Where to Try the Best Strudel in Budapest (Rétes Guide for Food Lovers)

If there’s one dessert that quietly defines Hungarian comfort food, it’s rétes — known internationally as strudel. Thin, flaky, generously filled, and best enjoyed warm, this classic pastry is deeply woven into Hungarian home cooking and café culture. Whether you’re chasing nostalgia or just want something genuinely local, Budapest is a fantastic place to try it.

Below are the best places to eat rétes in Budapest, plus a bit of background on where it comes from — because food always tastes better when you know the story.

What Is Rétes? A Short (But Worth It) Backstory

Rétes has its roots in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, influenced by Middle Eastern pastry techniques brought to Central Europe during Ottoman times. The defining feature?The dough is stretched so thin you should be able to read a newspaper through it — traditionally by hand.

In Hungary, rétes became a household staple rather than a fancy dessert. Grandmas passed down

dough-stretching techniques, fillings followed the seasons (apple, sour cherry, poppy seed, cottage cheese), and no two homes made it exactly the same.

That’s why the best rétes still feels slightly imperfect — rustic, generous, and comforting.

Best Places to Try Strudel (Rétes) in Budapest

1. Rétesvár – Castle District

📍 Address: 1014 Budapest, Úri utca 30.

Rétesvár is the place you go when you want rétes that looks and tastes like it came straight out of a Hungarian kitchen. No overthinking, no fancy plating — just proper, honest strudel.

This spot is located in the Buda Castle District, making it a perfect stop while sightseeing, and surprisingly affordable given the area. The portions are generous, the dough is flaky without being greasy, and the fillings are classic and comforting.

Why locals love it:

• Very affordable for a tourist-heavy area

• Rustic, homemade look and taste

• Feels like eating at grandma’s house (the highest compliment in Hungary)

If you want to understand what rétes means emotionally to Hungarians, start here.

Best for: Authentic, affordable, grandma-style strudel

2. Első Pesti Rétes Ház – Downtown Budapest

📍 Address: 1051 Budapest, Október 6. utca 22.

This is probably the most famous rétes spot in Budapest, and for good reason. It’s centrally located, easy to find, and you can actually watch the rétes being stretched and prepared right in front of you.

Beyond pastries, they also serve traditional Hungarian dishes, and their goulash is genuinely good, not just an afterthought for tourists. That makes it a great option if you want a full Hungarian meal followed by dessert.

What makes it special:

• Open kitchen where you can see the dough-stretching process

• Wide variety of classic and seasonal fillings

• Excellent stop for first-time visitors

• Ideal lunch + dessert combo spot

Yes, it’s popular — but it’s popular because it delivers.

Best for: Watching rétes being made + central location

3. Strudel Garden Café Budapest

📍 Address: 1065 Budapest, Hajós utca 1.

If you prefer places that feel a bit hidden and personal, Strudel Garden Café is your spot. Just a few minutes’ walk from the Opera House, yet tucked away enough to feel calm and local.

They offer a great selection of rétes, along with other small Hungarian pastries that are absolutely worth trying. The café has a cosy upstairs seating area, making it perfect for slowing down with a coffee and dessert.

Why it stands out:

• Locally run, small business

• Calm, hidden-gem feeling despite central location

• Excellent pastry variety beyond just rétes

• Perfect for an afternoon break

It’s the kind of place you stumble into once — and then quietly recommend to friends.

Best for: Supporting a local business + cosy atmosphere

Final Thoughts: Where Should You Go?

• Want authentic, no-frills, grandma-style rétes? → Rétesvár

• Want the full Hungarian experience with food, dessert, and a show? → Első Pesti Rétes Ház

• Want a cosy, local café vibe near major sights? → Strudel Garden Café

No bad choices here — just different moods.

And yes: if you eat rétes warm, with powdered sugar, slightly flaky crumbs everywhere… you’re doing it right.