Recently updated on April 30th, 2024 at 05:50 pm
When you go on a tour of Vienna, Prague and Budapest, a food tour isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. But locals and passionate food lovers know it’s a gastronomic paradise, with an enchanting history that has inspired many of the dishes. A food tour of Vienna, Prague and Budapest will uncover foods that warm the soul and the stomach. From Goulash’s rich and spicy aroma to Apfelstrudel’s enticing scent, each city brims with dishes to discover. We’ll show you what to eat in Prague, Budapest and Vienna if you’re looking for authentic local cuisine that you won’t be able to stop recommending to others on your travels.
What to eat on a food tour of Vienna
Wiener schnitzel
After a long day wandering Viennese streets, you’ve earned a hearty meal and a chilled local wine. Wiener schnitzel is the no-nonsense food you need when looking for what to eat in Vienna.
You’ll find a restaurant labelled “Home of the Schnitzel” in Figlmüller Baker Street, a few streets from St Stephen’s Cathedral. Figlmüller’s opened as a small wine tavern in 1905 and served their iconic Schnitzel ever since. Figlmüller’s secret is soft pork tenderloin rolled with a mallet before cooking for a deliciously thin and crispy bite. This is an essential stop in any Vienna food tour, so you may wish to book online here as tables are always in demand.
Sachertorte
Savour a Sachertorte in the backdrop of Café Central’s live piano and marble décor. This sumptuous chocolate and apricot cake with cream is one of our most highly rated options for the best things to eat in Vienna.
Following in the footsteps of Vienna’s most famous residents, Café Central beckons. This coffeehouse’s regulars, including Trotsky and Freud, were nicknamed ‘Centralists’ for loyalty to Café Central, and if you’re looking for a classic Austrian dessert, you can join their company.
Café Central is open until 8pm, for a caffeine fix into the evening in walking distance of Herrengasse station. The city’s most famous museums and shopping streets are also located nearby, perfect for a spot of afternoon sightseeing in Vienna.
Apfelstrudel
Vienna is known the world over for its coffeehouses, and no treat on your food tour around Vienna is better savoured with a coffee than Apfelstrudel.
Café Landtmann don’t just know strudel; their bakers give daily displays making original Viennese strudel in Schonbrunn Palace, the royal Habsburg summer residence in Austria. Their dough is rolled daily and covered with local apples, buttery pastry and rum-soaked raisins.
The nearest metro station to Landtmann is Schottentor, and next door you can visit Pasqualati House, former residence of Beethoven.
Würstel
For a meaty treat on your food travels, a local Vienna favourite is Würstel. This lightly smoked sausage contains up to 20% cheese, an indulgent snack that can be eaten on the go.
A distinctive flavour makes Würstel stand out – the fresh horseradish it is served with. Würstel is a salty delicacy that should not be missed when you’re thinking about what to eat in Vienna.
Many stands tempt passers-by, but Würstelstand zum Hohen Markt, next to Hohermarkt Square bus station has delighted locals and visitors for years, and offers a great selection of Austrian beers to wash it down perfectly.
What to eat on a Prague food tour
Trdelník
Trdelnik is quickly a familiar sight for those who are on a food tour of Prague. You may not have heard of a chimney cake, but this wrapped dough creation, named for its shape, is a classic Czech street food and can be made in front of you at Good Food Coffee & Bakery.
Good Food breathe life into this familiar Czech treat and Trdelnik can be filled with tiramisu, chocolate ice cream, or even Aperol Spritz ice cream. Savoury options include bacon and egg, if you don’t have a sweet tooth.
Located 100 metres from Charles Bridge – Prague’s most recognisable sight – Good Food is the perfect spot for Trdelnik, a great answer when choosing what to eat in Prague.
Chlebíčky
If you walk past the window of a Czech bistro on your Prague food tour you’ll likely see a Chlebíčky, but may not know it by name.
This open sandwich is a savoury classic topped with vlašský salát (or egg salad). Often paired with salami, smoked fish, Edam or pickled vegetables, this is a great option when trying traditional Prague cuisine.
To taste this local favourite in many forms, Sisters Bistro v Dlouhé offer a sampler plate with seven unique toppings. Each unique Chlebíčky is served on rye bread and can be accompanied by a glass of prosecco.
Located a four minute walk from Náměstí Republiky, this bistro is easily found in the heart of Prague.
Smažený Sýr
A Czech dish found on street stalls, pub menus and in high-end restaurants, Smažený Sýr unites Czech diners in their love for this delicious fried cheese. Accompanied by tartar sauce and served with meat and potatoes, this Czech comfort food is unmissable when you’re looking for the best things to eat in Prague.
One restaurant that makes excellent Smažený Sýr is Lokál in the Old Town, known for local draught beers and fresh ingredients. Lokál is easily found on Dlouhá třída, so you can stop by for a break from your Prague sightseeing.
What to eat on a Budapest food tour
Goulash
We wouldn’t be able to talk about what to eat in Budapest without mentioning goulash. This iconic Hungarian food is named for the ‘gulyas’ – shepherds that prepared this rich beef soup in iron cauldrons. Things are done a little differently now, but there are several Budapest restaurants is renowned for goulash cooked with exquisite traditional flavours.
At Gulyás Étterem, beef cheek goulash is served with dumplings and this deliciously rich meal will make any food tour of Budapest an unforgettable experience. A two-minute walk from Hungary’s National Museum, this spot provides a perfect place to unwind after a day of Budapest sightseeing.
Chicken Paprikash
Another classic Hungarian food staple, with its easily distinctive aroma, this paprika infused stew will have you salivating from the moment it wafts across the room.
The long wooden tables and homely atmosphere of Fülemüle Étterem is just a three-minute walk from Gallery Monar Budapest, and it’s the perfect place to immerse your senses in some aromatic Chicken Paprikash on a Budapest food tour that will linger in your memory.
Dobostorta
After feasting on all of the rich and meaty flavours that you can find on a food tour through Budapest offers, you’re probably craving something sweet. To follow your main course, look to the Dobostorta.
This Hungarian dessert if sponge cake layered with chocolate buttercream, topped with caramel and dusted with ground hazelnut. The Dobostorta’s elaborate structure was its secret to success, as its creator found that the layering allowed his cake to last longer before the invention of the fridge.
On the top of our list of the best things to eat in Budapest, it would criminal to visit Hungary without savouring a slice. Drop by Auguszt Cukrászda, a family owned business is found an easy three minute walk from Astoria Metro station for some of the best Dobostorta in the city.
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