Travel Diaries: Eating Vegan in Budapest

Something that you might not know about me is that I follow an almost completely vegan diet, which can be tricky at times while travelling. Before my recent trip to Europe, I researched vegan restaurants in each of the three cities that we were visiting. I have to say that I was incredibly impressed with the amount of vegan options in Europe! I was never left feeling hungry, and Dylan (a carnivore), was also satisfied no matter where we went. Today I'll run through my favourite vegan spots in Budapest, Hungary!

When we first arrived in Budapest, we checked into our hotel, quickly unpacked, showered, and then searched for the closet veggie spot. A quick Google search led us in the direction of Macska!, which is on the Pest side. This restaurant has both vegan and vegetarian options, but the menu is fairly small. The atmosphere is very cozy, and the waitress was extremely friendly, as was able to translate the menu for us. I ordered the vegan Guiso, and Dylan ordered the veggie lasagna. The Guiso was extremely filling, which was exactly what I needed after a full day of travelling. The prices were very fair, our dishes were about 1000 HUF each - approx $5 CAD! If you're looking for a place to find a hearty meal, then I think you'd love Macska!

Another favourite was Édeni Vegán, which serves raw and cooked vegan food. This restaurant changes up their menu daily, so we were excited to try something new the second time we stopped by. Ordering is cafeteria style, simply fill up your plate with one or several options, and pay before eating. I never quite got the grasp of how the cost worked here, but each time our meals ranged between 1000-1500 HUF - $5-7 CAD. My favourite dishes were the pesto pasta, pea soup, and goulash! Their vegan chocolate cake hit the spot - very creamy, moist, and decadent! 

Pea soup & Pesto Pasta

Jasmine rice, Cabbage & Tomatos, and a Seitan Patty

Vegan Chocolate Cake

I was quite surprised at the amount of restaurants in Budapest that advertised having vegan options! If you're vegan or vegetarian and you're planning a trip to Budapest, don't worry - you won't go hungry! Édeni Vegán and Macska! were my two favourite spots, but there are many more restaurants that will be able to meet your dietary needs. 

I'll be sharing my favourite vegan spots from both Vienna and Prague soon, so keep an eye out for those posts over the next few weeks! In the meantime, I would love to know how you travel with any dietary restrictions, and what your best travel trips are!