The best vegetarian & vegan restaurants in Budapest

What is it? In operation since 2008, the ‘Sunshine' Restaurant is one of the best-known vegan restaurants in Europe. Traditional Hungarian dishes are prepared without meat, alongside modern, international flavours – all in a real familial atmosphere.

Why we love it Napfényes was one of the first in Budapest to prove that vegan cuisine can be filling, varied and delicious. Classic Hungarian standards – such as vegan bean goulash or fried seitan slices – are given a new lease of life, while Mediterranean and Eastern-inspired dishes are also spotlighted. Repeat customers come for their homemade cakes, creamy desserts and dairy-free ice cream alone. A spacious, friendly place where everyone can find something they want.

Time Out tip: Try the generous Napfényes Platter or the vegan homemade cream cake, both classics on the menu.

Address: Ferenciek tere 2/Curia utca, 1053 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-9pm

Expect to pay: Soups Ft 1,350-2,700 (€3.50-7), mains Ft 4,400-5,950 (€11.40-15.40) desserts Ft 1,500-2,500 (€3.80-6.50)

What is it? Vegan and vegetarian-friendly food bar in several locations in Pest (Jászai Mari tér, Klauzál tér market, Hold utca), with daily fresh menus and fast service.

Why we love it Nemsüti has been serving the vegetarian and vegan crowd since 2004 – daily updated menus, gluten- and lactose-free options, artisanal pastries, smoothies and sandwiches await. The service is fast and friendly – a great choice for takeaway or a quick lunch eaten in-situ.

Time Out tip: Choose the daily menu in small or large portions, then go for a homemade dessert with a fresh fruit juice.

Addresses & opening hours: Jászai Mari tér 4B, 1137 Budapest (Mon-Fri 10am-6pm); Hold utca 9, 1054 Budapest (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm); Klauzál tér market, 1072 Budapest (Mon-Fri 11am-3pm)

Expect to pay: Daily menu Ft 2,500-3,990 (€6.50-10), soups Ft 1,250 (€3.30), mains Ft 3,490 (€9), cakes Ft 1,350-1,550 (€3.50-4)

What is it? A familial, plant-based bistro in District XIII, where all the food is freshly prepared in-house, in the spirit of conscious nutrition.

Why we love it Tökmag is one of the most reliable vegan places in Budapest – here, it’s a passion not a fashion. The menu is both casual and exciting: vegan fried ‘cheese’, gluten-free burgers with pumpkin seeds, beetroot or mushrooms, and homemade sandwiches (such as pumpkin-seed and sunflower-seed cream) are all freshly made. Freshly squeezed juices and seasonal desserts are also part of the offer. Every dish is carefully prepared, additive-free, with high-quality ingredients, and the portions are generous. The place is small but friendly, and is always full of returning guests.

Time Out tip: The place fills up quickly at lunchtime, so it’s worth arriving early – and the daily specials on the blackboard sell out fast.

Address: Hollán Ernő utca 5, 1137 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-4pm. Closed Sun

Expect to pay: Soups Ft 1,600-1,900 (€4.20-5), mains Ft 3,000-4,500 (€7.80-11.70), menus Ft 3,500-4,900 (€9.10-12.80), fresh juices from Ft 1,500 (€3.90)

What is it? A vegetable-friendly outlet offering vegetarian and vegan specialities at Klauzál tér market, most notably the classic Hungarian stew főzelék, in which traditional local vegetables appear in a reimagined form.

Why we love it Hippeace offers a fresh new perspective-on Hungarian cuisine. Classic vegetable dishes are offered in a new-wave style, made from carefully selected vegetables, and are also gluten- and lactose-free, all thanks to Ferenc Szatmári, aka Főzelékes Feri, ‘Fred Stew’. Főzelék poorly translates as ‘pottage’, something that died out in England in the 1600s along with boar hunting, but has remained a (mainly) winter staple here in Hungary. Feri’s menu changes daily: soups, vegetable dishes and, optionally – just as a topping, mind – meat. A homely atmosphere, friendly service and creative presentation provide an experience that goes beyond the simple lunch menu. Every visitor is encouraged not only to devour, but to rediscover the creative genre of vegetable dishes.

Time Out tip: Order the ‘Stuff me full/Leave room for dinner’ menu – hearty soup and vegetables, with vegan toppings, of two sizes.

Address: Klauzál tér 11, 1072 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Thur 11.30am-2.30pm, Fri 11.30am-2pm. Closed Sat-Sun

Expect to pay: Soups Ft 1,500 (€3.90), főzelék stews Ft 2,590 (€6.70), menus Ft 3,800-5,200 (€9.90-13.50)

What is it? A laid-back, plant-based and vegetarian bistro in the heart of the Castle District, where seasonal, natural ingredients take the starring role.

Why we love it Szelence is a small but nonetheless honest place, where care is behind every bite. The owner, Anna Vető, is one of the Hungarian pioneers of eco-conscious, plant-based eating – she not only cooks, but also educates, inspires and builds community. The daily menu adapts to the rhythm of the season: it could be cream of pumpkin soup, green curry vegetables or homemade vegan cake. A calm, inspiring ambience – white walls, wooden furniture, fresh flowers – does the rest. Szelence is not just a restaurant, but an approach: it reminds us that conscious eating is a joy, not a sacrifice.

Time Out tip: Turn up early – the daily changing menu goes fast.

Address: Pauler utca 8, 1013 Budapest

Opening hours: Tue-Thur 11am-3pm. Closed Fri-Mon

Expect to pay: Menus Ft 3,000 (€7.80), menus with cake Ft 3,900 (€10), bowls Ft 2,700 (€7)

What is it? A contemporary, plant-based restaurant on Holló utca in the nightlife hub, where Hungarian ingredients embark on global culinary adventures. Their goal is an offering that not only makes your day, but also has a positive impact on the environment in the long term.

Why we love it The chefs at Marumba use seasonal, local ingredients to create an exciting, lively menu that both respects Hungarian cuisine and dares to draw inspiration from the tastes of distant lands. The dishes – harissa bean goulash, basil sourdough kohlrabi or cauliflower casserole with horseradish beetroot salad – not only look beautiful on the plate, they also have a deep, complex flavour. Desserts, such as polenta brûlée with sea-buckthorn jelly, playfully reinterpret traditional dishes. A natural, friendly atmosphere, with awareness brought to the fore, sets the tone.

Time Out tip: Order several courses and share them – the baked potato with smoked harissa and cream of grain sausage is a must.

Address: Holló utca 1, 1075 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-10pm

Expect to pay: Starters Ft 3,390-4,000 (€8.80-10), mains Ft 3,590-5,490 (€9.40-14.30), desserts Ft 2,790-2,990 (€7.30-7.80)

What is it? This vegan fast-food joint on Wesselényi utca presents the flavours of the Middle East in a modern, health-conscious form – specifically falafel, hummus, baba ganoush and hearty bowls.

Why we love it Tahina Bite offers healthy, plant-based dishes that are both nutritious and freshly prepared. The menu is a fusion of Middle-Eastern cuisine and modern vegan trends - it's like poke bowl meets falafel. The menu includes homemade hummus, smoky baba ganoush, crispy falafel and variations served in a bowl or pita. It's ideal for lunch and dinner, and will soon be expanding its menu to include vegan breakfasts. The atmosphere is relaxed and specifically tailored to the health-conscious urban crowd.

Time Out tip: Try one of the bowls (Superfood, Spice it up!, Go green, CYO or Mediterranean) – one of the best plant-based street-food combinations in town.

Address: Wesselényi utca 2, 1077 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 11am-10pm

Expect to pay: Falafel platters Ft 3,200-4,400 (€8.30-11.50), sandwiches Ft 2,850-3,800 (€7.40-9.90), hummus & meze selections Ft 2,750-2,950 (€7.20-7.70)

What is it? A completely plant-based pizzeria in downtown Budapest, with Neapolitan-style pastas and creative, vegan toppings.

Why we love it Vegazzi takes plant-based pizza-making to a new level: they use three types of Italian pizza dough and stone-ground whole-grain flour from ancient Hungarian wheat varieties, providing its special aroma and texture. The Canotto dough, aged for four days with a mixture of poolish and wild sourdough, is airy yet full of character, and the Pinsa Romana is light and cloudy, as they say in the trade. The toppings are creative vegan reinterpretations of classic Italian combinations; your experience is enhanced by neat surroundings, a homely atmosphere and artisanal precision.

Time Out tip: Try the Pinsa verde – cream of minty green pea with freshly squeezed lemon and microgreens.

Address: Jókai utca 7, 1066 Budapest

Opening hours: Tue-Sun noon-9pm. Closed Mon

Expect to pay: Pizzas Ft 3,390-4,990 (€8.80-13), starters Ft 2,190-2,990 (€5.70-7.80), desserts Ft 2,290 (€6)

What is it? Hungary's first completely plant-based canteen and café, where conscious eating, communal activity and modern design meet.

Why we love it The Planteen is a true pioneer: Viktória Szemerédy and Barna Baráth transformed a former school canteen into a modern, inspiring community space in Graphisoft Park. The menu changes daily and combines influences from world cuisine with Hungarian flavours: thali platters, curries, fresh wraps, salads and nutritious bowls beg to be sampled. Everything is 100% plant-based, with many dishes also gluten-free. The space is spacious, bright and youthful, decorated with recycled materials in the spirit of sustainability. Planteen is not only a restaurant, but also a community space: a regular venue for workshops, discussions and brunches.

Time Out tip: With a freshly prepared daily menu, the place fills up quickly at lunchtime – try and get here between 11.30am and 12.30pm.

Address: Graphisoft Park, Building U1, Záhony utca 7, 1031 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm (lunch 11.30am–2.30pm). Closed Sat-Sun

Expect to pay: Soups Ft 1,690 (€4.40), mains Ft 2,890 (€7.50), desserts Ft 1,690 (€4.40); 2-course menu Ft 3,690 (€9.60), 3-course menu Ft 4,890 (€12.75)

What is it? Budapest’s first gastropub working exclusively with plant-based ingredients, where vegan bistro dishes, craft beer and a real pub atmosphere await.

Why we love it Szabad Bisztró is one of the city’s most authentic vegan community spaces – here food and good company go hand in hand. Following the success of the original Király utca location from 2019 onwards, a sister outlet popped up in District VIII in 2023 along the same lines: additive-free, plant-based, no compromise. In addition to the chef's offerings, there is an à la carte selection and a daily lunch menu, while the drinks list includes small-batch beers and fruit juices, Hungarian wines and homemade cordials. The place is not only a restaurant, but also a meeting place for regular workshops, exhibitions and parties. It is no coincidence that it has won several awards, including the honour of Dog-Friendly Restaurant of the Year, in the face of fierce competition in canine-centric Budapest.

Time Out tip: Try one of the many vegan burgers (beetroot, pulled pork, salad, Balkan, faux chicken), and order a Hungarian craft beer from the tap with it.

Address: Király utca 101, 1077 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily noon-11pm

Expect to pay: Mains Ft 3,490-4,790 (€9.10-12.50), desserts Ft 1,690 (€4.40)

What is it? At this 100% vegan restaurant on Király utca, plant-based cuisine appears in all forms, from street food to gourmet dishes.

Why we love it Vegan Garden is a true oasis in the city centre, colourful, fresh and full of life. The menu is international, but every dish is based on local ingredients. In addition to homemade vegan pizzas, burgers and bowls, classic Hungarian flavours are also reflected in plant-based form. Due to the environmental awareness and the green space, the place is both modern and soothing – the perfect choice for a light lunch or dinner.

Time Out tip: Try the homemade vegan burger with sweet potato fries, then end the evening with a slice of chocolate fondant.

Address: Király utca 8-10, 1061 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Wed noon-10pm, Thur noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm

Expect to pay: Starters Ft 2,890-4,000 (€7.50-10), mains Ft 4,290-6,490 (€11.20-17), desserts Ft 2,290-2,490 (€6-6.50)

What is it? Govinda Vegan Corner is part of the restaurant chain of the Hungarian Community of Krishna Consciousness. It was founded in the 1970s, inspired by the spiritual upsurge and the rise of the green/vegetarian movement, all under the influence of the globe-trotting Indian spiritual leader, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Why we love it With several outlets in one place, downtown Govinda – like its other locations – is not just a restaurant, but embodies a whole philosophy. The dishes are prepared from fresh, natural ingredients, keeping in mind the balance of body and soul. The menu includes spicy Indian curries, dhals, rice dishes and freshly baked chapatis, but you can also find the meat-free classics of the Hungarian kitchen. A calm, friendly, spiritual atmosphere makes this ideal for lunch and deeper conversations.

Time Out tip: Order a thali platter – several small portions of Indian dishes on one plate, a perfect introduction to ayurvedic cuisine.

Address: Papnövelde utca 1, 1053 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11.30am-4pm

Expect to pay: Daily menu Ft 2,800-3,500 (€7.30-9.10), mains Ft 3,200-5,500 (€8.35-14.30), desserts Ft 1,500-2,500 (€3.90-6.50)