Budapest Food Walk in Buda

Since Buda is not high on tourist radars, the eateries, markets, and shops here have been designed with locals in mind. We’ll take you to the places where we like to go. We’ll visit a neighborhood market (one of the best in the city!), where farmers and artisans from the countryside come to sell fresh produce, carefully bottled jams, juices, preserves, and more. Several butchers here specialize in indigenous Hungarian animals, with high-quality meat from mangalica and grey cattle on offer. Cheese mongers offer an array of delicious cheese made in the local styles. For lunch we will feast on authentic home-style Hungarian dishes at a few tiny eateries where the cooking is grandmotherly, as is the décor. We’ll visit a gem of a pastry shop, run by the same family for generations, where the pastries taste as beautiful as they look. When our feet begin to tire, we’ll have coffee at a Socialist-style coffee shop which has barely changed over the past several decades.

In addition to eating our way through Buda, we’ll discuss the fascinating sights, architecture, and history in this eclectic part of town. Buda locals love living here for another reason—the Buda side has the best thermal bath houses. This walk ends near one of our favorites, where we’ll also have the opportunity to taste some healing water. If you are so inclined, we’ll direct you towards these warm mineral-rich waters (which are said to help with digestion) at the tour’s end.

Learn—This walk threads tasting and learning about local culinary specialties with haring the history of this neighborhood as it relates to Hungarian history (with a special emphasis on World War Two, the Communist era, and the Ottoman period).

Experience—Explore Buda like a neighborhood local, eating, shopping, and drinking at the places locals adore and visit regularly.

See—Visit places not often frequented by tourists—places where locals go for simple Sunday family meals or cake and coffee with friends. Some of the neighborhood sights you’ll encounter played important roles in Hungarian history.

Taste—You will sample a variety of food and drinks, including several tastings at the market, a shot of pálinka (Hungarian fruit brandy), and a shared meal of traditional dishes at a restaurant (along with a wine to wash it down). You’ll taste a home-style dessert and a sweet at a wonderful bakery. Come hungry, and don’t bother to make lunch plans afterwards!

Walk—Buda is the older part of the capital, dating back to the Roman times. Though this part of town was developed later, you’ll see a wide range of buildings reflecting Hungary’s dramatic historical changes.