Budapest’s ARAZ Restaurant is dialing weekends up a notch with an expanded Saturday lunch that invites diners to build their own two- or three-course meal—and adds a drink and coffee on the house. Set in the city’s historic center at 1074 Budapest, Dohány Street (Dohány utca) 42–44, the downtown spot opens its doors for a leisurely midday feast that’s big on flavor and light on fuss, with service running from 12:00 to 14:30 on Saturdays in January 2026, including January 24 and January 31.
Chef de Cuisine Áron Barka and his team keep the menu fresh each week, mixing comfort and surprise in equal measure. Guests choose from three soups, five mains, and three desserts, then settle in with a mineral water or soft drink and either a glass of wine or beer, and finish with a cup of coffee—all included in the package price. For larger groups, there’s a heads-up: parties of more than 10 are asked to get in touch via email for arrangements.
How It Works
Saturday lunch is offered as a customizable two-course or three-course menu. Prices are USD 19.10 per person for two courses and USD 23.25 per person for three courses. A 12% service charge is added to the final bill. Driving in? Present your bill at reception before you leave to validate your parking ticket. Reservations are encouraged; the restaurant makes it easy to call or check details online.
This Saturday’s Menu Highlights (Jan 24, 2026)
Soups lead with bold, familiar flavors and a few playful twists. The Mexican beef-and-chili bean soup piles on crunch with cheesy tortilla chips (lactose-free). For a gentle, velvety option, the cheese cream soup comes topped with spiced popcorn (vegetarian, gluten-free). Traditionalists can warm up with Bakony Outlaw Soup (Bakonyi betyárleves), a robust, old-school Hungarian favorite that brings the countryside into the bowl.
Mains span Hungarian classics, Asian nods, and veggie-forward plates. Hortobágy Pancakes (Hortobágyi palacsinta) are on the lineup, a beloved savory crêpe filled with meat and smothered in paprika sauce. Sesame chicken comes with egg-fried rice and a spicy cabbage slaw (gluten-free, lactose-free). From the Hungarian pantry, Csaba-style pork loin (Csabai) with mashed potatoes and onions plus steamed sauerkraut (gluten-free, lactose-free) hits that hearty, homestyle note. Vegetarians get a star turn with lángos topped with goat cheese, arugula, and onion jam. And for a crunchy detour to Japan, the tonkatsu-style breaded pork loin comes with spiced potatoes and pickled cucumber and cabbage (lactose-free).
Dessert stakes are high and international. The Japanese cheesecake, famously light, is paired with strawberry sauce. The Swedish almond cake offers nutty richness. And then there’s the unapologetically nostalgic Banana Split (Banánhajó), bringing sundae joy to the table.
What’s Included
Every Saturday lunch menu includes:
– Mineral water or a soft drink
– One glass of wine or beer
– One coffee
Guests can tailor their courses to appetite and taste, mixing lighter starts with hearty mains or leaning into dessert. Dietary markings help guide choices: vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free options are clearly flagged.
Where You’re Eating
ARAZ sits in Budapest’s bohemian quarter and leans into a culinary identity that fuses tradition with innovation. The kitchen pays homage to classic Hungarian gastronomy while using modern techniques to bring the past into the present—and occasionally into the future. The effect is a distinctive, high-energy food journey that’s both familiar and new, with a weekly menu designed to keep regulars curious and first-timers impressed.
Connected to Continental Hotel Budapest
The restaurant anchors the gastronomic lineup at Continental Hotel Budapest**** Superior, a four-star design hotel in the city’s historic downtown. The property blends Secessionist details with contemporary interiors to striking effect. It houses 272 rooms, including 13 suites, and caters to both business and leisure with high-speed internet, personalized services, and five well-equipped conference rooms. Amenities include an underground garage, Wellness and Fitness areas, massage services, the ARAZ Restaurant, the Gallery Café & Corporate Lounge, atmospheric inner courtyards, and a panoramic rooftop garden.
The Gallery Café, restored to match its turn-of-the-century roots and easiest to reach from the main entrance, nods to the heyday of Pest’s coffeehouse culture. The original Continental Hotel drew an artistic crowd—writers and artists among them, including Attila József. Regulars from the storied Hungária Café (Hungária Kávéház) often frequented the Hungária Bath’s services too, weaving hospitality, culture, and wellness into a single downtown ritual.
Plan Your Visit
ARAZ Restaurant keeps a lively calendar beyond Saturday lunch: varied weekly menus, a Sunday brunch lineup, seasonal specialties, and unique wine dinners all make regular appearances. The team’s mission is to surprise without alienating, to rework tradition without losing its soul. It’s the kind of place where a Mexican bean soup can sit happily beside Hortobágy Pancakes and tonkatsu—and where dessert might be as minimalist as Japanese cheesecake or as maximalist as a banana split. The organizers reserve the right to change the date and program, so it’s smart to check in and book a table in advance.
Saturday lunch service is set for January 24 and January 31, 2026. Come hungry, order boldly, and leave room for coffee.
