Hungarian Flavors: Puli és Juhász
The menu at Puli and Juhász, a classic Pest-style csárda, just got even more delicious with some truly Hungarian comfort food. Think rich, juicy lamb stew with salted potatoes, crispy Mátra-style chicken breast loaded with garlic sour cream and smoked cheese, served with rice and peas, and almond-crusted pikeperch with creamy potato salad. It’s all about those hearty, homey flavors—the kind that instantly bring that cozy, old-school Hungarian tavern vibe, where every bite feels like a taste of Hungary. And to top it all off? Poppy seed dumplings with homemade plum jam.
1074 Budapest, Dob utca 19. | Website
Easter Brunch: ARAZ Restaurant
One of downtown’s most quietly impressive restaurants, ARAZ strikes a balance that’s harder to pull off than it looks: cosmopolitan atmosphere, neighborhood warmth, and a kitchen that takes culinary traditions seriously without taking itself too seriously. On April 5, ARAZ is marking Easter with a special brunch: rosemary veal ragout soup, confit lamb shoulder, mangalica tenderloin baked in bread dough, and smoked knuckle with horseradish foam, followed by Rákóczi túrós, carrot cake and braided kalács for dessert.
1074 Budapest, Dohány utca 42-44. | Website
Coffee in Style: Centrál Kávéház
Opened in 1887 and still going strong, Centrál Kávéház is one of the last true survivors of Budapest’s golden age coffee house era – and one look at the antique furniture, soaring ceilings and lush greenery is enough to understand why it has endured. The kitchen pays equal tribute to tradition and new ideas, putting French-inspired dishes at the centre of a menu that manages to feel both timeless and alive. Save room for dessert: the apple & cinnamon mille-feuille and pecan caramel cheesecake are not to be skipped.
1053 Budapest, Károlyi utca 9. | Website
Riverside Adventure: Evezős Sörkert
Few places along the Római-part have stood the test of time quite like Evezős Sörkert. Over 40 years in, this beloved institution is still doing exactly what it has always done: throw open its doors to families, children, dogs and anyone else who wanders in, and send them home well-fed and unhurried. The menu spans waterside classics, street food favorites and Hungarian staples, like fried hake, burgers, and sausages. Once a week, live music joins the mix, making an enjoyable meal feel like a proper occasion.
1031 Budapest, Római-part 34. | Facebook
Beer by the Lake: Jónás Craft Beer & Food
Planted beside the duck pond in Bikás Park, Jónás Craft Beer & Food is one of southwest Budapest’s most rewarding discoveries. The lakeside setting and leafy park surroundings make it an easy place to lose an afternoon, and the extensive local craft beer lineup gives you plenty of reasons to stay. The monthly changing food menu keeps things interesting on the plate, ensuring there’s always something new and juicy to try alongside your pint.
1119 Budapest, Vahot utca 8. | Facebook
The Original Chimney Cake: Édes Mackó
If you find yourself in City Park and something sweet catches your nose, just follow it: it’ll lead you straight to Édes Mackó. The charcoal-grilled chimney cakes are the classic order, but the seasonal dessert specialties are where things get exciting. Kürtős Fagyi pairs the baked delicacy with vanilla ice cream and forest fruit sauce, Kürtős Pistachio Flower arranges chimney cake petals around a generous filling of pistachio mousse, and the Madárlátta Kürtős (a floating island with chimney cake) is exactly as divine as it sounds.
1146 Budapest, Állatkerti körút 14-16. | Facebook
Event Pick: Badacsony in New York
One of Hungary’s most beloved wine regions is taking over the Rome Hall of the opulent New York Palace for a day, and it’s bringing 52 wineries and over 200 mineral-packed wines with it! The 15th edition of Badacsony in New York is the perfect excuse to explore the wonderful treasures scattered around the Badacsony wine district: family winery gems, local cuisine, and talks on the past and future of Hungarian winemaking. Advance tickets go for 14,900 HUF and include unlimited wine consumption.
1073 Budapest, Erzsébet körút 9. | Website
Spring Getaway: Rókusfalvy Fogadó
Just a short bus ride from Budapest, Rókusfalvy Fogadó offers exactly the kind of reset a long week calls for. Founded as a family winery back in 1999, the estate has grown into one of Etyek’s most beloved destinations, with six hectares of rolling hillside, a cellar stocked with crisp whites, fruity sparkling wines and characterful reds, and enough activities to fill a genuinely satisfying day out. Explore the vineyards on an E-bike or E-scooter, join a guided cellar tour, or settle in for a proper wine tasting event for a day well spent.
2091 Etyek, Újhegy 89. | Website
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