This year, the Restaurant of the Year 2025 award went to Pajta, located in the village of Őriszentpéter, while the title of Best of the Best remains with Stand, which continues to set the benchmark for excellence in the Hungarian fine dining scene.

Alongside the top accolade, a number of special awards were also presented, and the jury announced Hungary’s Top 10+2 Restaurants for 2025.

Dining Guide Gala Highlights: Celebrating Excellence

Before announcing the main winner, the organisers honoured several outstanding restaurants and professionals with special awards, recognising achievements across categories such as sustainability, service, pizza, and sommelier excellence.

Special Award Winners – Best Restaurants in Hungary 2025
 

• Best of the Best Restaurant – Stand
  Reaffirming its elite status, Stand has now claimed this title for the fourth time, a category reserved for venues ranked best in class at least three times.

• Most Loveable Restaurant of the Year – Alelí Budapest
  Praised for its passionate blend of Italian and Hungarian flavours, Alelí delights guests with high-quality ingredients and a friendly, professional approach to service.

• Sustainable Restaurant of the Year – SALT
  Renowned for its “New Nordic” concept, SALT showcases a unique, nature-led interpretation of local ingredients and traditions.

• Best Pizza in Hungary – Anyukám Mondta (Encs)
  This beloved venue continues to shine with its heartfelt blend of Italian and Hungarian culinary traditions, rooted in personal stories and modern technique.

• Young Chef Talent of the Year – Tóth Keve (Casa Christa, Balatonszőlős)
  Recognised for bringing refined, creative direction to Casa Christa’s kitchen since 2025.

• Service Personality of the Year – Gábor Becker (Kollázs Brasserie & Bar)
  Honoured for his exceptional leadership as restaurant manager and head sommelier.

• Sommelier of the Year – Ferenc Kiss (Alelí & BiBo Budapest)
  Acknowledged for his expertise and consistency across two of Dorothea Hotel’s standout restaurants.

Restaurant of the Year 2025: Pajta

Taking the top prize this year is Pajta, a family-run gem in Őriszentpéter, a village in Hungary’s Őrség region. Known for its farm-to-table philosophy inspired by Scandinavian gastronomy, Pajta has earned national acclaim for its integrity and innovation.

Owners Flóra and Ferenc Kvasznicza left Budapest to pursue their culinary vision in the countryside, creating a space where local ingredients and traditions are celebrated. Head chef István Akács, with his background in both Hungarian and European fine dining, crafts menus that are precise, imaginative, and seasonal — a reflection of the restaurant’s deep respect for its environment and heritage.
 

Top 10+2 Restaurants in Hungary – 2025

The Dining Guide Top 10+2 list showcases the very best in Hungarian gastronomy, featuring both urban fine dining and innovative countryside concepts. The ranking now reflects a broader range of qualitative criteria, not just point scores, ensuring a holistic view of culinary excellence.

Dining Guide Top 10+2 Restaurants – 2025:

• Platán Gourmet Étterem (Tata)

• Rumour by Jenő Rácz

• Pajta (Őriszentpéter)

• 42 Restaurant (Esztergom)

• SALT

• Babel Budapest

• Essência Restaurant – Tiago & Éva

• Sauska 48 (Villány)

• Borkonyha (Wine Kitchen)

• Costes Downtown

• Spago Budapest by Wolfgang Puck

• Costes Restaurant
   

Spotlight on the Top Restaurants

Platán Gourmet Étterem: Top-Ranked Countryside Restaurant

Located on the shores of Lake Tata, under a centuries-old sycamore, Platán Gourmet is helmed by acclaimed chef István Pesti. The restaurant masterfully combines Eastern and Western flavours with Hungarian culinary heritage. Its own kitchen garden supplies the ingredients for seasonal 12-course tasting menus, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and sustainability—proof that world-class dining is not confined to Budapest.

Rumour by Jenő Rácz: Immersive Culinary Theatre

A joint venture between celebrity chef Jenő Rácz and Costes Group founder Károly Gerendai, Rumour offers a chef’s table experience, where guests sit around an open kitchen. The experience is as much about storytelling and interaction as it is about the refined dishes, which blend playfulness and fine dining elegance.

42 Restaurant: Esztergom’s Rising Star

Opened in 2022, 42 Restaurant is based in the ROOM 42 Boutique Hotel in Esztergom. Owned by Sándor Varga, known as Alexander the Guest on YouTube, the venue offers tasting menus only, combining international favourites with distinct Hungarian touches. Since late 2024, Levente Koppány has led the kitchen, succeeding chef Ádám Barna.

SALT: Regional Reinvention through a Nordic Lens

Chef Szilárd Tóth continues to innovate at SALT, blending northeastern Hungarian ingredients with Nordic-style techniques like fermentation and foraging. Glass jars of preserved fruits and vegetables line the restaurant, reflecting a deep respect for seasonality and nature.

Babel Budapest: A Visionary, Owner-Driven Concept

Under the leadership of owner Hubert Hlatky-Schlichter and chef Kornél Kaszás, Babel offers a Nordic-inspired dining experience, with thoughtfully plated meat and vegan options. The focus is on elegance, harmony, and creativity without pretence.

Essência: Portuguese Passion Meets Hungarian Craft

Located in District V, Essência is the culinary love story of Tiago Sabarigo and his Hungarian wife, Éva Jenei. The restaurant blends Portuguese soul with Hungarian ingredients, and its signature dish — octopus — is a standout. The open kitchen and rustic-modern interior enhance the warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Sauska 48: Villány’s Refined Winery Kitchen

Set within the Sauska Winery in southern Hungary, Sauska 48 is led by chef Attila Bicsár, who channels both Hungarian and Swabian traditions into a gourmet, yet approachable, village setting. Menus are paired with wines from Tokaj and Villány, as well as vintage international selections from the Sauska family’s collection.

Borkonyha (Wine Kitchen): A Staple of Budapest's Gastronomy

Operating since 2010, Borkonyha remains a cornerstone of modern Hungarian dining. Chef Ákos Sárközi, known from TV, shapes the culinary direction, while Csaba Puskás handles the kitchen’s daily rhythm. Pastry chef Anett Béres delivers a dessert menu that bridges tradition and innovation.

Costes Downtown: Urban Vibes with Heart

Marking its 10th anniversary in 2025, Costes Downtown is located in the Prestige Hotel. With Barnabás Hack at the helm since succeeding Márk Molnár, the restaurant offers dishes that reflect Budapest’s energy and the chef’s personal experiences, blending innovation with accessibility.

Spago Budapest by Wolfgang Puck: Global Glamour, Local Soul

Housed in the Matild Palace, Spago blends Wolfgang Puck’s global signatures—like Smoked Salmon Pizza and Viennese Schnitzel — with reimagined Hungarian classics. Led by István Szántó, the restaurant also boasts a high-end sushi selection, elevating its eclectic, luxury appeal.

Costes Restaurant: A Hungarian Fine Dining Pioneer

As Hungary’s first internationally acclaimed fine dining venue, Costes on Ráday Street remains a symbol of culinary excellence. Now led by Jenő Rácz, the kitchen delivers world-class dishes with a more relaxed and modern approach, while staying true to its quality-first philosophy.

2025 Special Awards Summary
 

• Best of the Best Restaurant – Stand

• Most Loveable Restaurant – Alelí Budapest

• Sustainable Restaurant – SALT

• Best Pizza – Anyukám Mondta (Encs)

• Young Chef Talent – Tóth Keve (Casa Christa)

• Service Personality – Gábor Becker (Kollázs Brasserie & Bar)

• Sommelier of the Year – Ferenc Kiss (Alelí & BiBo Budapest)
   

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