You don’t keep going back to a place because it is expensive and elegant, or because that is where your grandma used to take you for lángos in 1986. What makes a good place then? Everyone has a different answer to that question. We compiled a list of the top 100 spots we think are worth checking out around Lake Balaton for one reason or another: the waiting staff are passionate about their job, there is excellent coffee, it is the perfect place to kill an hour or even half a day. We definitely left some important ones out, and there are places that won’t make it onto our list next year. Here are our top 100 favourite haunts around the Balaton.

From Siófok to Balatonföldvár

  • Roxy Restaurant – This is where our Siófok tour kicks off, the menu has everything you can think of. Siófok, Szabadság tér 1.
  • Repeta Gastro Club – Right next to Roxy, hamburger, but not in the kind of bun you find in supermarkets. Siófok, Fő utca 47-53.
  • La Rosa Gelateria – Italian gelato, lavender and other specialties. Siófok, Batthyány utca 52.
  • Mala Garden – Perhaps the only restaurant around Lake Balaton specializing in the cuisine of the Far East. And it is a pretty good one. Siófok, Petőfi sétány 15.
  • Sió Fish Place – A classic fish fryer, but the bream is prepared by a master chef here. Siófok, Vitorlás út 1-3.
  • Sup Yoga & Sup Fitness – Doing yoga on a surfboard? It is possible here! Siófok, Móricz Zsigmond u. 20.
  • Siófok ship terminal – The headquarters of Balaton sailing: would you rather just have a look around or would you jump on a nostalgia cruise? Siófok, Krúdy sétány 2.
  • Széplaki Lángos Buffet – It was recommended by none other than the manager of Kistücsök. We wouldn’t miss it. Siófok-Balatonszéplak-felső, Hungária u. 27/B
  • Halas Karcsi Fish Place – Halas Karcsi is just a guy frying fish in a buffet. Still, he has quite the following. Zamárdi, Mókus utca 1/A
  • Édes Velence Artisan Ice Cream Parlor – This place is across the road from the railway station, so you will have just enough time to pop in before your train leaves. You won’t regret it. Zamárdi, Szabadság tér 2.

  • Resti Pub – A new wave resti located in the building of the railway station. This is where Balaton Sound begins. Zamárdi, Sport tér 1.
  • Sarok Buffet – A classic buffet, award-winning lángos, and the beach is only 10 metres away. Zamárdi, at the end of Eötvös utca, public beach.
  • Zimek Pálinka Manufacture – The best kinds of pálinka and the funniest pálinka master around the Balaton. Zamárdi, Endrédi út 061/24.
  • Mauro Ristorante – A legendary “Italian” place with a lively waiting staff. You either love it or you hate it. Zamárdi, Kiss Ernő utca 1.
  • Zamárdi Outdoor Cinema – A memento of the golden age of outdoor cinemas, restored to tip-top shape. Zamárdi, Kossuth Lajos u. 14.
  • Völgyhíd Café – A new café under the Kőröshegyi Viaduct: superb cakes, homemade cordials and a splendid view of the viaduct. Kőröshegy, M7 motorway, 121 km exit.
  • Beach Party Restaurant – You must come here for the solitary reed-trimmed beach, if for nothing else. – Szántód, Juhász Gyula utca 11.
  • Pub-lik – Balatonföldvár+party=Pub-lik: yachtsmen from Pest, local rowdies, together, until dawn. Lunch during the day on the comfy terrace. Balatonföldvár, Széchenyi utca 10.
  • Viharsarok Sailing Centre – Surfing is not a sport, it is a lifestyle. You will find that out here. Balatonföldvár, Somogyi Béla utca, Keleti Beach.
  • Kultkikötő – An open-air stage that won’t bore you to death. Balatonföldvár, Bajor Gizi sétány 2.
  • Marina Gyros & Hamburger – A classic gyros buffet with an elite following and huge portions. Balatonföldvár, Somogyi Béla u., ship terminal.
  • Kárpáti Confectionery – Chocolate sauce – this is all we are going to say. Balatonföldvár, Somogyi Béla u., ship terminal.

From Balatonszárszó to Balatonmáriafürdő

  • Anno Taverna – Traditional cuisine with a Mediterranean influence, no way you’re going to be hungry after leaving here. Balatonszárszó, Szóládi út 1.
  • Attila József Memorial House – No dust-covered furniture here, only an interactive and emotional journey into the world of Attila József. Balatonszárszó, József Attila utca 7.
  • Léda Confectionery – A café with a terrace by the railway station. Cake, latte, ice cream in that order, followed by a walk in the Attila József memorial park. Balatonszárszó, Fő utca 2.
  • Kistücsök Restaurant – The king of Balaton restaurants. And with good reason. Balatonszemes, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 25.  
  • Bujdosó Winery – No need to duck when someone from the winemaking-sailing Bujdosó family throws you a bottle of Horgony (anchor) wine. Balatonszemes, Gárdonyi Géza utca 2.
  • Ikon Winery – Large-scale winemaking will amaze you here, especially if you try the end result.. Balatonlelle-Rádpuszta.  
  • Rádpuszta Csárda and Leisure Centre – A streamlined “pußta” with horses, a csárda, Gypsy music and great wines. Rádpuszta 9033/11

  • BL Bavaria Yachtklub & Apartements – Concerts, bathing elephants, oldtimer cars – there’s always something going on here. Balatonlelle, Köztársaság utca 36-38.
  • Márton Confectionery – Márton, the elderly gentleman who is still in good shape. Balatonlelle, Rákóczi út 239.
  • Geleta Confectionery – A young rival, aspiring to snatch the crown from Márton. You’ll have difficulty finding a free parking spot here. Balatonlelle, Rákóczi út 269.
  • Majthényi Press House restaurant – The combination of the best panorama and the best curd cheese dumplings on the southern shore. Balatonlelle-Kishegy, Panoráma utca.
  • Hegyi Csárda – Fresh fried food straight from the garden oven. Lamb and a great view. Balatonlelle-Kishegy 0107/31
  • Paletta Bistrobar and Vinoteca – The best hamburger around Lake Balaton, no question about it. Balatonboglár, Kikötő utca 6.   
  • Árkád Ice Cream Parlour – This is not retro, this is time travel. But the good kind that is hard to come across. Balatonboglár, Dózsa György út 37.
  • Fonyód market – The largest market on the southern shore, everything from vegetables to books, twice a week. Fonyód, Gáz utca.
  • Balatonpark Open-air Stage – The new attraction of Balatonfenyves. We hope it is not a one-summer wonder. Balatonfenyves, Nimród utca 3.
  • Hubertus Hof Hotel & Restaurant – If you love game, Hubertus is the place for you. Balatonfenyves, Nimród u. 1.
  • Florida Ice Cream Parlor – This is where the best Balaton ice cream of 2014 was made. Balatonmáriafürdő, Rákóczi utca 85.   
  • Ax & Ax Winery – Have you ever seen a winery with a screening room and a tapas bar? And the wines are pretty good, too. Kéthely, Hunyadi utca 99.