The Best Vegetarian Places in Budapest

Hungarian cuisine is very much meat based, but you don’t have to worry if you are looking for meat-free options either. Most of the Hungarian restaurant offer vegetarian dishes, but if you want a really outstanding dining experience, you should visit one of the many vegetarian restaurants in Budapest. Here is a list of the five favorite places of the studentguide.hu team:

#1 VegaCity

Where? 1053 Budapest,  Múzeum körút 23-25.

What? Whether you are looking for a hearty breakfast, a quick lunch, or leisurely place to have dinner, VegaCity is your go-to place. Vegacity specializes in offering an exciting and constantly changing menu, creating a perfect balance of traditional dishes and interesting new combinations to amaze your taste buds. They opened in 2014, and quickly became a favorite with students from nearby universities, so you can see a lot of regulars coming back. You cannot get bored here! The place can get a bit crowded around lunchtime, but you never have to wait more than a couple of minutes, and the wonderful servers more than make up for this slight inconvenience. Also, the prices are on the cheap side, so you can make this your staple healthy lunch place!

#2 Napfényes

Where? 1053 Budapest, Ferenciek tere 2. and 1077 Budapest, Rózsa utca 39.

What? Napfényes has long been heralded as the best vegan-vegetarian restaurant in the city, and this is not just because of the wonderful food. The restaurant operates in two locations, so it’s easy to find the one closest to you, and enjoy the family atmosphere. Napfényes offers both Hungarian style flavors and more international dishes, so it’s a perfect fit if you are thinking about bringing a bigger party to dine. Even meat lovers are amazed by the taste combinations and size of the plates! Napfényes uses organically grown ingredients, and they also offer a daily menu, which always includes some form of grain or cereal. Instead of using traditional wheat flour, white sugar, cocoa and bean coffee, they prefer spelt flour, cane sugar, carob and grain coffee, and also prepare all their meals with purified water.

#3 Nemsüti

Where? 1052 Budapest, Hold utca  9.

What? Located near the beautiful Szabadság tér, Nemsüti opened in 2012, and took the district with a flourish. Just like all inner city bistros, they open early and offer wonderful breakfast selections that get you through even the grumpiest Monday mornings. They are famous for their cakes, so it’s also worth checking in for a coffee and something sweet. They have a wide array of sandwiches and salads to choose from, but if you are really hungry, you must try the Nemsüti burger with grilled goat cheese, zucchini, and eggplant – it really is an experience!

#4 Veggie Bistro

Where? 1054 Budapest, 5 Garibaldi Street

What? The restaurant originally opened in 2011 under the name of Mannatural Food Manufactory, as the first 100% raw vegan restaurant in Hungary. They soon outgrew their small stall in the market, however, so they’ve been serving their delicious dishes in Garibaldi street ever since. Veggie Bistro specializes in using only raw materials in the meal preparation, which do not undergo any heat treatment, so their vitamin and mineral levels are extremely high. Talk about giving your body an energy boom! Although it may sound a bit extreme if you have encountered raw cuisine before, it’s definitely worth a try, as everything is so delicious, you’ll be coming back for more. Who knows, maybe this is the beginning of your personal diet revolution!

#5 Govinda

Where? 1050 Budapest, Vigyázó Ferenc utca 4. and 1053 Budapest, Papnövelde utca 1.

What? Govinda is a restaurant chain which is known and loved all over the world. Each of their restaurants in Hungary has a unique atmosphere, and offers special lacto-vegetarian delicacies, prepared according to traditional Indian taste and following the guidance of Ayurveda. Govinda emphasizes the use of pure, fresh ingredients, and that any good meal is prepared with care and love. The dishes follow the Vedic tradition, thus observing the harmony of taste. They contain the six tastes, complying with the principles of healthy eating, and creating unforgettable food memories.