Café Kör

Café Kör is one of those classic Budapest spots that feels like it’s been doing things right for a long time—and for good reason. The atmosphere is warm, bustling, and charmingly old-school in the best way. It’s the kind of place where you can imagine locals and visitors sharing tables for decades. The menu sticks to traditional Hungarian fare, and the food is solid—hearty, flavorful, and clearly made with care. We had a great meal overall, with the standout being the daily special. That said, a couple of dishes felt a little safe or under-seasoned, which is the only reason this isn’t a full five stars. Service was quick, professional, and very efficient—even when the place was packed. It’s not overly chatty or warm, but it runs like a well-oiled machine, and that’s something to appreciate. If you want a true local experience with reliable food and a classic Budapest feel, Café Kör is absolutely worth visiting. Just make sure to book ahead—it fills up fast!

we went there during our holidays a two months ago, we were 8 and managed to book in the same day we wanted to go. we arrive in a central location so easy to reach, the place has such authentic and comfy vibe. professional staff, and not so long to wait even if the restaurant was almost full. the food was amazing, i had no words to describe it. really recommended!

my first time trying out classic Hungarian food! i had a salad and the well-known goulash with croquettes, and the food didn’t disappoint one bit. they actually made a mistake with my salad, as i only ordered a fresh mixed salad but they brought me a fish salad; however they, they only charged me the original mixed salad price. i came here during dinner time on a thursday night but they were able to give me a table right away. the staffs were busy but they were friendly and attentive. would recommend this to others.

We had a really nice dinner on our first night in Budapest, everything was very tasty! The service was great and staff were very friendly. Would recommend!

Exceptional dining experience at Café Kör! The serving staff were incredibly polite, helpful, patient, and genuinely friendly. The ambience was excellent, with a lovely mix of locals and tourists. The food was outstanding! The pork knuckles and beef dishes were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend Café Kör for its top-notch service, cozy atmosphere, and mouth-watering local cuisine.

This restaurant was a recommendation from one of the locals, stating they served excellent traditional Hungarian dishes. We were so glad we took their advice and had dinner here. The restaurant is located Sas U, which just north of the St. Stephen’s Basilica. The restaurant is a rather small, yet cozy place with only a limited number of dining tables, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We did see a few tables outside and what appears to be one small table upstairs that night, but they were not being used. The staff of the restaurant were polite, professional, but not overly warm and friendly. We were quickly waited on and it did not take a great deal of time before our dinners were served. The food was wonderful, served hot and everything we had was delicious, in all, a wonderful dining experience. They do add a service tip to your bill automatically just so people know not to tip twice. Finally, when you do enter the restaurant if you look to the right, you will find a scroll on the wall with the specials of the day in English and Hungarian.

Fantastic service, everyone (I interacted with at least 5 members of staff) were incredibly polite and friendly. I was there alone and I look foreign but I felt very welcome and the same lovely service was given to other tourists. The food came very fast and was great!! I loved the interior and with tablecloth. Would recommend to anyone visiting Budapest.

Great hearty meals that were super delicious. We got the beef goulash and the cabbage veal stew for mains and the rice souffle and spongecake for desserts. Everything was yummy, and the staff was super nice, speaking great English.