$$$$Modern HungarianLipotvarosMon-Fri 18:00-00:00; Sat 12:00-00:00
Akos Sarkozi's Borkonyha behind St Stephen's Basilica on Sas utca holds one Michelin star and pours from a 200-bottle Hungarian wine list, downtown Budapest.
OrderThe mangalica pork belly with the matching pairing.
TipMon to Fri open from 18:00, Sat from 12:00, closed Sunday; book a Saturday lunch for daylight on the wine list.
$$$$Modern EuropeanLipotvarosMon-Sun 12:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00
Costes Downtown sits in the Michelin Guide on the ground floor of the Prestige Hotel near Parliament, a calmer Lipotvaros sister kitchen to the original.
OrderThe five-course tasting with the Tokaji Furmint as the opener.
TipTuesday to Saturday only; the Sunday brunch is bookable separately and fills a week in advance.
$$$$Traditional HungarianLipotvarosMon-Sun 12:00-14:30, 18:00-22:00
Hungarikum Bisztro on Steindl Imre near Parliament cooks the canonical Hungarian classics, with gulyás, chicken paprikash and stuffed cabbage in a tiny.
OrderThe chicken paprikash with house nokedli and cucumber salad.
TipOnline reservation only; the room is small and books out for both lunch and dinner.
$$$$Modern HungarianErzsebetvarosMon-Sat 11:30-23:00
Klassz on Andrassy ut in Budapest's Erzsebetvaros runs a modern Hungarian carte around mangalica pork and foie gras, paired with the country's deepest.
OrderMangalica pork with a glass of Hungarian Furmint from the sommelier's list.
TipReservations not accepted; arrive 11:30 or after 21:00 to avoid the wait.
$$$$Mediterranean, IsraeliErzsebetvarosMon-Thu 12:00-23:00; Fri-Sun 12:00-00:00
Mazel Tov on Akacfa utca in the Jewish Quarter is a Mediterranean ruin garden in an early 1900s courtyard, with mezze, lamb shawarma and live klezmer most.
OrderThe mezze plate to share, then the lamb shawarma.
TipOpen noon to midnight daily; book a week ahead for weekends.
$$$$Traditional HungarianErzsebetvarosMon-Tue 12:00-22:30; Wed 12:00-23:00; Thu-Fri 12:00-23:45
Getto Gulyas on Wesselenyi in the Jewish Quarter cooks 14 varieties of Hungarian stews and goulashes alongside Jewish-Hungarian classics, Budapest.
OrderThe rooster pörkölt with nokedli; the Jewish egg paste as a starter.
TipTiny room, no walk-ins after 19:00; reserve a day ahead Booking recommended for weekends.
$$$$Mediterranean, HungarianTerezvarosMon-Fri 08:30-23:30; Sat-Sun 09:00-23:30
Ket Szerecsen on Nagymezo utca, Pest's Broadway theatre strip, is a two-floor bistro and cafe serving Mediterranean-Hungarian crossover plates from breakfast.
OrderThe Mediterranean breakfast plate with avocado, jamon and Hungarian sausage.
TipOpen 08:00-24:00 weekdays, 09:00-24:00 weekends; the upstairs balcony is the quieter room.
$$$$Modern HungarianTerezvarosMon-Sun 11:00-23:00
Menza on Liszt Ferenc ter is a retro-70s Budapest bistro just off Andrassy boulevard, cooking modern takes on the Hungarian canteen canon at a steady.
OrderThe Hortobagyi palacsinta, savoury crepes stuffed with veal stew under sour cream.
TipOpen 11:00-23:00 daily; the kitchen runs 11:30-22:30 and the terrace fills first.
$$$$Modern HungarianVarkeruletMon-Sun 10:00-22:00
Halaszbastya Etterem occupies the neo-Romanesque Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill, with modern Hungarian tasting menus and panoramic Danube views over Pest.
OrderThe seasonal multi-course tasting at sunset for the Pest skyline view.
TipThree rooms in the bastion (Restaurant, Bistro, Cafe); book the Restaurant for the tasting and the terrace.