Budapest Culinary Walk

Sightseeing  :  Hungary  :  Budapest  :  Budapest  :  Food Tours

There is no better way to begin any exploration of Budapest other than with its food and drinks. Our food, wine, cultural walking and tasting tour begins at The Central Market Hall—Budapest’s cathedral of food—and continues through one of its most delicious and charming neighborhoods. Be sure to come with an appetite. You will need it on this tour!The Central Market Hall, one of Europe’s largest and most spectacular indoor markets, is a natural place to begin getting acquainted with Hungarian food. Here you will get an introduction to the culture of Hungarian cuisine through the great variety and abundance of ingredients (which are mostly local and seasonal) on display. We will discuss the history of the building, the culture of eating, drinking in Hungary and just what it is that Hungarian home cooks do with all of that pork fat, paprika, and goose liver. From there, we will visit a few more places in the surrounding neighborhoods, which could include (depending on the day of the week), a spice shop, a kosher bakery, a coffee house, a candy manufacturer or an artisan chocolate shop. We will visit a butcher shop where we will sample several traditional Hungarian dishes, and afterwards we will visit a traditional patisserie to sample some of the elegant cakes for which Hungarian bakers are known. By this time you’ll be ready for a glass (or three) of wine. The finale will be a wine tasting session in which we will taste three quintessential Hungarian wines and get an introduction to the Hungarian wine regions, varietal, and styles. This tour will give you a taste of the traditional side of Hungarian cuisine, as well as the modern artisan producers and specialty food shops which are spicing up Budapest’s food scene.

Learn—Discover Hungarian food and wine, from the raw ingredients through the most delicious dishes and wines. Learn about the history of the market, the ingredients, and the recipes.
Experience—Eating and drinking like a local.
Wine—Put the Hungarian wine scene in context as you taste three wines, while discussing the state of Hungarian wine making, some of the important regions, and the major varietal.
See—The tour will provide a thorough tour of the different stalls and sections of Budapest’s largest food market, followed by a walk through the surrounding neighborhood (one of Pest’s most vibrant) and visits to several more venues.
Taste—You will have several tastings at the market, including a variety of local cheeses, cured meats, and pickled vegetables. Afterwards there will be a shared meal of traditional dishes, a tasting of several cakes, and one to two more tastings (depending on the day). Drinks which will be tasted include Unicum and three nice Hungarian wines. Come hungry, and don’t bother to make lunch plans afterwards.