Head-to-Head · Budapest
Costes vs Borkonyha Winekitchen
Two Budapest one-stars, two philosophies. Book Costes for a modern tasting menu, Borkonyha for à la carte and Hungary's best wine list.
The Verdict
These are two of Budapest's longest-held Michelin stars, and the choice is format, not pedigree. Costes, which in 2010 became the first restaurant in Hungary to earn a star, is the formal experience: a modern multi-course tasting menu with polished service, retained at one star in the 2025 guide. Borkonyha Winekitchen is chef-owner Akos Sarkozi's looser room in District V, starred since 2014, where contemporary Hungarian cooking is ordered a la carte alongside one of the deepest wine lists in the country. Book Costes for the set-piece tasting; book Borkonyha for flexibility, wine and a more relaxed night.
The split is tasting versus a la carte. Costes builds its evening as a sequence the kitchen controls, course by course, the kind of meal you settle into for a few hours. Borkonyha lets you order by the plate, from duck liver to mangalica pork chop and Kagoshima wagyu, and lean on the staff to pour from more than 200 labels. One is a fixed arc, the other a wine-led conversation. See both on the Budapest dining guide.
Scores, Side by Side
| Score | Costes | Borkonyha |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Atmosphere | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Value | 6 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| A milestone or anniversary | CostesThe tasting-menu format and formal service make it the more ceremonial Budapest table. |
| A relaxed dinner | BorkonyhaA la carte ordering and a buzzy room make for an easier, less formal evening. |
| Wine lovers | BorkonyhaMore than 200 labels, around 48 by the glass, built for a wine-led meal. |
| First time in Budapest | CostesHungary's original Michelin star is the obvious benchmark dinner for a first visit. |
| Watching the spend | BorkonyhaA three-course a la carte meal can land under 70 euros, against Costes' full tasting. |
Price Comparison
Costes is the bigger commitment: its tasting menus run from a four-course around 37,500 forint up to an eight-course near 230 euros, with wine pairings on top. Borkonyha Winekitchen is a la carte, with mains in the 30 to 40 euro range, so a three-course dinner can land under 70 euros before wine, and almost the entire 200-label list is available by the glass. Costes is the splurge; Borkonyha controls the spend. Weigh them against the best modern European restaurants worldwide and the world's best tasting menus.
How to Book
Costes runs a smaller, tasting-only format and fewer seatings, so reserve further ahead, especially for a celebration; book online or by phone. Read the Costes review before you go.
Borkonyha turns more tables across a service and is the easier reservation, though weekend prime time still books out, so reserve a couple of weeks ahead. Read the Borkonyha Winekitchen review first.
For occasion fit beyond this pairing, weigh Budapest tables for an anniversary and to impress clients. For more European match-ups, see Bukhara vs Dum Pukht and browse the full set on the compare index.