Essência Restaurant - Tiago & Éva

Last time, my friends and I dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Budapest, run by a Portuguese owner and his Hungarian wife. The staff even shared their love story with us—so romantic! ❤️ The restaurant features an open kitchen, allowing guests to watch the chefs in action. The wine list is also impressive, offering a great selection of Hungarian wines to pair with your meal. The appetizers were beautifully presented—scallops paired with hazelnuts created a unique and delightful flavor combination. One of the soups was a pumpkin-based soup with sage and cheese, delivering a rich yet balanced sweetness that was light and appetizing. The cod was incredibly tender, complemented by a special sauce that truly enhanced the seafood's natural flavors. The accompanying vegetables provided a well-balanced texture. The quail was exceptionally tender and served with a Hungarian meat-filled pastry, making the dish both flavorful and filling. For mains, we had steak and venison—the braised meat was incredibly tender, paired with a specially crafted sauce and oil-absorbing vegetables, making for an excellent combination. One of the desserts had a silky pudding-like texture with a strong milky flavor, which was incredibly satisfying. To finish off, we were served raspberry lollipops, offering a refreshing and delightful ending to the meal. 💰 Price per person: £120📍 Essência Restaurant - Tiago & Éva

We went with the tasting menu and were blown away! Every dish was incredibly flavorful and beautifully presented. The service was outstanding—super attentive and friendly without being overbearing. On top of that, the restaurant itself is gorgeous. Overall, an amazing experience from start to finish. Highly recommend!

5 course dinner tasting menu was the bomb! Remember, this is a Michelin Star restaurant, you aren't paying for amount of food but rather for the quality and the experience! You get it both here! We loved it and so will you!

My best fine dining experience in Budapest so far. The tasting menu was an unique blend of Hungarian and Portuguese cuisine but with a chic twist to it. The waiters and chefs really went above and beyond to accommodate my companion's special dietary requirements including individually modified dishes.

Unlike many Michelin-starred restaurants, our dining experience here felt unrushed and perfectly paced. The tasting menu unfolded over a leisurely three hours, allowing us to fully savor each meticulously crafted course. Every minute was an absolute delight, with exceptional service and a welcoming atmosphere that made the evening unforgettable. Highly recommended for those seeking a refined yet relaxed fine dining experience.

The staff were very attentive and friendly, which made us feel welcome from the start. While the ambiance of the restaurant felt a bit cold to us, the food was undeniably delicious. We visited for dinner and chose the 7-course tasting menu. The Saddle of Deer was definitely the standout dish – absolutely exceptional. However, considering the overall experience, we felt that the price was quite high and didn’t fully match the value. So in terms of price-performance, it fell a bit short for us.

We had an unforgettable experience at Essencia. The food was incredible, the service was very warm and hospital and the wines were stunning. It was a very unique experience to enjoy a fusion of Portuguese and Hungarian flavours but the passion and creativity were evident in every plate of food we ate. We had a lovely and incredibly knowledgeable sommelier (we did the matching wines) which made the experience even more fun as we learned about different Portuguese and Hungarian wines. Definitely worth visiting this restaurant if it is within your budget. The value for money was fantastic. But definitely don’t eat lunch if you’re getting the full tasting menu, it is a lot of food and you’ll want to enjoy it all!

Amazing experience of taste and textures, I've tried the 7 course menu which was great. I enjoyed the different textures and unique tastes of the unique menu. The restaurant has a very ambient vibes and the decoration is very nice. The service was great and helped us with everything we needed, it's cool that you can see the kitchen and the chefs and how they pay attention to every detail. I'd recommend coming to this restaurant for a Michelin star experience!