INN & OUT: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
One of the world’s most picturesque cities on the Danube…
I went to Budapest in the summer of 2025 to see Public Enemy & Guns & Roses.
Scroll down to see where I’d go again:
RESTAURANTS:
Bibo: Located atop the Dorothea Hotel, this rooftop restaurant and lounge has an icredible view of the Danube River and its bridges. Have a nice meal watching the boaters and sunset by day or grab a cocktail and see the city’s history light up!
Getto Gulyas: One can’t spend time in Hungary and not eat like a local… stew it up and or try some goulash. This place has a cool vibe on the inside, but we chose to sit out on the terrace and watch life in the Jewish quarter happen in real time.
HOTELS:
Dorothea Hotel: Centrally located, this hotel was PERFECT for walking everywhere in Budapest from the Leopold town neighborhood. It has a stunning interior courtyard complete with bar & restaurant and the rooms were spacious & modern. Best, its 5-star, Michilin guide and in Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection. Get those points!
LIBATIONS:
Boutiq Bar: This was actually my favorite of the cocktail bars w/ 2 floors w/ twWorld’s 50 Best Barso different experiences. The founders have written multiple cocktail books and often have world renowned mixologist as guests behind the bar. Not shocking it often gets written about in ‘World’s 50 Best Bars’ Its a nice quiet spot by the week, but the fun turns up on weekends with DJ’s.
Tuk Tuk Bar: This place was small… but a vibe! Attached to the Casati Hotel, its art, photos and drapes bring you back to Shanghai in the 1920’s. Although it was quiet upon opening… it also can really blossom on the weekends.
Tip: If you want to try a local drink, get the Palinka Sour!
ACTIVITIES:
Buda Castle: This city is made for walking - when doing so, I implore a trip across the Chainbridge on foot and up the hill to see the Royal Palace first completed in 1265! It was severely damaged during the Second World War and rebuilt later during the state communist era and declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Tip: Get there in the early morning for great lighting & photos - it gets packed with tourists.
Central Market Hall: I’d swear this was once a train station based on its neo-gothic architecture, but no… this is the largest indoor marketplace in Budapest opened in 1897. Here you can find paprika spices, Tokaji wine, meats and pastries with a second mezzanine level for eateries and tourist souvenirs.
COFFEE & DESSERT:
Rajkai Espresso: An adorable cafe & wine bar surrounded by narrow streets and historic homes & buildings. Brunch by day and upbeat at night, this place dates back to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy owned by one family throughout the years. To this day, the owners still live upstairs as they have for generations.
Tip: Pop in here are your way in or out of Buda Castle… just a few minutes walk.
Nandori Cukraszda: Thriving since 1957, this pastry shop will make you want to try EVERY cake. On Saturday’s the line can get a little long… thats a good sign for the quality. Its fairly priced, so yeah… maybe try all the cakes?
