Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is such a great place to live for many reasons, not least for its abundance of vegan-friendly fare! If you’re planning to visit this amazing city, try to come between April and September, so you can enjoy all the outdoor activities that beautiful Budapest has to offer: from a scenic walk at Gellert Hill or Margaret Island, to enjoying the Szechenyi Baths or hopping on a boat on the mighty Danube. And when it’s time to eat, well finding great plant-based food to fuel you through your holiday has become incredibly easy in recent years, and there are so many amazing options to choose from. Here are just a few of our favorite vegan restaurants in Budapest, including some hidden local treasures that you definitely won’t find elsewhere.
Napfényes: traditional dishes with a plant-based twist
If you can only visit one plant-based restaurant in Budapest, I would recommend Napfényes (meaning sunny in Hungarian). It is one of the oldest fully plant-based restaurants in Budapest, right in the heart of the city. There are plenty of vegan fast food options around the capital, but Napfényes offers something a bit more special, making it a good choice for a date or dinner with family members. If you want to try some authentic traditional Hungarian dishes, with a plant-based twist, then this is the place to eat. I recommend the Bean Goulash soup, Stuffed Cabbage à la Kolozsvár, Seitan Roast à la Brasov and the Somló Sponge Cake to complete your Hungarian taste experience.
Vegan Love: fast food, but make it plant-based
Vegan Love is an epic fast food place next to Gellért Hill and the Gellért Bath, and the perfect place to refuel after a long walk or when you’re super relaxed from enjoying the thermal baths. The space is small, but when the weather is nice you can bask in the sun on the outside seating. Vegan Love gained a reputation for its sensational plant-based burgers, but you can’t go wrong with the döner kebab or Mexican-style hot dog either.
Vegan Garden: centrally-located plant-based fare
Deák tér is the official epicenter of Budapest. If a local wants to meet someone in the city, “next to the pool” (a small artificial water pool on top of the venue Akvárium) is one of the most popular meeting points. Located just a few steps from this point is the plant-based haven of Vegan Garden offering soups, burgers, pasta dishes, pizzas, and a few Hungarian classics. The Forest Mushroom Paprikash with homemade dumplings, vegan sour cream and cucumber salad is a real stand-out. This is a fully vegan version of a traditional Hungarian dish that locals will cook for a Sunday lunch. If you want an authentic experience of Hungary, give it a try!
Tökmag: hidden treasure
Tucked away in a small street close to Margaret Island, Tökmag is a hidden gem you wouldn’t find unless you knew what you were looking for. But don’t let the tiny ground-floor reception fool you, there is a large dining room below ground, and if the weather is nice, you can enjoy your meal at one of the tables on the pedestrian street outside. This delightful bistro offers a selection of soups, salads and cakes, but my favorite dish here is the Green Pea Burger, served in a whole grain bun with cucumber, crispy carrot and a creamy cashew mint sauce.
Franziska: Instagram-worthy breakfasts
If you’re craving a sweet start to your day, head down to the centrally-located cafe Franziska for a selection of plant-based smoothie bowls that will certainly deserve to make it onto your Instagram feed. On the menu is the Sunshine Bowl bursting with tropical fruits, house-made granola, and vanilla protein powder, and the Berry Acai Bowl featuring a selection of red fruits, peanut butter, tahini caramel and coconut cream. For those who prefer something savory to start their day, the Vegan Brekkie is a show-stopper in itself, featuring toasted sourdough topped with a thick layer of creamy pea hummus, fried courgette, peas, pickled red cabbage, spinach, radish and sprinkled with nutritional yeast flakes and toasted seeds. If you’re feeling extra hungry, simply ask to add on marinated tofu for a delicious plant-based protein boost. Franziska also offers house-made plant milk which is available in a range of hot or iced drinks – we recommend trying it in a cappuccino!
Dobrumba: dips, glorious dips
You really can’t go wrong with freshly baked pita and a selection of creamy, vibrant dips, and that’s exactly what Dobrumba does so well. With two locations – one on the Buda side of the river, and the other on Pest, this Middle-Eastern gem is not to be missed. The restaurant is not fully vegan but offers a selection of plant-based dips and some easily customized dishes that will leave any meat and dairy dodger fully satisfied. The Muhummara dip with toasted walnuts and juicy pomegranate seeds and Fava and Green’s mezze are particular highlights pairing perfectly with Dobrumba’s pillowy soft pita bread.
Caphe by Hai Nam: a taste of Vietnam in Europe
Caphe by Hai Nam is a speciality café and breakfast restaurant with many plant-based options. It is run by a Vietnamese family who also own the famous Pho Bistro, and it offers some traditional breakfast bites from the family’s homeland. Located on the Buda side on an avenue called Bartók Boulevard, which is home to numerous restaurants, bars and art galleries, Caphe by Hai Nam provides a small bench outside the venue, so you can enjoy the sun whilst tucking into your brunch or lunch. There are several vegan options on the menu including Mushroom Toast, Tofu and Mushroom Bao Burger and Tofu Summer Rolls, but my favorite is the Vietnamese classic Tofu Banh Mi with vegan paté, plant-based banana bread, accompanied by a dirty chai latte with oat milk.
Budapest: a must-visit for foodies
There are plenty of plant-based eateries and vegan options to explore in Budapest: the ones I’ve mentioned represent just a small taster of what’s on offer across the city. So if you’re looking for a travel destination that will appeal to both your sense of adventure and your plant-oriented taste buds, book a trip today! You won’t regret it.
For more plant-based travel recommendations, check out our guides to Berlin and Amsterdam.
Victoria Smith
International Digital Communications Specialist
