Food-lovers organising their next trip to Hungary have no shortage of choice when it comes to restaurants selected by the Michelin Inspectors. But, where to stay during your visit? Well, alongside the famed restaurant inspectors, Michelin also has an expert team who recommend the finest hotels across the world. We take a look at five MICHELIN Guide hotels, where top restaurants are just a short stroll away.
For a simple, fuss-free holiday complete with both conveniently located hotels and restaurants, look no further than Budapest. First stop on our tour of the capital’s top hotels and restaurants is the Prestige Hotel Budapest. Sitting inside a listed landmark building, there is an East-meets-West atmosphere here, with thoroughly renovated rooms that pay homage to Budapest’s multifarious design history using a contemporary sensibility. Also worthy of mention is the central atrium, around which the open-air corridors wrap, that is nothing if not distinctive and even somewhat reminiscent of Wes Anderson’s fictional Grand Budapest Hotel.
There is a culinary draw to staying at the Prestige Hotel Budapest too, with Mák restaurant located just a stone’s throw away. Both hotel and restaurant are in the Pest half of the city, but lie close to the banks of the Danube. Inside Mák, you will find creative takes on Hungarian classics along with a focus on seasonality and prime produce. The restaurant may be based in Budapest, but ingredients are sourced from all over the country to show off the plentiful larder Hungary has to offer. János Mizsei, winner of the Michelin Young Chef Award 2022, leads the kitchen team, bringing invention – and plenty of pickles – to the dishes.
5 minutes further from the river lies Textúra. A stylish brasserie with a pleasingly laid-back feel, it offers another enjoyable dining option when staying at the Prestige Hotel Budapest. The service team run the place smoothly, while the chefs show ambition in their creative dishes, with seasonality again proving important.
If you want to stay slightly further south in Budapest, then Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, offers more top-quality accommodation. One of a matching pair of Belle Époque palaces built by Marie Clotilde, Archduchess of Austria, the Matild Palace has been lovingly restored into the swish hotel it is today. The location is a grand one, close to the Elizabeth Bridge, and what’s inside is a heady mixture of historical heritage and contemporary style. A classic Hungarian-style spa doesn’t hurt its appeal either.
When it comes to dining, you don’t even need to leave the hotel. Spago by Wolfgang Puck is within the walls of the palace and the eponymous Austrian chef has brought a fun Californian dining concept to it. Hungarian produce and flavours are still the bedrock however, with straightforward dishes executed well by the kitchen team. They take wine seriously too, with a team of three looking after the bottles.
A third option for staying overnight here is Hotel Moments Budapest, another destination to the East of the Danube. It lies on the bustling Andrássy Avenue, not far from the State Opera, and has retained elements of the 19C townhouse it once was – including the original inlaid floors and an impressive decorative ceiling. Bedrooms, meanwhile, are sleek and modern, with a subtle art deco style. When celebrating a special occasion, opt for the suite, where you can marvel at St. Stephen’s Basilica from your balcony.
Perhaps the greatest draw of a stay at Hotel Moments Budapest, however, is its proximity to a truly top-class restaurant. One of just two establishments in Hungary to hold Two Michelin Stars, Stand offers the finest dining experience you'll find in the city. Eye-catching and contemporary in its design, it features a central glass-walled kitchen which serves as the focal point for the dining room and the hub from which a parade of superb dishes are produced.
Chefs Szabina Szulló and Tamás Széll show great respect for Hungarian cuisine, incorporating modern takes on classic dishes like gulyás into their menus. There are also international elements across the dishes, indicating the broad talent and knowledge held by the kitchen team. They clearly have an abundance of technical skill too, but these skills are never used as gimmicks. Instead, the chefs’ considerable talents are always used in service of the dish, allowing the flavours to shine.
Another great choice for staying over is the Hotel Clark Budapest, on the opposite side of the river. It sits in a brilliant central location in the Buda part of the city, surrounded by stately 19C buildings despite its own modern design. Located near the famous Chain Bridge, it features spectacular views of the Danube from many of its rooms. The interiors are less minimalistic than the understated façade, but no less contemporary, with a postmodern whimsy to the elegant public spaces and rooms that playfully incorporate a touch of art deco design.
To eat, take a short riverside stroll heading south and you’ll soon find FELIX Kitchen & Bar, an accessible brasserie de-luxe that serves an appealing line-up of dishes. Many come from the Josper grill and are cooked with care, with a range of caviar also on offer for a touch of glamour that suits the plush surroundings. As well as a smartly restored ceiling and ornate interior design, there's as an air-conditioned terrace that’s a perfect spot for people watching.
For another dining option, try Stand25 Bisztró, the less formal operation from the team at Stand. Hungarian classics feature on a menu with some Mediterranean edges, which offers plenty of hearty and robust flavours. There’s a brilliant buzz about the place too, which has the feel of a proper neighbourhood operation.
For our final recommendation of hotel-restaurant combinations in Hungary, we venture outside of the capital to the town of Tura in Pest County. This is the setting for the breath-taking 19C Schossberger Castle, which looks like it could have been pulled straight out of a Disney film. Once neglected, the building has now been restored to its original neoclassical and neo-baroque splendour – and plays host to the luxury BOTANIQ Castle of Tura hotel. The comfortable rooms vary in size and some come with the added bonus of a private terrace. There’s also a spa, where the treatments are inspired by the castle’s own gardens.
For dinner, you can simply pop to Clarisse, the fine dining restaurant nestled within the hotel. It’s named after the daughter of the castle’s original owner and one wall of the beautiful dining room is decorated with her portraits and her art. The complex dishes can be accompanied by wine from the 200-bin cellar, where thoughtfully curated pairings are chosen by Tamás Langó, winner of the Michelin Sommelier Award 2022.
With this selection of top-quality hotels recommended by MICHELIN Guide, as well as the range of restaurants nearby, you have the makings of an excellent trip to Hungary. From art deco bedrooms to hearty national dishes, there is plenty to enjoy on your next visit to Budapest and beyond.
