MICHELIN Guide Budapest 2021 : Ákos Sárközi, chef at Borkonyha Winekitchen [VIDEO]

What to do and where to eat in Hungary’s capital

Opened in 2019 by celebrity chef Ákos Sárközi, the owner of Michelin-starred restaurant Borkonyha, Textúra offers an augmented fine dining experience. A funky interior design, visually creative plates and impeccable gastronomy (in which Hungarian game meat finds a modern incarnation) await the gourmet diners of Budapest, in a laid-back, witty atmosphere full of surprises.

Traditional Hungarian cuisine is experiencing a renaissance, but some chefs prefer taking a radical turn by using experimental techniques, mixed influences, and disruptive tastes. At restaurants Arany Kaviár, Nobu and MÁK in Budapest, the fine dining experience is as unconventional as it gets. For a deliciously brave result.

Set in the Eiffel Palace, a former newspapers printing and publishing house erected in 1894, restaurant St. Andrea is a modern fine-dining venue featuring unique wines from the Hungarian estate of the same name. Chef Endre Kollár loves to work with edible flowers and recipes from his countryside background, drawing on the bountiful inspiration from the luscious Hungarian forest.

Whether you prefer the hilly tranquility of the Buda side, or the big city bustle of the Pest side of Budapest, one can lunch or dine in an elegant venue worthy of international standards. Bistronomy restaurant Felix, has a kitchen headed by a French chef, on the Buda side. Spago, a newcomer initiated by famous Austrian-American chef Wolfgang Puck, is located at the other end of the Elisabeth Bridge, on the Pest side of the city. Both share great respect for the classic French technique, paired with a love of Hungarian ingredients and international ambitions.

When thinking of Hungarian cuisine, the names of paprika, stuffed peppers and goulash instantly bring water to one’s mouth—but there’s much more to discover about the rich and sometimes unusual traditions of this beautiful Central European country.

Over the past few years, the capital city of Hungary has seen the emergence of a new and dynamic culinary scene. Young chefs and prestigious names of the international gastronomy have brought change into the kitchens of this metropolis. Hungarian traditions are being revived, appealing to a younger generation of foodies who praise local, sustainable and artisanal products. Today, it is possible to experience Budapest as a real gourmet, from a starry breakfast to an intimate dinner in one of the hippest districts of the city.

The MICHELIN Guide takes you on a trip to Hungary to discover the treasures of this country, its chefs, its products and its producers. Following the launch of the MICHELIN Guide Budapest in september 2021, we take a closer look at Stand, run by chef Tamás Széll.

The MICHELIN Guide takes you on a trip to Hungary to discover the treasures of this country, its chefs, its products and its producers. Following the launch of the MICHELIN Guide Budapest in september 2021, we take a closer look at Salt, run by Chef-owner Szilárd Tóth.

The MICHELIN Guide takes you on a trip to Hungary to discover the treasures of this country, its chefs, its products and its producers. Following the launch of the MICHELIN Guide Budapest in september 2021, we take a closer look at Essência, run by owner-Chef Tiago Sabarigo.

Thanks to his multiple television appearances, Jenő Rácz had already acquired a great popularity in Hungary. Now the young chef is the head of Rumour, a theatrical restaurant where an elevencourse menu showcases the colors and flavors of his Hungarian roots, mixed with influences from his travelling years in Europe and Asia.

On the cozy, luxurious and relaxed Buda side of the Danube river, Stand25, the bistro of star chefs Szabina Szulló and Tamás Széll, offers traditional Hungarian food done to perfection. On the other side of the river, in the hip, young and vibrant district of Erzsébetváros, young chef Ádám Mede is at the head of a fine-dining kitchen where Asian influences give a creative twist to local ingredients and recipes.