There is no doubt that the architecture and city landscapes of Eastern Europe has a charm all of its own. Ancient castles and cobblestoned streets are all steeped in history, which explains the flocks of tourists it attracts every year.
When it comes to Eastern European cuisine, most people would first think of goulash, Polish dumplings or beef-filled cabbage rolls—but there is so much more. Here, we flip through the prestigious red guide to pick out the Michelin-starred restaurants in Eastern Europe that span a diversity of cuisines.
A dish from Alcron restaurant in Prague.
Prague, Czech Republic
La Dégustation Bohême Bourgeoise
This intimate L-shaped restaurant is hidden away in a historic building. Choose between two tasting menus by executive chef Oldřich Sahajdák; the six-course option is inspired by the refined Czech cuisine of Marie B Svobodová's 19th-century published recipes. Cooking is precise, innovative and flavorful, and the service is charming.Haštalská 18
Alcron
With an interior dominated by an art deco mural of dancing couple in Manhattan by Tamara de Lempicka, this intimate restaurant features 24 seats and a 1930s fireplace. Choose hot or cold tasting dishes from Roman Paulus’s international menu boasting well-presented, creative, and contemporary cooking using top ingredients.Štepánská 40 Praha
Field
Friends Radek Kaspárek and Miroslav Nosek run this chic restaurant, which has a warm, intimate feel. An eye-catching mural by artist Jakub Matuška is projected overhead and the Scandinavian-style cooking is equally contemporary. Alongside wine pairings, Field also offers a non-alcoholic drink pairing menu. (Think tomato, cucumber and chile juice.)U Milosrdných 12
At Borkonyha Winekitchen, top ingredients come from surrounding countries.
Budapest, Hungary
Onyx
Now open for over a decade, this glamorous restaurant in the heart of Budapest features gilt chairs, sparkling chandeliers and onyx adornments. Highly-skilled, detailed cooking by chef Ádám Mészáros keeps classical Hungarian flavors to the forefront while presenting interesting modern twists. On Saturdays, only the tasting menus are served.Vörösmarty Square 7-8, Pest 1051
Costes and Costes Downtown
The very sophisticated Costes restaurant, complete with immaculately dressed tables, is run by a confident, experienced service team. Modern techniques and a deft touch to produce are featured in accomplished, innovative dishes with clear flavors. Most diners choose the 4-7 course set menus with interesting wine pairings.The more informal Costes Downtown lives within the Prestige hotel and dons chic bistro styling with a friendly atmosphere; ask to be seated in one of the booths. Refined modern dishes follow the seasons and feature excellent texture and flavor combinations. Costes Downtown also offers a good value business lunch.
Costes, Ráday utca 4, Pest 1092/Costes Downtown, Vigyázó Ferenc utca 5
Borkonyha Winekitchen
This bustling wine-orientated restaurant offers a blend of French-style bistro with contemporary Hungarian influences. Ingredients are sourced from surrounding countries for the fortnightly menu, which features well-executed dishes like duck liver with cherries and carrots, and fresh fish from the market with spiced peaches. The wine list features 200 bottles—many of them Hungarian—and 48 by-the-glass options.Sas utca 3, Pest 1051
A dish at Senses in Warsaw, Poland.
Poland
Senses
As with the historic building in which it is housed, this formal restaurant connects tradition with modernity. Of the three set menus by chef/owner Andrea Camastra, most opt for the 7-course dinner to best experience cooking that is innovative, creative—and, at times theatrical—but also underpinned by classic Polish flavors. Sample menu items have included pierogi ruskie-red prawn-bottarga, and calamari-goulash-spring onion-Polish korma. ul. Bielanska 12
Atelier Amaro
An eco-style building on the edge of the park houses this intimate restaurant with its glass teardrops and tiled concrete sculptures. The menu by Wojciech Modest Amaro, entitled, “Nature’s Calendar,” showcases “forgotten products and unique ingredients,” including many foraged herbs and flowers. Ambitious, innovative dishes are full of color; the Polish spirit pairings are a must.ul. Agrykola 1
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