This is how the gastronomic map of the countryside is compiled – here is the Dining Guide’s TOP30 rural restaurant list

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 07. 14. 10:20

Since 2005, Dining Guide has published Hungary’s most prestigious restaurant ranking, which has become one of the key benchmarks of the domestic gastronomic scene. The list doesn’t only focus on the capital’s fine dining hotspots but pays special attention to rural hospitality as well – each year featuring the 30 best countryside restaurants in Hungary.

The ranking is based on a continuously refined, internationally aligned evaluation system that goes beyond taste and technique. Dining Guide also aims to help guests make conscious choices about where and how they wish to enjoy culinary experiences – whether for a special occasion or a casual lunch.

At the same time, the list highlights the challenges facing Hungarian hospitality. While gastronomy is an economically significant sector, many rural restaurants struggle with weak local demand. Tourism, especially from international visitors, remains centered in Budapest, while guest traffic in other parts of the country is far more modest.

Zoltán Herczeg, publisher of the Dining Guide TOP100 Restaurant Guide, previously noted in an interview that the combination of economic hardships and the limited presence of culinary culture means that going to restaurants isn’t yet as natural in rural Hungary as it is in Western Europe. However, the younger generations show greater openness to dining out – a trend reflected in this year’s list.

Top 30 Rural Restaurants in Hungary – 2024 edition:

Platán Gourmet, Tata
Pajta, Őriszentpéter
42 Restaurant, Esztergom
Sauska 48, Villány
Anyukám mondta, Encs
Platán Bistro, Tata
Botanica, Dánszentmiklós
Kistücsök Food & Room, Balatonszemes
Ikon, Debrecen
Alkimista Kulináris Műhely, Szeged
Iszkor, Mályinka – Chef Ádám Pohner
Morzsa, Pécs
Casa Christa Agriturismo, Balatonszőlős
Petrányi Borterasz, Csopak
Csopaki Resti by Laurel, Csopak
Bistro Sparhelt, Balatonfüred
Lamarerda Restaurant & Bistro, Győr
Rutin, Budaörs
Villa Kabala, Szigliget
Avalon Ristorante, Miskolc
Hosszú Tányér, Hosszúhetény
Natura Hill, Zebegény
Lokalista, Nagykanizsa
A Konyhám Stúdió 365, Fonyód
The Club Avalon, Miskolc
Bori Mami, Gyöngyös
Újváros Bistro, Szarvas
Rudi és Fickó, Szeged
Kapca × Rézhárs Bistro, Szeged
Macok Bistro, Eger

The list is compiled annually based on multiple criteria. In addition to the main rankings, Dining Guide also honors seasonal excellence – for instance, in October 2023, Hungary’s best autumn restaurants were announced. In 2024, the prestigious Tanyacsárda near Lajosmizse earned the title of “Best Traditional Hungarian Restaurant of the Year.”

Dining Guide’s mission extends beyond rating restaurants: it aims to foster a more vibrant food culture – not just in Budapest, but across the entire country.