house. The famous Bergmann Krémes is considered one of the best, if not the best, in Hungary, attracting many visitors for that reason alone.
Address: 64 Petőfi Sándor St, Balatonfüred 8230
Chouchou
Photo: FB / Chouchou
Chouchou offers new-wave French-style desserts and traditional Hungarian pastries, all made locally from premium ingredients. The shop provides handcrafted truffles, bonbons, chocolates and cakes in Újlipótváros on Fridays, and their creations are also available in many speciality cafés across Budapest.
This year, Dining Guide also rewarded the most creative pastry shops in Hungary, introducing a new award for the Pastry Chef of the Year.
The accolade was awarded to internationally renowned pastry chef Árpád Szűcs, head pastry chef at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, who excels at blending classic and modern restaurant desserts and pastries.
The list aims to encourage confectioners and pastry shops in Hungary to continually seek ways to reduce their environmental footprint without compromise, emphasising the importance of linking hospitality with sustainability.
Source: Turizmus Online
Read also:
Coffee in Budapest among the best in Europe! – Read here
Budapest’s world-famous pastry shop Ruszwurm may close its doors forever – Read here
As summer heats up, ice cream lovers may find their favourite treat becoming more expensive by Lake Balaton. Analysts at the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation have indicated that ice cream prices are projected to rise by 10-15 percent this year compared to last. Despite these increases, many vendors are striving to keep their prices within a range acceptable to their customers.
Ingredients still face a price hike
As Economx reports, Bence Jóna, an analyst at the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation, highlighted significant price increases for sugar and cocoa in April, with year-on-year rises of 30.4% and 9.2%, respectively. While global food prices started to decline from the second half of 2022 onwards, sugar prices have only recently started to moderate.
This trend is mirrored in Hungary, where flour and dairy product prices have decreased, but sugar continues to rise sharply. The global market’s downward trend cannot be felt in Hungary yet, thus making it impossible for domestic ice cream makers to keep their prices unchanged.
Trying to keep prices reasonable
Besides changes in raw material prices, other factors such as higher operating costs (overheads, rent) and increasing wages due to labour shortages could lead to price hikes in ice cream shops and beach food eateries. Although these pressures have slightly eased compared to 2023, businesses often cannot pass on these costs to customers due to price sensitivity. Thus, beyond a certain price point, demand would significantly drop. Experts advise business owners to raise their prices reasonably to avoid scaring away customers.
Ice cream and lángos prices at Lake Balaton
Last year, the price of a scoop of ice cream in Hungary ranged between HUF 440 (EUR 1.13) and HUF 520 (EUR 1.33), but this year it is expected to rise by 10-15 percent, reaching HUF 500-600 (EUR 1.28-1.54), and HUF 600-650 (EUR 1.54-1.66) in more touristy locations.
Photo: Daily News Hungary
Another popular Hungarian beach delicacy, lángos, also faces a price hike. This year, prices are expected to rise by 8-10 percent, which is not so bad compared to last year’s 20-40 percent. While the cost of a lángos is heavily based on the toppings, we can safely say that we cannot find a plain lángos for under HUF 1000 (EUR 2.56).
While ice cream in Hungary is predicted to be 10-15 percent more expensive this season at Lake Balaton, the prices are still considered low in an international context. A recent survey shows that Turkish beaches offer the cheapest ice cream, for about HUF 44 (EUR 0.11) per scoop. French beaches are at the other end of the scale with one scoop for approximately HUF 1800 (EUR 4.61).
Food delivery company Foodora recently informed its users that it has updated its Terms and Conditions. Two of these changes are very beneficial for users.
Foodora changes T&Cs
For consumers, the update of the Terms and Conditions brings two very positive changes.
From now on, the possibility of ordering below the minimum order value will be gradually introduced.
The system usage fee varies depending on the amount of the order.
The amount of the low-value order is displayed when the products are added to the shopping cart.
Out of these, the first and the third ones are the more positive changes.
Foodora, then known as Foodpanda, introduced the system usage fee in November 2022, citing increased costs and the fact that their competitors were also applying a similar charge, HVG reports.
In the beginning, they charged HUF 110 per order, which has now risen to HUF 150. The charge now starts from here and
increases in proportion to the amount of the order, up to HUF 300.
As regards the change to the minimum order value, it will be possible in the future to order below the minimum order value set by each provider. In this case, we will have to pay a fixed fee, called “low order fee”.
Daily average 4,200 meals will be distributed at 88 locations around Hungary under the arrangements of a 8.5 billion forint (EUR 22m) scheme to provide food and health assistance to the homeless, a ministry official said on Wednesday.
Food assistance for homeless people
Dénes Sándor Nemcsok, deputy state secretary at the ministry of public administration and regional development, told the press at the project launch event that it was planned to run for five years under the arrangements of the Szechenyi Plan Plus, and it would be financed 90 percent by the European Union and 10 percent by Hungary.
The most important part of the scheme dubbed “Food assistance for homeless people” is providing meals and connected measures aimed to improve their quality of life, he added.
In celebration of its 130th anniversary, Budapest’s iconic Gundel Palace debuts the Celebrities Menu, featuring dishes once served to notable guests. For ten days in early July, diners can enjoy a recreated four-course meal inspired by Queen Elizabeth II’s 1993 visit, offering a taste of the restaurant’s storied past.
Gundel Palace’s 130th anniversary
As Világgazdaság reports, Budapest’s iconic Gundel restaurant marks its 130th anniversary with a special gastronomic tribute, the Celebrities Menu, celebrating notable guests it has hosted throughout its rich history. This innovative offering allows guests to experience the exact menus served during significant events held at the restaurant. The first menu in this series commemorates Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Budapest in 1993, offering a unique opportunity for diners to indulge in a royal feast.
For a limited ten-day period starting on 8th July, Gundel will present a meticulously recreated four-course menu inspired by the Queen’s historic lunch. This special initiative was announced at a press conference attended by Károly Gundel, the great-grandson of the restaurant’s original owner.
During Queen Elizabeth II’s visit on 5th May, 1993, she and Prince Philip of Edinburgh enjoyed a grand lunch at Gundel Palace, an experience now accessible to all through the Celebrities Menu series. According to Gundel Palace, the preparation of the lunch was quite special:
Before the celebratory lunch, the kitchen prepared 10 test menus to make sure they fit into the 1 hour 40 minutes available. Of course, in addition to speed, quality was also a priority. The menu was written by hand and the waiters were taught a special choreography.
Gundel Palace, now operated by the Eventrend Group since 2021, strives to maintain the high standards and inclusive philosophy set by its founder. The new menu crafted by chef Kálmán Kalla, encapsulates this vision, ensuring that the Gundel experience is available to a wider audience.
The menu
The royal menu is a true culinary journey. The first course is pink-smoked salmon with white asparagus and sage dressing, followed by a double broth of pigeon. The main course features the so-called Braided Veal -à la Queen Elizabeth, braided veal tenderloin, thin potato whips, stuffed with Hungarian rice and goose liver stuffed with mushrooms. Ready for dessert? Trompe l’Oeil of Spring Strawberries is a crown-shaped pastry, crisp and decorated with real and parfait strawberries. This exquisite meal is complemented by Gundel Palace’s selection of wines, including a rare 1952 vintage Tokaj aszú, honouring the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne.
Following the ten-day summer offering, the Four Crowns menu may return in the autumn, accompanied by other special guest menus. These menus will be available in two-, three- and four-course options, priced around HUF 20,000 (EUR 51.26), reflecting the restaurant’s average consumption rate per guest.
Once again, the ranking of the best places for pizza in Europe has been established, and a Budapest pizzeria has made it into the top 50. The downtown restaurant, known for its Neapolitan-style pizzas, is no stranger to this prestigious list.
One of Europe’s best pizzerias in Budapest
Photo: facebook.com/bellidimammabp
The 50toppizza.it website annually compiles a ranking of the best pizzerias in Europe outside of Italy. This year, the awards were announced at a grand gala in Madrid. The only Hungarian winner was Belli di Mamma in Budapest, according to metropol.hu.
Undercover inspectors visit each pizzeria to ensure anonymity; they arrive unannounced and always pay the bill without revealing their identity. We never knew who they were. After their visit, they sent us an email inviting the pizzeria to the event,
says owner Riccardo Bianchi.
Photo: Belli di Mamma
Located on Akácfa Street, the restaurant ranked 35th among the top 50 European pizzerias outside of Italy this year, compared to 26th place last year.
The Italian website that compiles the ranking praised the Hungarian restaurant:
If a Budapest local craves a pizza reminiscent of an Italian holiday, the clear choice is Belli di Mamma. This restaurant offers quick service and is a definite favorite for lovers of Neapolitan-style pizza. The toppings feature a mix of local ingredients and Italian specialties, particularly the cheeses. The wine selection is impressively Italian.
Lorenzo Giuliani, the Tuscan-born pizza chef at Belli di Mamma, sources ingredients directly from Italy, while vegetables and meats are procured from local Hungarian farmers and breeders.
“We offer Neapolitan-style pizzas, which have a much higher moisture content than the Roman-style pizzas commonly found in Hungary. Another characteristic of our Neapolitan pizza is the large crust, which allows for significantly more toppings,” reveals the pizza chef.
Not too long ago, Daily News Hungary published an exclusive article about 3 of the most unique Budapest pizzerias in which Belli di Mamma also appeared: read it HERE.
There are fantastic restaurants in every corner of the country, and this year’s Dining Guide Top100 Restaurant Guide has once again listed exactly where to go to find the best restaurants in the countryside.
At the top of the ranking is the Platán Gourmet restaurant in Tata, and in addition to Esztergom and Villány, the Őrség and Lake Balaton are also worth a visit, as well as restaurants in Encs, Dánszentmiklós and Debrecen.
“It is very difficult to compare all the restaurants on the gastronomic map of the country. That’s why when we score the Dining Guide TOP 100 Restaurant Guide, we also take into account how the restaurant performs in relation to the standard expected of the type of restaurant. In addition to comparing the quality of the restaurants, we also assess how well the restaurant delivers on its own promises,” said Zoltán Herczeg, the publisher of the Dining Guide.
Modern, bold, contemporary concepts, dishes made from local ingredients and ingredients from their own gardens, showcasing regional flavours – we show you the gastronomic adventures that await you in the country’s best restaurants in the countryside!
Top 10 restaurants in the countryside in 2024 according to the Dining Guide Top100 Restaurant Guide:
Platán Gourmet
42 Restaurant
Sauska 48
Pajta
Anyukám Mondta
Platán Bisztró
Kistücsök
Bistro Sparhelt
Botanica
IKON
Platán Gourmet – Tata
Platán Gourmet
Chef István Pesti has proven in recent years that a gourmet restaurant does not necessarily need to be at a major tourist destination to find its audience. One of the most influential figures of modern Hungarian gastronomy has created his fine dining restaurant concept 50 kilometres from Budapest, on the shores of the Lake of Tata, in a picturesque setting – next to an old plane tree.
With the Platán Gourmet restaurant, the chef has definitely created a place of outstanding gastronomic excellence. His cuisine represents a gastronomic mindset based on unique ideas, and the restaurant’s own garden supplies the kitchen with high-quality seasonal ingredients. The restaurant, which this year offers 12-course degustation menus, has a very varied use of ingredients and the menu clearly reflects the chef’s strong and unique fusion vision.
42 Restaurant & Bar – Esztergom
42 Restaurant & Bar
Two years after its opening, the 42 Restaurant & Bar in Esztergom immediately burst into the universe of Hungarian gourmet, fine dining restaurants. Located in the promenade of Esztergom, the restaurant’s gastronomic approach is defined by the joint work of the well-known chef Ádám Barna and the owner of the restaurant, Sándor Varga, who has created the highly successful YouTube channel “Alexander the Guest”, which tests the world’s famous fine dining restaurants. Chef Ádám Barna is one of the leading figures of the Hungarian gastronomic scene of recent years, whose cuisine, with its clear, progressive notes, is popular with gourmet restaurant lovers. The restaurant, which essentially offers only a degustation menu, represents a very free, unique and bold concept, differing from the approach of Hungarian countryside restaurants. It operates by juxtaposing popular dishes of contemporary world cuisines and sometimes combining them with plates representing Hungarian gastronomy.
Sauska 48 – Villány
Sauska 48
The restaurant of the highest gastronomic quality in the South Transdanubian region is undoubtedly Sauska 48 in Villány.The restaurant’s renowned chef Attila Bicsár created the concept of “liberated village gourmet cuisine with colours”, and the internationally renowned entrepreneur Krisztián Sauska, owner of the iconic Sauska wine estates in the Villány and Tokaj wine regions, provided a worthy venue. Sauska 48 represents a contemporary take on Hungarian cuisine, complemented by chef Attila Bicsár’s subtle solutions and sensitive approach, and the menu is keen to sensitively follow the seasonal ingredients and the potential of local producers. The dishes are of course accompanied by Sauska wines from Tokaj and Villány, but the wine list is also complemented by a very unique section, unparalleled in Hungary, featuring the finest vintages from the world’s highest ranked wineries.
Pajta – Őriszentpéter
Pajta
The farm-to-table concept of Pajta, a family-run business in Őriszentpéter, has become popular across the country in recent years. The restaurant, which is based on the emblematic ingredients of the Őrség region, has a clean approach to ‘Nordic’ cuisine, the Scandinavian gastronomic trend. The restaurant’s responsible commitment to sustainable living and the traditions of the Őrség gastronomy is exemplary. The now iconic establishment is owned by Flóra and Ferenc Kvasznicza, a young couple who moved to Őriszentpéter from the capital. In 2023, the kitchen of Pajta was taken over by István Akács, a young talented chef who has trained in leading fine dining kitchens abroad and in Hungary. The new chef’s first menus are of impeccable quality, with a strongly progressive style, but with a much more understandable and precisely elaborated dishes than in the previous periods of the restaurant, highlighting the flavours of the region.
Anyukám Mondta – Encs
Anyukám Mondta
The restaurant of brothers Szilárd Dudás and Szabolcs Dudás, the iconic Anyukám Mondta restaurant based in Encs, is now one of the most well-known quality-minded restaurants in the Hungarian countryside. The Italian-Hungarian restaurant, featuring notes of gourmet bistro style, cannot be put into the generally known categories. The restaurant and the story of the “Italians of Encs”, the high quality ingredients fetish, the perfectionist “precise” kitchen philosophy, the menu adapted to the place and its history, the simplicity of the dishes (in the noble sense of the word), the “less is sometimes more” philosophy, all together make up the Anyukám Mondta. The menu’s eclectic selection is made up of traditional Italian and Hungarian dishes with a contemporary twist.
Platán Bisztró – Tata
Platán Bisztró
The Platán Bistro in Tata is the light, “fine bistro” sister of the fine dining Platán Gourmet. The gastronomy concept of the kitchen is the creation of the Platán Group’s head chef István Pesti, while the kitchen is managed by chef Donát Mogyorósi. The menu is a colourful one, with dishes made from both quality local and foreign ingredients. The Platán Bistro’s cuisine is characterised by an international mindset, which is mainly based on local ingredients and is reflected in sophisticated, refined dishes. The serving style is a departure from the classic bistro style, with unique fine dining touches – precisely adapted to the style of the place. The dessert selection stands out high above the standard of countryside restaurants.
Kistücsök – Balatonszemes
Kistücsök
Kistücsök, a legendary restaurant in Balatonszemes with a history of more than three decades, was the first to put the Balaton region on the map of quality gastronomy. The restaurant’s owner, Balázs Csapody, is a respected figure in the Hungarian countryside gastronomic scene. The family-run restaurant has undergone continuous transformation and renewal in recent years. Two years ago, the unit was expanded with accommodation: 19 rooms and 2 suites, as well as a conference room. Additionally, there is a gourmet restaurant concept called “Chef’s Room”, which operates on weekends and offers a showkitchen. For decades, the kitchen of Kistücsök has been relying on local ingredients and Hungarian dishes prepared with modern technologies.
Sparhelt Bistro – Balatonfüred
Sparhelt Bistro
Sparhelt Bistro in Balatonfüred is one of the best performing restaurants in the Balaton region. From the end of 2023, the kitchen of the iconic bistro is run by Ádám Mészáros, the former chef of the Onyx restaurant, whose contemporary plates display his high-standard approach rooted in his fine dining past. The new concept of Sparhelt follows the path of regionally-thinking countryside restaurants. As well as focusing on the use of local ingredients, it has its own bio-garden and never shies away from innovations to add colour to its offer. The restaurant offers an à la carte menu and a five-course tasting menu.
Botanica – Dánszentmiklós
Botanica
The restaurant at the Hotel Botanica in Dánszentmiklós is a fine dining concept to the core. The owners, Ágota Zsebők and Kristóf Horváth created Botanica inspired by the “small luxury” hotels with the ambience of Provence and Tuscan country houses. The restaurant of the hotel, which exudes casual elegance, is run by the talented chef Tamás Munk. The kitchen concept is naturally adapted to the hotel’s expectations. The 6-course gourmet degustation menu, available mainly at dinner time, combines elements of forward-thinking, contemporary countryside cuisine and high-end fine dining style. The chef’s experience in high-end gastronomy and his parallelling vision of close-to-nature result in truly unique plates.
IKON – Debrecen
IKON
The IKON in Debrecen is one of the stars of the East-Hungarian region, delivering a predictable high quality of contemporary fine dining restaurants for years. Ádám Thür, a motivated chef with a strong vision, took over the restaurant after a ten-year training period in England, and has since then been aiming to create dishes with an accessible yet modern approach. As well as using local ingredients, IKON has its own garden, where the quantity of ingredients grown is increased from season to season, adding significantly to the value of the restaurant’s sustainability efforts.
The legendary Kádár Canteen (Kádár Étkezde) will reopen in Klauzál Square, Budapest in the autumn, following the purchase of the property and the brand by Károly Gerendai. The restaurant owner promises that “everything will stay the same, just the way guests are used to”.
Iconic Kádár Canteen to reopen
Kádár Canteen. Source: wikipedia.org
“Kádár Canteen was a landmark of the city that should not be lost,” Károly Gerendai told Index.
The entrepreneur’s Costes restaurant was the first to receive a Michelin star in Hungary in 2010, followed by Costes’ Dowtown restaurant in 2016 and two years ago the Rumour by Jenő Rácz restaurant, also part of the group, received a star as well.
According to Gerendai’s plans, after the mandatory renovation, the restaurant will reopen with the old menu and furniture. Even the photos on the walls and the panelling will remain.
The cuisine will certainly follow the old recipes of chef Lajos Takács. “We want to revive the old Kádár, not open another place called Kádár,” said Gerendai. This means that they are trying to keep the spirit of the place and the operating model.
There is only one significant change in their plans: they will not close after lunchtime. Thus, in the future, we will be able to have dinner at the Kádár Canteen, where celebrities such as Hanna Honthy, Hilda Gobbi, Marcello Mastroianni, Sylvester Stallone, Nobel Prize-winning scientists and members of the Hungarian water polo team once visited.
Read our previous articles about the Kádár Canteen:
The weather in Hungary has been blessing us lately with many sunny hours and pleasant temperatures. Thus, my friend and I had the idea of going out for coffee at least once a week and enjoying our favourite drinks outside. Our not-so-secret quest was to hunt down the best café in Budapest. We have visited three very different and unique coffee places in the last months, so here is our takeaway *pun intended*.
Flatty Coffee Shop
Our first stop last month was Flatty Coffee Shop, and we were quite content with our choice. First, we were curious about the hype, as we have seen this coffee shop all over TikTok and Instagram. When we arrived, we already knew what we wanted. According to the videos we had previously seen on social media, the café’s main specialities were the tiramisu latte and the matchamisu latte. However, Flatty also offers more traditional coffee options and a great variety of sandwiches as well.
This time, we went for the tiramisu latte which was refreshing and not overly sweet. What may be odd about this café in Budapest is that you cannot sit down, you only have the option to ask for a takeaway. However, it is located between Kálvin Square and Fővám Square, thus you can walk to a peaceful spot to enjoy your drink.
Source: Daily News Hungary / Fanni Forgács
Chez Dodo Artisan Macarons and Cafe
The next destination was Chez Dodo Artisan Macarons and Cafe, located in the heart of Budapest. You can find this café in downtown Budapest, in a cosy little street near Deák Ferenc Square and the Basilica. The owner, Dodo, had been an admirer of the French macarons, thus she decided to bring them home and perfect the art of making them. When we arrived, we stood by the window for a while to witness the process of making these delicious sweets.
As we stepped inside, we were welcomed by a very cheerful staff. We were quite frankly shocked by the selection of macarons and mignons. From fruity flavours to chocolatey ones, we could find everything we had ever dreamed of. As pistachio enthusiasts, we had to go for a pistachio macaron and mignon. The French delicacies were excellent, and so was the coffee. Overall, Chez Dodo is a cosy and beautiful café in Budapest that provides a unique experience.
Source: Daily News Hungary / Fanni Forgács
Mokka Cukka
To shake things up a bit, this time we wanted to explore a new café in Budapest while enjoying a tasty brunch. We have previously collected a list of brunch and coffee spots that we would like to visit, so we randomly pointed at one. The next minute, we were headed to Mokka Cukka, just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Parliament. This brunch spot is located on a peaceful street, so it is highly recommended that you sit outside and enjoy the weather.
Mokka Cukka offers all-day breakfast, breakfast cocktails, coffee specialities and lunch options as well. The Eggs Benedict with Hungarian ham was mind-blowing and the coffee art was a pleasant surprise. The staff was thoughtful, making sure that we had a great experience. While it is impossible to choose the best café in Budapest out of such unique places, Mokka Cukka has a special place in our hearts from now on.
Vén Hajó Restaurant is one of the most iconic places in Budapest, serving delicious meals in an exquisite environment on Budapest’s blue ribbon, the River Danube. Now, the management announced that after 20 years, they would move away from their original location to the city heart.
Iconic Vén Hajó restaurant with a view of the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle
According to turizmus.com, a Hungarian tourism news media outlet, the Vén Hajó Restauranthas moved from the Vigadó Tér pier to the Akadémia 2 pier, near Budapest’s illustrious Chain Bridge.
Photo: FB/Vén Hajó Restaurant
However, not only relocation happened. Guests can spend their evening and get delicious dishes in a panoramic restaurant with a capacity of almost 200 people and a view of Budapest’s must-see sights, including the Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Street food, private room, cruise experience
The Európa Rendezvényiroda Ltd, the operator of the restaurant, told Turizmus.com that the fusion of the Vén Hajó Restaurant and the Stadt Wien boat would open new horizons for the guests. Apart from the panoramic terrace, there are four private rooms for even gatherings between friends. Furthermore, it will also be able to move on the river. You may check out their menu HERE.
Photo: FB/Vén Hajó Restaurant
The sister boat of the Stadt Wien is the Széchenyi. Therefore, you can check out the iconic paddle boat while sitting in the restaurant. Moreover, a new burger place will open on the ship this summer. Therefore, those who love street food will also feel comfortable there.
The current venue of the restaurant, the Kossuth boat:
“Next to the Szécheny Chain Bridge, the Stadt Wien Boat is facing the UNESCO winner panorama of Buda. The decks of our calm boat are perfect for consumer events, company events, family events, etc.”, they write about the place on their website.
Photo: FB/Vén Hajó Restaurant
The reopening of the restaurant will be on 4 June.
Michelin star tasting menus expensive in Hungary
According to Utazómajom, a travel news magazine, tasting menus in restaurants awarded with Michelin stars are expensive in Hungary compared to other European countries. Chef’s Pencil studied the prices of 3,517 menus and found that in Hungary, the average price is EUR 164. That is the 9th most expensive in Europe and the 15th in the world. It means Hungary is even more expensive than France, Greece, Italy and Spain.
Fine dining is the most expensive in Denmark in Europe, and Hong Kong in the world. Budapest is 47th. For example, Sao Paolo and Chengdu are cheaper than the Hungarian capital.
Read also:
Spanish chef with 3 Michelin stars opened a restaurant in Budapest – PHOTOS and details in THISarticle
Hungarian restaurants among the world’s best of the best – Details in THISarticle
Authorities have shut down a Hungarian restaurant in Debrecen, the country’s second-largest city, following an appalling inspection. Watch the video shared by authorities revealing the shameful conditions in this Eastern Hungarian establishment.
According to Magyar Nemzet, the Hungarian National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) conducted an inspection that led to the immediate closure of the restaurant. Inspectors found evidence of rodent and insect infestations in the restaurant’s food storage areas.
Photo: PrtScr/Youtube/Nébih
Furthermore, many of the kitchen tools used to prepare food were dirty. In addition, the restaurant’s owner stored melted meat products alongside cleaned and chopped vegetables. There were not enough dishwashers, resulting in dirty plates being recirculated to the kitchen and then to the guests without proper cleaning.
Photo: PrtScr/Youtube/Nébih
Malfunctioning lighting, invalid documents, damaged walls in the Hungarian restaurant
The situation was worsened by a lack of sufficient washbasins for handwashing, hand sanitisers and dish soap. According to Nébih, the restaurant was filthy and chaotic.
Photo: PrtScr/Youtube/Nébih
In the basement storage area, malfunctioning lighting made daily operations challenging. Moreover, the restaurant’s walls, roof and floor were in a state of utter disrepair.
The restaurant’s paperwork was not in order, and the cook did not have valid medical documents during the inspection. Consequently, the authorities have suspended the restaurant’s operations. Here is the video showing their shocking findings:
HEREyou may find the list of the Hungarian restaurants where Nébih found rule violations. Nagyerdő Projekt Ltd is at the top of the list.
Read also:
Budapest’s burger bar one of the Best Burgers in Europe 2024! – PHOTOS and more in THIS article
After spending some delightful days in Hungary, you might want to take home a piece of the country to cherish the memories you have made here. Perhaps you want to share the culture with your loved ones at home. When visiting Hungary, several unique and culturally rich souvenirs make perfect gifts for friends and family. Here are some of the best Hungarian souvenirs!
Hungarian paprika
Hungary is renowned for its high-quality paprika, a staple in Hungarian cuisine. If you have had the opportunity to try some delicious traditional dishes, you must have experienced its distinctive flavour. We cannot imagine goulash, stew and other local delicacies without paprika. You can find it in various forms, such as sweet, hot or smoked, often packaged in decorative tins or bags. Whether you are buying paprika for cooking or as a decorative item, it makes one of the best Hungarian souvenirs.
Photo: Pixabay
Bring home the national spirit
What could be better than buying a bottle of wine or spirit to share with your friends and family? A bottle of wine from the Tokaj wine region is an excellent choice. This famous Hungarian dessert wine, often referred to as the “Wine of Kings, King of Wines,” is a sweet treat that showcases Hungary’s rich winemaking tradition.
However, if you prefer something stronger, Hungarian pálinka is sure to impress. This traditional brandy can be made from almost any fruit, such as plums, apricots or pears. It often comes in beautifully decorated bottles, adding an extra touch. If you are worried about bringing these liquids on board, you can buy them at the Memories of Hungary shop at the airport.
Source: Pixabay
Hungarian cookbooks
For those who enjoy cooking, a Hungarian cookbook is a great way to bring home the flavours of Hungary. These books often include traditional recipes for dishes like goulash, paprikash and chimney cake. This way, you can recreate these traditional dishes and enjoy a taste of Hungary at home.
Source: pixabay
Further Hungarian souvenirs
If you prefer a safe option when choosing Hungarian souvenirs, you can always get a colourful magnet to decorate your fridge. Even in the touristy areas of Budapest, you can find inexpensive ones. However, keep in mind that magnets might be significantly more expensive at the airport.
Additionally, you can buy items such as tablecloths, pillowcases or clothing featuring traditional Hungarian embroidery. Matyó and Kalocsa folk art are among the most popular and beautiful, with their unique and intricate patterns. Hungarian souvenirs that reflect the country’s cultural richness make excellent gifts!
For a number of years now, tourists have been faced with extremely high prices around Lake Balaton. Unfortunately, this year is no different on Lake Velence: buffet prices have reached incredible levels. Here’s what to expect if you want to holiday on Lake Velence in 2024.
Sky-high prices at the Hungarian sea
Lake Balaton. Source: depositphotos.com
As reported by Daily News Hungary in mid-May, those who want to eat lángos at Lake Balaton this year may face high prices. To clarify, Hungarian lángos is made from a simple dough consisting of flour, water, yeast, and salt, which is deep-fried until golden and crispy, then topped with several savoury toppings, such as garlic, sour cream, grated cheese, and sometimes even sweet toppings such as jam or Nutella.
As we wrote in the article, visitors to the “Hungarian sea” should expect a nearly 10% hike in prices compared to last year’s already high rates. Lake Velence is a great alternative to Lake Balaton, as it’s generally a bit less crowded, and usually a bit cheaper too: however, it might not be the case this year.
Prices at Lake Velence
According to reports from Pénzcentrumreaders, tourists on holiday at Lake Velence should also be prepared for high food prices. Here are some examples:
According to Pénzcentrum, these prices are roughly in line with those at Lake Balaton. Wanna eat something else? Find further examples below:
Main courses
carp fish soup costs HUF 2690 (EUR 6.98);
fried chicken breast or fried cheese with hash browns cost HUF 3490 (EUR 9.06);
fried sausage costs HUF 1190/10 dkg (EUR 3.09);
hot-dog costs HUF 900 (EUR 2.34);
hamburger costs range between HUF 1290 and 1490 (EUR 3.35 and 3.87) depending on the extras.
One plain lángos is HUF 890 (EUR 2.30), one lángos with cheese is HUF 1250 (EUR 3.24), one cheese and cream lángos is HUF 1550 (EUR 4), and one lángos with dill and sheep’s cottage cheese is HUF 1500 (EUR 3.89).
According to Pénzcentrum, a pint of beer costs between HUF 790 and 1490 (EUR 2.05 and 3.87), a coffee HUF 550-650 (EUR 1.43-1.69), half a litre of coke HUF 700 (EUR 1.82). Ice cream prices are particularly high: a small portion costs HUF 850 (EUR 2.21) and a large portion HUF 1350 (EUR 3.50) on the shores of Lake Velence.
Along with lángos and beer, pancakes are another top product on the beaches. At Lake Velence, the price of HUF 350-450 (EUR 0.91-1.17) doesn’t seem like much, although you never eat just one. They are slightly more expensive on the shores of Lake Balaton, between HUF 400 and 500 (EUR 1.05 and 1.30).
The annual Hungarian Gelato Competition took place once again this year, with pastry chef Nándor Bergmann winning the top prize for his innovative dessert, Pumpkin Seed Sorbet with Red Berries. Awards were given across five different categories in this popular contest.
The competition’s aim
Photo: Facebook/Magyar Cukrász Ipartestület
According to the press release from the Hungarian Confectioners’ Guild, the 2024 competition aimed to promote traditional, high-quality artisanal gelato. The goal is to encourage Hungarian confectioners to offer superior gelato to their customers, fostering a demand for healthy and high-quality handcrafted products.
As Index writes, this year’s event had a festival atmosphere, held as part of a citywide celebration where participants created their entries in front of an audience. This setup allowed consumers to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate process of gelato-making.
The competition was held in a fully equipped gelato laboratory, utilising three professional freezers, and ran from morning until early afternoon. Following the competition, a series of entertaining and educational presentations related to gelato took place, alongside a professional exhibition that added further variety to the program.
Record number of gelato entries
Ice Cream of the Year: Pumpkin seed sorbet with red berries by Nándor Bergmann. Photo: Facebook/Magyar Cukrász Ipartestület
In honour of the host city Kecskemét, a new category was introduced: the “Apricot Gelato” category. This aimed to promote the “Kecskemét Hungarian Apricot” and the nationally significant “Kecskemét Apricot Brandy”, both noted in the Hungarian Heritage Repository.
This year saw a record number of entries, with 90 gelatos competing across five categories. Along with award-winning Hungarian gelatos from previous years, a total of 130 varieties were available for tasting throughout the day-long event.
The gelatos were judged by a panel of expert pastry chefs, a public jury, and representatives from professional organizations. The creativity of the contestants was once again boundless. In addition to the intriguingly flavoured apricot gelatos, a wide array of Hungarian and exotic fruits were used, often paired with nuts and herbs.
Pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pecans were popular choices among the nuts. Herbs and spices such as rosemary, bay leaf, juniper berry, pink peppercorn, timut pepper, Sichuan pepper, and even fig leaf made appearances in the inventive flavour combinations.
Prizes, categories and winners
Photo: Facebook/Magyar Cukrász Ipartestület
Prizes were awarded in a total of five categories, and four special prizes were also awarded.
“A” category: competition for confectioners, artisan ice cream makers
Gold medalist and winner of the Gelato of the Year trophy: Tökmag sorbet pirosbogyós gyümölcsökkel (Pumpkin seed sorbet with red berries) (Nándor Bergmann: The Little Bergmann Confectionery, Balatonfüred)
“M” – ‘Free’ category: ice cream with no added sugar, gluten, lactose or milk proteins
Is it possible to get a bargain on this year’s Balaton holiday? Similarly to previous years, we can read unfortunate news about the price hike in Lake Balaton. Everything is getting more expensive: drinks, food, spa passes and accommodation. The skyrocketing prices are usually fueled by inflation. However, if you pay attention to certain things, you will be able to get away with a Balaton holiday on a budget.
Experts’ advice
As Sonline writes, Balaton tourism experts advise people to be more mindful of information online. For instance, articles may feature extremely pricey ice cream and lángos places, however, the prudent traveller can dig further and find cheaper alternatives. Some may go as far as discouraging people from going to Lake Balaton this year, while with a little preparation, you can make the most out of your Balaton holiday even if you are on a budget.
Photo: depositphotos.com
Plan ahead
According to a hotel manager at Lake Balaton, winter and spring are challenging for large hotels due to consistent fixed costs throughout the year. Despite these challenges, 2024 pre-booking statistics indicate a potentially better high season than last year. Foreign tourists, including many from the Czech Republic and Dubai, are returning, with extended stays of two weeks or more, as opposed to the typical 3-4 day stays of Hungarian guests, according to Bernadett Antal, sales manager of Hotel Laroba in Alsóörs.
Choosing the destination for your Balaton holiday
As Sonline also notes, due to a more conscious approach, many people are now opting for previously less popular destinations with cheaper accommodation and a relaxed atmosphere. There is a resurgence in apartment rentals and camping tourism. These guests aim to spend less on entertainment, leading to an increase in free events at Lake Balaton. Therefore, you can save big money on your Balaton holiday if you choose free programmes and do not pay an arm and a leg for your accommodation.
Food and drink prices
You can indeed have a scoop of ice cream for HUF 800 (EUR 2.07), but you can usually also bike to another location for a cheaper alternative. In addition, the bike ride can be a perfect addition to your Balaton holiday activities. Tamás Fekete, vice president of the Balaton Tourism Association, notes that ice cream vendors have faced criticism from anti-Balaton travel campaigns. Despite this, most confectioners in the Balaton Fagyija competition report minimal price changes, with quality ice cream prices rising slightly from HUF 550 (EUR 1.42) to HUF 600 (EUR 1.55).
When it comes to delicious dishes, few foods boast the universal appeal of a beautifully crafted burger. From the classic cheeseburger to innovative gourmet creations, Europe is a haven for burger aficionados on the hunt for a brilliant bite. But who does it best? Drawing on data from our social audiences, as well as recommendations from our editorial team, Big 7 Travel compiled this year’s annual list of the best buns on the continent.
You’ll see some familiar faces in there, as well as plenty of newbies stirring up the scene. So, here’s our pick of the best burgers in Europe for 2024, enjoytravel.com wrote. You may check out the full list HERE.
“Opened in 2018, Bamba Marha Burger Bar is at the very top of its game in a city where people seriously know good burgers. Culinary maestro Jani Jancsa leads the team here, whipping up soft and chewy buns stuffed with juicy patties oozing with gooey cheese and crunchy toppings. Don’t miss the monthly special, a creative concoction featuring unusual and oh-so-photogenic ingredients, like the blue bun beef patty, filled with grilled pepperoni, marinara and truffle mayonnaise”, they wrote about the Hungarian burger place.
You can taste Bamba Marha burgers in Budapest.Bamba Marha of Budapestfacebook.com/bambamarhaburger
On the first place, there is XO Grill in Kettenbrückengasse and Vienna (Austria), the silver went to the Bunsen in Dublin (Ireland), while the third place belongs to The Beefy Boys in Hereford (United Kingdom).
