What makes a restaurant or street food joint great? We don’t know exactly either. For some reason it’s good to go there, stay for a while, ask for one more of whatever you’re having. Just like in 2014, we set out again this year to compile a list of our 100 favourite Balaton bars, restaurants, museums and water sports clubs that we love spending time at or we’ve heard good reviews about. Once again, our list is subjective, and contains veteran establishments as well as noteworthy newbies.

Tihany

  • Rege cukrászda – “The” confectionery of Tihany, right below the abbey. Tihany, Kossuth utca 22.
  • Tihanyi PIAC placc – Artisan cheeses and sausages, antique pieces, a bistro and a bit of contemporary art in the grove by the ferry. Tihany, ferry.
  • Karolina Fűszerkertje – The latest venture of the famous Karolina from Füred: a restaurant on the terrace of Echo Residence Hotel. Tihany, Felsőkopaszhegyi út 35.

  • SUP Center – Stand on a surfboard, grab a paddle and explore the romantic side of the Tihany Peninsula. Tihany, Club Tihany, Rév u. 3.
  • Ferenc Pince Csárda – The best restaurant in Tihany, a little bit further away from the hustle and bustle of the village and the ferry. Tihany, Cser-hegy 9.
  • KOGART Tihany – High culture amid colourful bazaar stalls. Tihany, Kossuth Lajos utca 10.

Around Balatonfüred

  • Hajógyári kikötő és Étterem – The old shipyard has been filled with life again, and the restaurant has set the bar high from the beginning. Our sailor friends swear by the chocolate mousse. Balatonfüred, Tihanyi műút 1.
  • Biobalaton öko- és kézműves piac – Malackrumpli étterem – An eco-market and an artisan-eco-restaurant, craft beer – the realm of organic farmer Tamás “Black Sheep” Járosi. Balatonfüred, by the Füred campgrounds.
  • Figula borbár – An urban adventure for wine enthusiasts who don't feel like a trip through vineyards. Balatonfüred, Zákonyi Ferenc u. 4./Silver Yard
  • Karolina Kávéház – It is no exaggeration to call this the most popular café around Lake Balaton. Balatonfüred, Zákonyi Ferenc u. 4./Silver Yard

  • Korzó Fagyizó – One of the best ice cream parlours in Balatonfüred is easily recognized by the snaking queues. Balatonfüred, Zákonyi Ferenc u. 4.
  • Bergmann cukrászdák – Real coffee house traditions, exquisite "krémes" instead of the smell of naphthalene, at two locations. Balatonfüred, Zsigmond utca 1., Petőfi Sándor u. 64.
  • Baricska csárda – How to turn a closed csárda into a top restaurant over the course of one summer? Like this. Balatonfüred, Baricska dűlő.
  • Matróz – Sea fish, tapas, wine: the newest of the new wave spots in Füred. Balatonfüred, Écsi László u. 5.
  • Kredenc borbisztró – We feel like the only way to run a place with wine, music and snacks is the way András Dobai does it. A definite favourite for us. Balatonfüred, Blaha Lujza utca 7.

  • Vaszary Villa – Contemporary painters and a cosy garden café only a minute away on foot from everything. Balatonfüred, Honvéd u. 2-4.
  • Bistro Sparhelt – It opened, people loved it, it was closed. And now Sparhelt is open again in "upper" Füreden. Balatonfüred, Szent István tér 7.
  • Vígmolnár csárda – A persistent representative of traditional csárdas. The wheel of the water mill spins as the times do, all year. Csopak, Kőkorsó utca 1.
  • Code Zero – Code zero is a kind of sail. And Code Zero is a great container bar offering grill food on the pier of the Csopak marina. Csopak, Örkény István sétány 8-16.
  • Guruljon az élet – A bike rest stop between Füred and Csopak. Hippie-style and cool with hammocks everywhere. Fresh food, bike repair tools, you can stay overnight. Csopak, 0219/4 hrsz.

  • Jásdi borterasz – Looking for some Riesling on the north shore? Go to Jásdi and drink a glass or two on the wine terrace overlooking Balaton. Csopak, Arany János u. 2.
  • Tamás pince – Wine, syrups, jams and lavender cider – this is not a regular wine cellar. Csopak, Arany János utca 1.
  • Márga bisztró - Szent Donát Pince és Borház – A successful winery with a restaurant that was revamped this year, but already aspires to be among the best. Márga will definitely be a hot topic for a while. Csopak, Szitahegy.
  • Homola Pincészet – Homola and co. wish to convey the 100% Balaton feeling with their wine and the Jazz Picnic organized in August. Look for the 100% Balaton wines on their wine terrace on the Paloznak hillside. Paloznak, Vincellér utca.
  • Bakter Bisztró – The "resti" genre is flourishing, at least in Alsóörs. Alsóörs, Füredi út 1.

  • Carpaccio étterem – The chef here is not Italian, nor is he a chef by profession, but this is still one of the best Italians around Lake Balaton, far away from the pizza-spaghetti axis. Alsóörs, Szent István u. 40.
  • Bor és szóda – A fröccs bar with heart and soul, a lot of great wines and vegetable pálinka. Balatonalmádi, Baross Gábor u. 2.
  • Jóbarátok halsütöde – There's no magic in "Breamville", just like there's none at Oszi bácsi or Halas Karcsi. Nevertheless, this fish grill has cult status. Balatonalmádi, Budatava strand.
  • Kerekes Pince – Two globetrotters from the catering business returned home to open a winery tucked away on the hillside that offers the best international cuisine around. Balatonalmádi, Vödörvölgyi út 20.

  • Amaretto fagyizó – Constant experimenting, special ice cream creations. It's worth returning every now and then. Balatonalmádi, Városház tér 1.
  • Katica Pékség – A legendary bakery, a meeting place and much more. Balatonkenese, Fő utca 21.
  • Pörc – Magyar Delikát – Meats, cheeses, sausages. Now in Budapest as well! Balatonkenese, Fő utca 23.
  • Il Mercato étterem – The newest member of the Spoon restaurant family, Italian food up on the Akarattya high shore. Balatonakarattya, Brassó utca 4.