Balagan — Restaurant in Budapest

We visited Mazel Tov on a Friday night, and it honestly exceeded our expectations. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by a beautiful open-air courtyard filled with hanging plants, fairy lights, and a laid-back yet sophisticated atmosphere.

We didn’t have a booking but were lucky to get a table after waiting about 15 minutes – it’s definitely worth reserving ahead because it gets very busy, especially on weekends.

🍽 Food & Drinks

The menu is Middle Eastern inspired, not Hungarian, but everything we tried was delicious. The hummus plate was creamy and fresh, the grilled chicken skewers were perfectly seasoned, and the pita was warm and fluffy. Their cocktails were also fantastic – I had a gin-based drink with rosemary that was refreshing and strong, while my partner had a pomegranate spritz that she loved.

✨ Atmosphere

The vibe here is what makes it special. The décor is modern industrial blended with lush greenery, creating a romantic yet vibrant setting. There was a nice buzz in the air – lots of groups enjoying dinner and drinks before heading out to the ruin bars nearby.

💰 Price

It’s slightly more expensive than the average Budapest bar or restaurant, but still very reasonable by Western European standards. For two mains, shared dips, and four cocktails, we paid around €60 in total, which felt like great value for the quality and atmosphere.

✅ Overall

Mazel Tov is perfect for a dinner date, group dinner, or just drinks in a beautiful environment before heading out. It combines the rustic ruin bar feel with an elegant twist. Highly recommend if you’re looking for somewhere a little special...

We had an absolutely amazing experience at Balagan! Originally, we planned to dine at Mazel Tov, but while waiting in line, we were asked if we wanted to head upstairs to Balagan instead. It’s the same kitchen, but with a focus on sharing plates rather than large individual meals. We said yes, and it turned out to be an excellent decision.

The atmosphere was wonderful – a beautiful table, warm lighting, and a vibe that felt both relaxed and refined. The staff was incredibly attentive and friendly, and the sommelier gave us fantastic recommendations. We started with a bottle of Hungarian red wine, which paired perfectly with the dishes.

The food was outstanding. We tried nearly everything on the menu (except desserts), and every dish was a delightful experience. The portions are great for sharing, and although we may have ordered a bit too much, we managed to enjoy every bite. For most, two to three dishes per person would be plenty, depending on appetite.

The ambiance was enhanced by great music, not too loud, so we could still have conversations. The restaurant was clean and welcoming, and we truly felt at home from the moment we arrived.

All in all, an exceptional experience in every way – the food, service, and atmosphere were top-notch. If you’re considering Mazel Tov, just head upstairs to Balagan instead – you...

Here I am again, however instead of down there in that lower bit for dinner, I'm up here in this higher bit for brunch, I'm starting to wonder how many levels this place has, what's next? Lunch on the roof? Snack in the basement?! But in all seriousness - light hearted laughs aside, I can in good faith summarise my meal as being darn flipping great (excuse my french TOAST). What's better than one conventionally proportioned brunch? How about two marginally smaller brunches! I might start tapasasising all my meals. The Turkish eggs were delicious, I've never met a Turkish chicken, but when I do, I'll definitely be commending them on their work. It was Iona and Sam's birthday and I'd like to take this opportunity to say happy birthday Iona and Sam, what an excellent holiday. After all's said and done, this brunch has left me feeling uplifted and optimistic, which is exactly the kind of mentality we're going to need if we're going to survive the impending robot take over, not long now till our digital foes take charge, they might be analyzing this text as I write it, well if any mechanical spies do have eyes on this, be sure to know that we have all made it to brunch, we finished our plates, we're organised, elite humans, accomplished and attractive, and we...