8Babel Budapest
Babel is a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant in the heart of Budapest. The hushed, casually elegant dining room has only a dozen tables, set with white linen and overlooking the neighboring Gothic cathedral bathed in soft light (the Danube is just a stone's throw away).
The day-to-day kitchen duties are carried out by a quintet of chefs under Kornél Kaszás. The 8 and the 13-course tasting menus draw inspiration from Austro-Hungarian cuisine but the kitchen chases purity of flavors rather than a complete loyalty to traditional dishes or ingredients. Yes, there's black caviar, foie gras, and truffles, but also fine dining takes on local classics such as layered potatoes and túró-filled donuts, beautifully plated and delicious. The service staff is kind and competent – no matter how mundane or technical your question, they'll likely have answers for you. In addition to an all-Hungarian wine pairing list, there's also a fun selection featuring local craft beer, plum-infused sake, Normandy cider, and an idiosyncratic Tokaj szamorodni.
The 13-course menu runs €170 per person or €260 with wine pairing. The dining experience at Babel is emphatically two-star, despite the restaurant having only one Michelin star currently.
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