Kék Hold Hotel

Take the lift to the 3rd floor of the Balaton Üzletház shopping mall and you’ll find this bright restaurant with a smart interior and a partial view over the lake. Chef and well-known personality, Gabriella Szikra – kitted out in her trademark cap – has a genuine desire to please, and her modern Hungarian dishes come with bold flavours and arty presentation. Be sure to go for the excellent local wine pairings.

Perched high up the hillside in the Badacsony region, with far reaching views of Lake Balaton, this period villa was once home to artist István Farkas. Now under the ownership of an ambitious and enthusiastic couple, the team here are establishing it as something of a destination restaurant. A concise lunch offering is followed by a well-balanced tasting menu – you won’t get much more local than this, with the cheese, salami, sausages, beers and wines all family made. They even have their own coffee roaster and pottery workshop too. Book a bedroom with a terrace and look forward to a fantastic

It’s all in the name. Set in a small village on the southern banks of Lake Balaton, just a stone’s throw from the water, this intimate bistro follows a purely local ethos. From the fixtures and fittings to the furnishings and the food, everything you see has been produced in the region. The rustic small plates have a fittingly traditional Hungarian heart and come with bold flavours – you might find green pea soup with goat’s cheese and mint, followed by rabbit with vegetable sauce and bread pudding. Choose four per person or opt for the excellent value Chef’s Menu of current kitchen favourites

This inviting roadside pub sits in an elevated spot and is fronted by a pleasant terrace. Inside it’s warm and welcoming with a rustic feel – thanks to a log burner crackling away on colder nights. Its name translates as ‘I cooked for you’. The concise menu lists all things Hungarian and the friendly team are happy to talk you through it and offer suggestions. The gutsy home-cooking has plenty of flavour and can be paired with a selection of local wines.