restaurant recommendations, ways to get around question

If you're in the mood for Italian, Ottimo in the Ritz Carlton is excellent. Urban betyar is also very good.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/oct-2024-budapest-notes

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/authorizing-budapest-go-app

This will get you started. There is a ton of good info on the Hungary forum. Also check out the pdf on Mr. É’s profile.

Can anyone recommend their favorite restaurant(s).

The links TTM posted and

Of course, we want to try local specialties like goulash.

Local Food

• Goulash (Gulyás)
• Stuffed Cabbage (Töltött Káposzta)
• Magyar-bred Mangalica meat or sausage
• Carp Soup (Halászlé)
• No good English name for this (Lángos)
• Duck or Goose Pâté
• Anything with duck …..
• Anything with fried pig fat
• Local wines (very, very good)
• Local beers (pretty good and pretty cheap)

Also, what's the easiest way to get around?

You will need public transportation. A 24 or 72 hour or a 15 day TravelCard or Travel Pass. The 15 day is only a few dollars more than the 72 hour and is usually the best bet. There is more information in the links you will find here: https://community.ricksteves.com/users/50322

We will be staying in the city center so we will be very central.

I am very afraid that you are not staying as central is you think. If you let us know the name of the hotel or the address of the short-term rental it would make it easier to tell you how to get around.

I'm guessing Uber operates there but I'm not sure.

Uber does operate here. But here Uber is a standard cab company with yellow cars with lights on top and a taxi meter inside. The vast majority of the tourists never find a need for a taxi except to get to and from the airport.

Finally, any suggestions as to what to do on New Year's Eve? Mind you,
I will be with two of my children ages 24 and 22.

Not a big New Years Eve city. I would do a party at a restaurant or a hotel (book now) or go down to the river near the Intercontinental Hotel. There will be some fireworks, not much though.

Some NYE Resources

https://budapestnewyear.com/
https://www.budapest.org/en/events-budapest/new-years-eve-budapest/
https://www.corinthia.com/en-gb/budapest/discover-budapest/how-to-celebrate-new-year-in-budapest/
https://www.kempinski.com/en/hotel-corvinus-budapest/restaurants-bars/festive-season/new-year-s-eve
https://szechenyibath.com/szechenyi-baths-new-year-bath-party/

Thank you all for these recommendations. Mr E, we will be staying very near to St. Stephen's Basilica so I'm assuming we are pretty central.

Pretty central. And given tge types of establishments in the pedestrian zone, maybe not a bad place to be to party NYE. And not toʻ terribly far from Virosmarty ter and the Corso, two other places where things will be happening.

Ok great to know! Do you know if most restaurants are open on New Year's Eve or Day? We are staying in an air bnb and the hosts haven't been that forthcoming with information regarding NYE or Day.

Many restaurants are open, but they may have special menus and reservations will be essential. I think in the pdf there is a short list of open restaurants but I suspect with a little research (go through the various lists here and elsewhere) you will find that quite a few will be open).

I always panic a bit when someone says they have a central location. The city is roughly the size of Chicago so "central" can mean miles from the tourism and hotels and short-term rentals do take advantage of that fact. I have even seen "Close to the Opera House" turning out to be a 10 - 15-minute walk. Just make sure you have your Airbnb address, and you checked it yourself so it really is by the Basilica. Also, locate the nearest metro station (no trams over there) because you might find yourself using it a bit in getting around.

and the hosts haven't been that forthcoming with information regarding NYE or Day

Really depends on what you want to do. Some things will be closed you will have to check on an individual basis. Its a big city so better to plan the trip a bit, you can always veer of the path, but the plan is a good backup. You will be best with dinner reservations both days. Breakfast and lunch shouldnt be a problem. Here is an interesting place not too far from the Basillica you might want to drop into for some pretty decent Hungarian peasant food and beer: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qv2eb3VgTfXnaGhr9 New Year Day might be a good bath house day. NYE might be a good bathhouse destination night for the kids, but I would stay clear. The riverboat NYE ride is going to be pretty nice. Beautiful views and a few fireworks (fireworks not a big thing here on NYE .... we have 20 August for that). The Basilica zone, and Vorsomarty ter and the Corso, as I mentioned before. If it were me, I would go to the Corso for the views and a few fireworks. Done that before, a bit crowded but ........................ Oh, maybe the rooftop on the HardRock Cafe .... dont know, presume it will be open. Check

Wow those are great suggestions Mr. E. Thanks so much. The river boat trip on NYE sounds fantastic. Do you know if we have to make reservations ahead of time? I am just starting my research on Hungary (was working on planning the Vienna trip up til now) and don't really know where to go to catch that river boat or whether tickets can be purchased in advance. I've ordered Rick's guidebook on Budapest so I'm assuming you it will be listed in there. Just don't know how this will all work on NYE and day though.

Some general information on Budapest that might be helpful for planning a trip, or deciding to visit:**
Information on what to see and do: https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ai7Zk-szxfTJi79Yd9F2yuKCVeZLYw
Favorite Tourism Video of Budapest: https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared
Anthony Bourdain describing how visually pleasurable Budapest is: https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX
Favorite Guide Book because its small and does the essentials: DK Eyewitness Budapest Top 10 https://a.co/d/6JD82mf

Here is one NYE Cruise. https://silver-line.hu/new-years-eve-budapest-cruise/

There are others. Just google. And yes, book now.