Hey all, we are arriving from the US on the 28th around 7:30pm. We will be dropped off at our hotel, Aria Hotel Budapest. We will be jet lagged, tired, and hungry and are looking for recommendations for casual restaurants within walking distance that some weary tired looking travelers can get a bite and some drinks before retiring for the evening. We are healthy and don't mind walking to get to a decent place. Looking for something local and traditional to the area.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3046 posts
I would send a note to the hotel. Hotels maintain lists of local restaurants which can satisfy your interests.
Posted by
Atlanta
3250 posts
Use Google Maps to "see" restaurants near your hotel - you can check reviews and view photos that people have posted to get an idea of whether or not it looks good to you.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17939 posts
Your hotel is next to the Basilica. The square in front of the Basilica is chock full of restaurants. I don't do them too often so can't recommend one but more than a half dozen to choose from. On the street behind the Basilica are 3 of my favorite, Hachapuri (Georgian food), Belvárosi Lugas (Hungarian) and Pörc & Prézli Étterem (Hungarian).
They are all informal.
Wait! The Christmas market in front of thr Basilica will be open!!! Lots of food and mre if you work yout way towards Vorosmarty ter (5 min walk). But if it's too crowded for your taste or you want to sit, go to one of the 3 behind the Basilica.
Posted by
alameda, ca, usa
2602 posts
Belvarosi Lugas is a favorite of mine...excellent toltott kaposzta (stuffed cabbage). I hadn't visited Budapest since 2019 so when I went this May that was my first meal along with a nice cold Dreher and some uborka salata. It's always full of Hungarians so I take that as a good sign.
Posted by
TX, USA
4101 posts
An addition to Mr É’s recommendations, which are great (after all, he is the nonexpert), you could add Vac Varju. I would suggest a reservation at any of these, though, since you will be tired and jetlagged. If you arrive at the airport at 7:30, it may be nearly 9:00 by the time you get to your hotel if you check a bag. The Christmas market would be fast and easy and convenient if you don’t want to spend an hour or more at a sit-down restaurant.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
That answers my question and thanks for all the replies and the great suggestions. It makes it so much easier to have a plan rather than wandering aimlessly around!
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17939 posts
Ohhhhh, Budapest is a perfect city to wander.
I will be back in about 4 hours.
Posted by
Carlsbad, CA
1 posts
All of this Hungarian restaurant talk is making me miss Budapest. :( I hope I can get back soon.
Posted by
TX, USA
4101 posts
Me, too, Jeff. Sigh.
Posted by
San Francisco
50 posts
We will be staying at the Aria Budapest in May. Please post what you think of the hotel and the restaurants you ate at. Thank you.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17939 posts
TexasTravelMom put a link to your restaurant list.
Katie, there is no limit to the great food in Budapest. A few of thr best higher end restraints are very near your hotel. The hotel is in a bit of a tourist area where you coluld stay for days (my Christmas dinner is about 300 feet from your hotel https://costesizakaya.hu/) ... really not a bad thing except it's easy to get lazy with so much nice so close ... buy use the public transportation to explore a bit further out and see some of the other faces of the city.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17939 posts
Posted by
San Francisco
50 posts
Mr. E:
Thank you for the links. I have bookmarked them. We are in Budapest for four nights at the Aria starting May 6th. We love to explore neighborhoods and are very interested in history. My husband used to play oboe in the California Youth Symphony and is very interested in hearing performances. That is why we are staying at the Aria. Any insight you have regarding history and musical performances would greatly be appreciated.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17939 posts
For music
The Hungarian State Opera: https://www.opera.hu/ absolutely one of the most beautiful opera houses in Europe. But check out their other venues: Eiffel Art Studios and the Erkel. A lot more than opera and ballet going on.
MUPA a truly world class performing arts center: https://www.mupa.hu/en
The National Theater occasionally has musical performances but mostly iconic local artists: https://nemzetiszinhaz.hu/
For music purely as an artform there is no beating the Liszt Academy: https://lfze.hu/programok Choose a performance in the great room or go to student test performances. Its great at every level and the architecture of the building is second to none.
Hungarians love Jazz and I think the best of the clubs is Opus. It’s a dinner theater and the food is pretty first class too. 90% local atmosphere: https://opusjazzclub.hu/
The newest addition and a good sign that Hungary is still very much a performing arts venue is the Hungarian House of Music. https://zenehaza.hu/ Something almost every night, some free.
Then there are the church concerts:
Matthias Chruch https://budacastlebudapest.com/concerts-in-matthias-church/
St Stephen’s Basilica https://www.bazilika.biz/en/concerts
And not to be missed is the Vigado Concert Hall: https://vigado.hu/web/en/programs
Except for the Basilica none of this is close to your hotel. BUT, getting around in Budapest is easy. Do buy tickets well in advance. Music is a local cultural thing and tickets sell out fast.
PS. For everything else: https://jegymester.hu/ and https://www.jegy.hu/
Posted by
San Francisco
50 posts
Thank you so very much. I am going to give my husband your post and let him decide what he wants to see and hear. I am a planner so the decisions will be made very soon and tickets will be bought.