Top 5 Places to Eat and Drink in Budapest as a Solo Traveler

Budapest is known as two cities that are split by the Danube River and connected only by the famous Chain Bridge. Before Budapest became one, it was known as the cities of Buda (the royal capital) and Pest (a commercial town). In 1873, both cities joined as one, becoming the second main city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Nowadays, travelers love coming to Budapest to see the beautiful Parliament Building and the Castel (Buda) during the day and enjoy the pub crawls and clubs (Pest) at night. While there for my three-day tour, I stayed on the Pest side, which felt slightly worn down than the Buda side. I believe it is like this because when Budapest was under communist control, the Pest side was hit harder than the Buda side.

1. Szimpla Kert 

This group of famous ruins bars in Budapest is a popular hangout stemming from the fall of communism. Some ruin bars are decorated with retro furniture and have this hipster relaxed vibe. This bar, well, bars . . . are all exposed, meaning you walk on dirt, the walls are run down, and the stairs are too! It lives up to the reputation of an old ruins bar. But I loved every minute of it!

It is located on Kazinczy Street, in the heart of Budapest's Jewish Quarter. You'll find a unique vibe with multiple bars scattered over two floors. This was only a 10-minute walk from my hostel, and I felt safe walking alone to and from Szimpla Kert. The cocktails and beers were cheap; the beer was 2 Euros, and I got a vodka soda for 5 Euros. I thought Prague was inexpensive. But Budapest? It’s even cheaper!

In one of the open rooms, two singers were performing. Once they were done, I explored more of the bars. There was a wine bar, a cocktail bar, a beer bar, a fancy bar, you name it. It's a perfect place to go, so check it out!

2. Drum Café Langosh & Goulash Bar  

After checking into my hostel, I asked for recommendations for places to eat. This place and Frici Papa were highly recommended for authentic Hungarian food. I had the Special: Black Langosh. Lángos. It is a Hungarian specialty made by deep-frying a basic dough. Mine had ham, sour cream, cheese, salad, and bacon. My total bill (this, bottled water and a beer) was 3,839 FT, which converts to US $11.52. In Budapest, you can drink and eat on the cheap! And the Langosh was so filling that I couldn't finish it!

3. Frici Papa  

I wanted to try Goulash since it differs from the Goulash I had in Prague. The Hungarian version resembles a stew with noodles, potatoes, or bread, while the Prague variety consists of big chunks of beef meat in a thick onion-based gravy with dumplings. When you first walk in, there is a giant mural, and you’re greeted into an upstairs seating area. That is where I sat. I was the only one up there besides a group of guys. Downstairs was busy, though. I can see why since the food was so good! I highly recommend coming here for soup, even if it was almost 90 degrees with extreme humidity!

4. 0,75 Bistro

I stumbled across this place after checking out Budapest Parliament. It was my last night in this city, and I wanted Hungarian food. I was indecisive about what to eat, and thankfully, I found this place in St. Stephen's Square. It was a treat since I sat outside and had a great view of St. Stephen's Basilica. I even had a little show when the bells chimed. I had their traditional Vadas Marha, Beef with Hungarian hunter sauce, bread dumplings, and bread chips. It’s so good that the meat melts in your mouth, which makes sense since they cook it for at least 3 hours.

5. Selah

I wish I found this place earlier in my trip! I walked past this coffee shop when I was heading to Budapest Parliament and stopped in to ask if they had matcha tea. Sadly, they didn't, but this place piqued my interest since the nearby library is connected. I went to see Parliament and had dinner at 0,75 Bistro, but I stopped in when I returned to my hostel. They told me they have a free performance every Friday.

I stayed and ordered peppermint tea to balance out all the beer I had on this trip and worked on Wandering Bel. One of the co-owners/managers struck up a conversation with me, and I felt like I was home. Their relaxing vibes and couches made me feel like I’d been there before. The performer, Csjlla, had a voice like an angel, and I was taken aback. 

The night before, I did a crazy pub crawl tour, which I typically don't do. It was fun, but I was feeling it the next day. So I am delighted I had a mellow last night in Budapest by finding this place and talking to some special people. This kind of experience is what traveling is all about—trying new foods, experiencing new things, meeting people and creating moments with them, and turning it all into stories.

Tell me about your last night of traveling in the comments!