This year, two Hungarian restaurants in the countryside and two in the capital city have been awarded Michelin stars, the most renowned of gastronomic accolades. Also, the first edition of the Michelin Guide for Hungary has been released, listing 62 restaurants in the country. The guide states that Budapest has always been part of the collection, however, this year the publication focuses on the entire country. The 62 restaurants the guide recommends are located in 33 cities, towns and villages. Platán Gourmet in Tata and Stand Restaurant in Budapest both received two stars at the Michelin Guide Hungary ceremony last Thursday. According to the Dining Guide magazine, this year has seen the debut of the so-called Green Star ratings, which so far been given to nine different Hungarian eateries.
New Awards, Well Known Places
Hungary currently boasts newly recognized one-star restaurants, as well as restaurants that have been awarded a Green Star and a new Bib Gourmand grade, in addition to the two two-star fine dining concept restaurants. According to announcements made at the awards event held in Budapest, the anonymous inspectors of the restaurant guide gave two Michelin stars to Platán Gourmet in Tata (chef: István Pesti) and Stand in Budapest (chefs: Tamás Széll and Szabina Szulló).
One Michelin star was awarded to seven establishments:
42 – Esztergom (chef: Ádám Barna) – New Star
Rumour – Budapest (chef: Jenő Rácz) – New Star
Babel – Budapest (chef: Kornél Kaszás),
Borkonyha Winekitchen – Budapest (chef: Ákos Sárközi),
Costes – Budapest (chef: Levente Koppány),
essência – Budapest (chef: Tiago Sabarigo),
Salt – Budapest (chef: Szilárd Tóth).
The Green Star rating, which identifies restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their practices regarding sustainable gastronomy, was awarded to Salt in Budapest, Onyx in Budapest, Graefl Major in Kétútköz – Poroszló, and Almalomb Restaurant in Hosszúhetény.
The restaurants listed below, in addition to those with Michelin stars, have been awarded the Bib Gourmand designation, which highlights great quality cooking at a great price:
Anyukám mondta – Encs (chefs: Szabolcs Dudás, Szilárd Dudás),
Kistücsök Restaurant – Balatonszemes (chefs: Balázs Csapody),
Mór24 – Balatonfüred (chefs: Edit Almás, Tamás Albrecht),
Bistro Sparhelt – Balatonfüred (chef: Balázs Elek),
Macok Bistro – Eger (chef: János Macsinka),
Casa Christa – Balatonszőlős (chef: Miklós Forrai).
A New Era of Michelin in Hungary
Budapest has had a Michelin Guide since 1992, but Michelin inspectors have long been keeping an eye on eateries around the nation. The first Michelin Guide publication to span the entirety of Hungary includes new, Green Star-rated establishments as well as hidden jewels that gourmets recommend seeing. In a podcast this spring, the CEO of the Hungarian Tourism Agency discussed his intention to promote high-end luxury restaurants and his hopes for more Hungarian restaurants receiving Michelin stars, particularly in the countryside.
These hopes came to fruition in 2022. Hungary has become prominent in gastronomy over the past decades. Many great chefs and restaurant owners from around the world have decided that they would open new restaurants in the country, as it offers beautiful sceneries, approachable locations, and a large number of tourists from all around the world. In Budapest, in the neighbourhood of Saint Stephen’s Basilica, for instance, one can find many great restaurants that do not only cater for tourists but also for local visitors. Another place to go in the capital is the Buda Castle if one wants to experience great gastronomy. While in the Castle several of the excellent restaurants are run by foreign chefs, those of the establishments near the Basilica are mostly local.
But Hungary’s culinary delights are not limited to the capital. As the new Michelin Guide also attests, visitors and local residents alike can have a spectacular dining experience in practically every corner of the country now.
