15 Best Restaurants in Gellerthegy (Gellert Hill), Budapest

Half hidden behind the Budapest-Tabán Church (the entrance is on that side of the building, not on Döbrentei utca itself), this excellent little cake shop is a popular option among locals for weddings and special events. Luckily, visitors can also get a taste of their freshly baked treats; simply head inside to order your coffees and cakes, then take them to the one of tables outside.

Opened in summer 2023, this small Bartók Béla út gelato place has quickly gained a following for its array of innovative ice cream flavors, including fresh fig and walnut, gooseberry and elderflower, and white chocolate with saffron and lemon. There are also several dessert-inspired cones, including lemon pie and Sachertorte, along with one-flavor classics like pistachio, raspberry, and mango.

This little bakery serves some of the best bread in the city, as well as lip-smacking savory and sweet pastries. It's popular with locals, so don't be surprised to find queues outside at breakfast and lunchtime.

Sometimes you just need a good burger and a great beer, and Bölcső delivers. For that reason, and its proximity to the nearby university buildings, it can be busy with students in the evening, but for lunch it's a relaxed stop. In warm weather, you can sit out on the street.

This is a special spot for high-end Hungarian cuisine, with huge windows to showcase the beautiful views of the trees and city unfolding below. From the outside, it looks a little uninspiring, but the inside is decidedly polished (despite the fake tree) and the food is superb: try the paprika veal stew or the slow-baked duck leg, followed by the “Somlói” sponge cake. There are also soups, pastas, and burgers on the menu, including a deluxe burger with duck liver. The restaurant is a bit out of the way—a 10-minute walk southwest of the Citadella (away from the river) or 15-minute walk northwest of Bartók Béla út—but it's worth the trip.

Blending Vietnamese informality with professional service and simple, clean, and elegant Scandinavian style, this trendy café on Bartók Béla út offers both light and dark roasted specialty coffees, the must-try Vietnamese coffee, and specialty teas and smoothies. Before you sample the tasty pastries and cakes, be sure to start with a bánh mì sandwich (available in a variety of flavors and sizes, including a vegan version).

This place may not look like much from the outside, particularly among the newer, trendier spots on Bartók Béla út, but it serves some of the most delicious authentic Balkan food in town. A Bulgarian known as Bárni is the proprietor, living out his dream of showcasing the chargrilled flavors of his childhood. The menu is very meat heavy, but the salads are good and there are tasty sides like peppers stuffed with feta cheese.

At the swankier end of the coffeehouse spectrum, Hadik is a looker, and knows it: all bare brick walls, beamed ceilings, grand chandeliers, church door-sized windows, and a mezzanine layer of seating. At least, that's what you'll see when you enter through the corner door: a spruced up grand café dating back more than a century. But keep walking through to your right and it's all change, as the classic decor gives way to a ruin-bar-style mishmash of colorful wall paintings, quirky lighting fixtures, and random knickknacks hanging from the ceiling. It's all part of Hadik, so simply choose the atmosphere that suits your mood then order from a menu of excellent coffees, delicious "literary" cocktails (inspired by famous Hungarian authors, some of whom used to drink right here), soups, salads, burgers, and sandwiches.

Tucked away just off Bartók Béla út on Ménesi út, this lovely little tapas bar is run by a Hungarian-Spanish couple. Diners can choose from an array of meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes, as well as several cured meat and cheese platters to share. There's also an extensive Spanish wine menu, and service comes with a smile.

A short walk from the Gellért Baths, this self-proclaimed "dinky" coffeehouse is all stripped ceilings, huge plants, and globe lights, making a popular hangout with artsy locals and students. The regular lunch and dinner menu offers a good choice of soups, salads, and pastas—try the "extra Hungarian" sztrapacska (a kind of gnocchi with sheep's cheese)—and there are daily menus available, too. Come for a midmorning brunch and you'll find everything from breakfast burritos to French toast.

This warmhearted pub (look out for the picture of the American detective, Columbo, on the sign) serves a good range of tasty Czech beers as well as ten types---count 'em---of a traditional potato pancake dish with different stuffings and toppings. Family- and dog-friendly, it's cozy rather than rowdy.

An extremely cute and colorful little café where the focus is on elegant, delicately constructed cakes, along with other desserts, pies, puddings, and cookies. The sweet treats are baked daily by the owner and make for fun energy boosters for weary travelers.

Splendid food and picture-perfect views across the river are on offer at this gorgeously situated restaurant attached to the baths of the same name. You can make a day of it with a soak and a feast, or come to the restaurant on its own to enjoy the peerless panoramic vista from the fairy-lit terrace, often accompanied by music.

Tasty, traditional Buda grub—from beef goulash to pork schnitzel, perch fillet to duck thigh—is the order of the day at this popular restaurant. Expect hearty portions, good prices, and quick service. Save space for a classic Hungarian dessert, from pancakes stuffed with poppy seed to the chocolate-walnut sponge cake.

With its focus on goulash and rich meats, Budapest hasn't always been the most welcoming place for a vegan—but this gem is one of the places helping to change all that. A perfect, quick refueling restaurant with such good vegan and veggie burgers, hot dogs, and salads that even committed carnivores are tempted.