"Eger's white-stag game lodge, serving venison and wild boar since 1969 beside the Park Hotel — book it for a birthday."
About Fehér Szarvas Vadászétterem
Antlers, skulls and mounted birds crowd the rafters, and two stuffed goats stand watch by the door. Fehér Szarvas — Hungarian for white stag — opened on 6 September 1969 in a vaulted cellar beside the Park Hotel, a few blocks south of Dobó tér in baroque Eger's old town. More than half a century on, it remains the town's defining game restaurant, the place locals send visitors who want venison and a glass of the region's red. For the wider picture, see our Eger dining guide.
The Kitchen
Game is the whole point. The dish to order is the venison fillet, brought to the table in a pan still sizzling with goose liver and herb butter; after that come wild boar with juniper berries in a red-wine sauce, rabbit spiced with thyme, and a knuckle of lamb with mushroom-and-bacon sweetbreads. Starters and soups run traditional Hungarian, and the cellar leans hard on Eger's own bottles, led by the Bull's Blood blend Egri Bikavér from the Szépasszony Valley nearby. Read our guide to the best fine-dining restaurants worldwide, compare the modern kitchen at Macok Bistro, or see the seven signs of a great restaurant.
The Room
The room plays its hunting-lodge theme to the hilt: a vaulted cellar, low candle-warm light, dark wood and walls of trophies that make it feel like an archduke's den. A piano-and-bass duet plays most evenings, so the sound sits on the lively side of cosy rather than hushed. Tables are close enough for atmosphere, dress is smart-casual, and service is warm and unhurried. It is open every day from noon to midnight.
Best for a Birthday
Book Fehér Szarvas for a birthday because it is built for a celebration: hearty game plates made for sharing stories over, a vaulted room thick with atmosphere, live piano most nights, and a cellar of Eger reds to toast with. The kitchen is happy to bring out a sizzling pan of venison to the table as the centrepiece, the music keeps the mood up, and the central location makes it an easy walk from the Old Town hotels. See more birthday restaurants.
Not for
Not for vegetarians or anyone after light, modern plates — the menu is built on rich Hungarian game, and meat is the whole point.
Frequently Asked
Is Fehér Szarvas in Eger worth it?
Yes, if you want traditional Hungarian game in a room with real character. Open since 1969 beside the Park Hotel, Fehér Szarvas has been Eger's defining hunting-lodge restaurant for more than fifty years, known for venison, wild boar and a strong list of local Eger reds. Prices are mid-range by Hungarian standards, with game mains the costliest plates. See our Eger dining guide for more.
What should I order at Fehér Szarvas?
Order the venison fillet, brought to the table in a pan still sizzling with goose liver and herb butter, which is the signature plate. From there try the wild boar with juniper berries in red-wine sauce, rabbit spiced with thyme, or lamb knuckle with mushroom-and-bacon sweetbreads. Pair it with a glass of Egri Bikavér, the region's Bull's Blood red. The menu runs to a full range of Hungarian wild game.
How old is Fehér Szarvas and where is it?
The restaurant opened on 6 September 1969 and sits at Klapka György utca 8 in central Eger, next door to the Park Hotel and a few blocks south of Dobó tér. It occupies a vaulted cellar decorated as a hunting lodge, with antlers, skins and mounted birds throughout. It has been a town dining landmark for more than half a century and is open daily from noon to midnight.
Is Fehér Szarvas good for a group or celebration?
Yes. The vaulted cellar, the hearty shared game plates and the live piano-and-bass duet most evenings make it a natural fit for a birthday or a team dinner. The atmosphere runs lively rather than hushed, and the central Old Town location is an easy walk from local hotels. Book ahead for weekend evenings. See our team-dinner guide for more.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Fehér Szarvas Vadászétterem
Reserve by phone or through etterem.hu. Weekend evenings and the height of wine-festival season book several days ahead.
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Practical Information
AddressKlapka György utca 8, 3300 Eger
NeighbourhoodBelváros (Old Town)
CuisineHungarian game
PriceMid-range by Hungarian standards, with game mains the costliest plates; a deep list of local Eger reds including Egri Bikavér; open daily noon to midnight
Dress CodeSmart-casual
SeatingA vaulted cellar room hung with antlers, skins and mounted birds; lively, candle-warm, with a piano-and-bass duet most nights
ReservationPhone / etterem.hu
