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Modern HungarianLipotvaros
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.
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Modern HungarianLipotvaros
Babel in Lipotvaros holds one Michelin star and cooks Austro-Hungarian fine dining with Transylvanian roots over 8 and 13-course tastings near Vaci utca.
OrderThe 13-course tasting; the smoked sturgeon course is the room's calling card.
TipOpen Wednesday to Saturday only; ask for a counter seat by the pass.
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International Fine DiningFerencvaros
Costes on Raday utca was the first restaurant in Hungary to earn a Michelin star in 2010 and still cooks a seven-course tasting in a Ferencvaros townhouse.
OrderThe seven-course tasting with the matching wines.
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays; the in-house butter, preserves and ham are made on site.
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Modern EuropeanLipotvaros
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.
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Modern HungarianLipotvaros
Szilard Toth's Salt holds one Michelin star on Kiralyi Pal utca, a quiet downtown room cooking 15-course tastings built around fermentation.
OrderThe 15-course dinner tasting; 36,000 Ft local wine pairing pours mostly Hungarian.
TipCounter seats face the open kitchen; book at least three weeks ahead.
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Modern HungarianLipotvaros
Jeno Racz's one-star Rumour is a 21-seat counter kitchen on Petofi ter where an eleven-course menu mixes Hungarian roots with Asian and European influences.
OrderThe eleven-course tasting at the counter, the venison the chef's signature.
TipEntry is via an unmarked door; arrive at the address ten minutes early for the host.