The best Spanish restaurants in Budapest

What is it? This tapas bar in the Palace Quarter has been a defining figure in Budapest’s Spanish restaurant scene since 2013.

Why we love it Other successful eateries have developed from Padrón, but this spot retains the direct, bustling, friendly tapas-bar atmosphere that made it so popular from the off. The menu doesn’t want to overload you straight away, but what it does take on, it delivers confidently: padrón peppers, tortillas, croquetas de jamón, patatas bravas, gambas pil-pil, Spanish meatballs, Madrid tripe, Iberian hams and manchego cheese can all be found. The more variety, the better: the essence of Padrón is still the light, Spanish bar atmosphere, where the order isn't finalised all at once, but develops from bite to bite.

Time Out tip: Padrón peppers are a must-try, but it's worth venturing beyond the classic tapas: gambas pil-pil, carrillada de buey and crema catalana are also good options.

Address: Horánszky utca 10, 1085 Budapest

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 5pm-11pm. Closed Sun-Mon

Expect to pay: Pimientos de padrón Ft 2,200 (€6.20). Tortilla Ft 1,400 (€4). Gambas pil-pil Ft 3,900 (€11)

What is it? Two classic locations of the Spanish restaurant family that started as Hungary’s first tapas bar: one at Kálvin tér in the city centre, the other at Frankel Leó út towards Óbuda.

Why we love it Before tapas became really fashionable in Budapest, Pata Negra was already many Hungarians’ first encounter with Spanish food culture. Today, it is considered a classic of the genre. The Kálvin tér and Óbuda locations still offer the familiar tapas experience that works well with large groups, in which smaller plates are placed in the middle of the table: padrón peppers, patatas bravas, croquetas, chorizo, meatballs, seafood, hams, manchego and Spanish wines.

Time Out tip: This is one of the most obvious choices for a larger group: the more tapas you order, the better the evening will be. In summer, the terrace on Frankel Leó út is particularly atmospheric, while the Kálvin tér location is the perfect starting point for various perambulations in the city centre.

Addresses: Kálvin tér 8, 1091 Budapest; Frankel Leó út 55, 1023 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 11am-11pm

Expect to pay: Pimientos de padrón Ft 2,090 (€5.90). Patatas bravas Ft 2,190 (€6.20). Gambas al ajillo Ft 4,690 (€13.25)

What is it? The Padrón team’s second restaurant in the Palace District, in a hidden courtyard surrounded by plants, imbued with the atmosphere of a Spanish tapas bar and vermutería.

Why we love it As soon as you enter, you can feel that PitPit aims to go beyond the standard local tapas bar experience. This place is grounded in the experience of travel, favourite restaurants in Spain and a precisely structured hospitality mindset. The menu is based on sharing and communal orders: wild-mushroom croquettes, gambas pil-pil, Iberian ham, seafood and enticing meat dishes all feature. And the inner courtyard, seat of the Hungarian Society of Architects, is one of the most beautiful restaurant locations in Budapest in summer.

Time Out tip: Order as many items as possible together, then share them among yourselves – croquettes, shrimp dishes and padrón peppers should definitely be included.

Address: Ötpacsirta utca 2, 1088 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 5pm-11pm. Closed Sun

Expect to pay: Patatas bravas Ft 2,700 (€7.65). Grilled octopus Ft 6,000 (€17). Rump steak with salsa verde Ft 6,500 (€18.35)

What is it? A cosy Spanish tapas and wine bar on Buda’s trendy Bartók Béla út, with a Mediterranean menu, a terrace and a strong Spanish wine list.

Why we love it La Nube is the place where, even if you planned on a quick dinner or a glass of wine, the evening somehow always continues. The menu is based on classic Spanish basics – grilled octopus and paella also feature – but it is varied enough not to just be a repetition of a well-worn tapas list. Among the specialities, it is worth taking a look at Iberian blood sausage with toast or paella for two, and the atmosphere is so Mediterranean, you could be in Spain.

Time Out tip: Ask for a table on the terrace and start with a vermouth or a glass of Spanish wine. Book at weekends, as good places in and around Bartók always fill up quickly.

Address: Bartók Béla út 41, 1114 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat-Sun noon-11pm

Expect to pay: Pimientos de padrón Ft 2,450 (€6.90). Gambones al ajillo Ft 4,900 (€13.80). Pulpo a la plancha Ft 6,650 (€18.75)

What is it? Pata Negra Asador is a grill-focused spot in the Opera district, where, in addition to tapas, meat and seafood dishes cooked over charcoal are the speciality.

Why we love it The name Pata Negra has been associated with Spanish food culture in Budapest for more than 20 years, and Asador is a fuller, meatier, grill-oriented version thereof. Tapas are also strong here, gambas al ajillo, octopus, Serrano ham, but the real character of the place is typified by the steak and grill dishes. This is the Pata Negra you should go to if you want to extend your tapas experience into a longer, more serious dining experience.

Time Out tip: Start with ham, cheese and a few tapas with friends, then move on to the grill dishes. Asador is not a place for a quick dinner, but rather for a longer, multi-course evening.

Address: Paulay Ede utca 39, 1061 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily noon-11pm

Expect to pay: Gambas al ajillo Ft 4,690 (€13.25). Pulpo a la gallega Ft 5,890 (€16.65). Grill & steak dishes Ft 5,790-10,500 (€16.30-29.60)

What is it? Budapest's first Spanish colmado on Bartók Béla út: a deli, bar and restaurant in one, where you can eat in or take home Spanish delicacies.

Why we love it Ultramarinos Martínez is not a restaurant in the classic sense, but rather a very well-conceived Spanish gastropub. Here you can drink vermouth, sample hams and cheeses, share small plates, and select wines, sauces, canned fish and other Spanish ingredients from the shelves to take home. What makes it so good and effective is that it is not overly complicated: it is like a Spanish pantry in modern guise, characterised by fine ingredients, quality drinks and the relaxed atmosphere of this gallery-lined boulevard.

Time Out tip: Order several smaller items and a couple of larger hot dishes, which really works with vermouth or cava.

Address: Bartók Béla út 16, 1111 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Thur 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sun noon-11pm

Expect to pay: Patatas bravas Martínez style Ft 3,000 (€8.50). Ultramarinos cold platter Ft 8,000 (€22.60)

What is it? A Basque- and Spanish-inspired tapas and pintxo bar on downtown Egyetem tér, where small bites, Spanish wines and a relaxed, downtown atmosphere set the rhythm of the evening.

Why we love it Pintxo takes its name from the signature bites of Basque cuisine, and brings this straightforward, multi-dish dining culture to Budapest. The menu includes pintxos, tapas, ham and cheese selections, seafood, croquettes, padrón peppers, spinach gorgonzola and goats’ cheese-and-Serrano bites, while the wine list is based on Spanish labels. The place has a light, personal rhythm: not overdone, not stiff, more like a pre-dinner drink suddenly turning into a complete evening.

Time Out tip: Grab a seat outside and leave time for a pre- or post-dinner walk around Károlyi-kert, the pocket park behind the Petőfi Literary Museum. A few pintxos, a glass of txakoli or cava, and you've got everything you need for a perfect Spanish evening in the city centre.

Address: Henszlmann Imre utca 1, 1053 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6pm-11pm, Sat 5pm-11pm. Closed Sun

Expect to pay: Tortilla de patatas Ft 1,490 (€4.20). Gambas al ajillo Ft 3,990 (€11.25). Pulpo a la gallega Ft 4,590 (€13)

What is it? A Mediterranean tapas bar in the Palace District which, in addition to its Spanish roots, also features Portuguese, Greek, Middle-Eastern and South-American influences.

Why we love it Vas Manci is not a purely Spanish restaurant, so it is in this selection more for its Spanish-inspired, Mediterranean tapas. It’s a small, personal, homely place, where the menu is varied – tortilla de patatas, chorizo al vino tinto, meatballs, pinchos morunos meatcubes, empanadas and larger Mediterranean dishes.

Time Out tip: If you’re in the area for a visit to the Great Synagogue or film at the historic Uránia cinema, this is a great choice to stop by afterwards. It really works if you're not in a hurry – order several smaller dishes and relax.

Address: Vas utca 3, 1088 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 4pm-10pm. Closed Sat-Sun

Expect to pay: Small tapas Ft 950-1,550 (€2.70-4.40). Chorizo al vino tinto Ft 1,550 (€4.40). Spanish platter Ft 5,250 (€14.80). Desserts Ft 2,300 (€6.50)