Budapest has hundreds of delicious restaurants to choose from. Unfortunately, I only had four days to spend in this beautiful city, so here is a list of the best dinner spots I had the opportunity to enjoy.

Please keep in mind I was also traveling on a budget and wasn’t always able to get traditional Hungarian cuisine, so please don’t hate me if you’re a native Hungarian and my list offends you…

A Majomhoz

This is a delicious and cozy little spot on the Buda side of the city. It’s a quaint outdoor area walled in by trees with a bar area, a few different food options, and (at least when I was there in summer) live music. It’s a great way to spend a beautiful summer evening on the quiet side of Budapest.

While you’re here, I also recommend trying traditional Hungarian liquor: Pálinka and Unicum! While I can’t necessarily say that they’re tasty, it’s still fun to try what the locals drink. I recommend trying them in shots, and a chaser is also recommended 🙂

I also just looked at their website and they might only be open in the summertime, so keep that in mind if you’re traveling in fall/winter/spring.

Hung(a)ry

If you want affordable, delicious Hungarian goulash then this is the place to be. They have a very nice patio dining area with super friendly staff, and it’s a great spot to relax and have a tasty meal. They offer most traditional Hungarian dishes and all at a good price, so if you’re traveling on a budget like I was and want to try the local cuisine, then this is the place to be.

M’ares greek gyros

I just had to throw this one in here. If you’re looking for something quick, cheap and delicious, then this is the perfect spot. My stomach rumbles just thinking about it. Man, do I miss European street gyros. They just don’t make them here in the U.S. like they do in Europe.

Panoramia Cafe

While this isn’t the best place to go if you’re traveling on a budget, it is the best place for an amazing view of the city. It’s near the Buda Castle, and it has an incredible view overlooking the Danube, the Parliament Building, and all of the rest of Budapest. The food isn’t the most affordable (which is why I only got a strawberry milkshake lol) but the view makes up for it.

Vintage Garden

Vintage Garden is a great spot with lots of nice plant decor as well as an interior terrace with a retractable roof. This allows for a great dining experience with fresh air while still getting the cozy restaurant vibe. It has more Italian-style food, but it’s delicious nonetheless.

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While my time in Budapest was unfortunately limited, I feel as though I made it count. These were all delicious dinner spots, and hopefully sometime I’ll be able to go back so I can expand this list even more.

Enjoy Budapest!