Budapest Local City Tips And Events

Gourmet Festival in Buda (Millenáris Park) - June 2-4

Fancy Hungarian gastronomy? Dreaming about fine dining in Budapest, and Hungarian hillside vineyards? Do you want to go beyond layered potato, strudel and chicken paprikás? Mark your calendar: June 2-4, 2023 – Budapest. And take our first expert tip: however great the international stars are, you’ll get the most out of this amazing event if you look out for the local heroes. We’re here to help you figure out how!

Gourmet Festival And Exhibition, June 2-4

The organizers couldn’t have picked a better location for this yearly gourmet paradise – Millenáris is the best old industrial complex turned fancy park in town. (Millenáris Park is off of Lövőház Street, near Marczibányi Square, right behind Mammut shopping mall, a stone’s throw from the metro 2 stop Széll Kálmán Square on the Buda side). Perfect fit for a gigantic picnic of a foodie-fest with confectioneries, wineries, cheese makers and artisan ice cream galore! This year the festival decided to cut through borders and present the very best Central European restaurateurs and chefs can offer. They also invited star chefs from further away but the main focus is Hungary and its surroundings. Lucky Hungarian food (and wine) is so good, it’s worth coming even if you’re only here for the local stuff!

International restaurants and chef stars you can meet include:

• Heinz Reitbauer, Steirereck – the world’s 10th best restaurant with 2 Michelin stars and 19/20 Gault Millau points and its legendary chef
• Kamilla Seidler – Latin America's best female chef
• Bib Gourmands from Poland (Krakow):  Rozbrat 20,  Butchery & Wine,  Kieliszkina Próżnej, Brasserie Warszawska, 
• Maksut Askar, the executive chef of Neolokal – traditional, local ingredients in a modern presentation from Turkey

Great food comes with freebies

Tickets get you fancy freebies, like street food bites, a chance to taste wine and beer, a wine glass and a street kitchen spice mix. For even more, shop here for the best Hungarian products in town. Workshops for a small extra fee let you venture with the pros. Day ticket: 14 euros 4-day pass: 29 euros Venue: Millenáris Park (behind Mammut mall near metro 2 stop Széll Kálmán Square) Information: https://gourmetfesztival.hu/en (Visit the official site for a complete list of programs, workshops, children’s entertainment and the like)

Eleven Spring Weekend

If you’re looking for something more fringy and independent, stop by the Eleven (‘Lively’) Spring Weekend near Moricz Zsigmond Korter – which literally brings fresh life into its leafy Buda neighborhood. Galleries, cafés and restaurants unite to show you funky exhibits and all sorts of cultural programs in the course of two days. Guided walks explore the neighborhood lined with street installations and the unescapable craft bonbon fair. Pro tip: use the opportunity to explore the best cafés in the neighborhood, such as: Kelet (the name means East, so make sure you try their tiny but authentic Middle eastern cuisine!) – 29 Bartok Bela ut Moha – 11 Bartok Bela ut Tranzit Art Café & Bistro on Kosztolanyi Dezso square Venue: Bartok Bela ut (near Moricz Zsigmond korter and Hotel Gellert) It might be closed depending on the season of the year.