Best of Budapest & Hungary

As the most magical time of the year arrives, the elegant and stunning halls of Budapest's premier luxury hotel, Matild Palace, come alive with a plethora of lavish programs and enticing offers.

    This year, the historic palace bids farewell to the year in a splendid circus-themed spectacle. Spago Budapest, Matild Café & Cabaret, and The Duchess Rooftop Bar take center stage behind the curtains, unveiling the most exclusive festive experiences. The hotel's upscale restaurants serve as showcases of culinary mastery, featuring Christmas and festive menus, family feasts available for takeaway, festive brunches, and gourmet New Year's Eve dinners. The grand finale of the year includes a special Cabaret Show & Gala Dinner, followed by a lively party infused with cocktails at the clandestine rooftop liquor library.

Festive culinary delights at Spago

    This year's festive celebration is not just about the sights, but also about the tastes and smells. Nestled within the confines of the luxurious hotel, Spago by Wolfgang Puck Budapest is preparing an unrivalled three-course festive menu from 1 to 23 December, a masterful composition of seasonal ingredients and flavours. Each course is a spectacle, a true gastronomic showpiece: homemade smoked trout as a starter, confit duck leg with sweet potato gnocchi, fermented purple cabbage and mulled wine jus as a main course, and honey-cream with vanilla ice cream and honeycomb as a finale. The year-end festive menu will be replaced on Christmas Eve, 24 December, by a 4-course Christmas menu carefully created by Executive Chef István Szántó and his talented culinary team, capturing the true essence of Christmas. Each bite is a perfect fusion of tradition and innovation, where guests will be able to sample iconic dishes such as the duo of foie gras with caramelized Williams pear, herb crusted salmon fillet, rosé duck breast with endive citrus-pine shoots reduction, or crunchy apple "strudel".

Takeaway Turkey Feast - Holiday Spago Menu for Home

     For those who would prefer to enjoy a holiday menu in the warmth of their own home, this year there is again the possibility to order a perfect feast for 6-8 people from Spago between 15 and 27 December. The highlight of the menu is the Slow-Roasted Norfolk Bronze Turkey, a masterpiece created by the elite team of world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck. The juicy poultry is accompanied by creamy Ratte potato purée, sautéed green vegetables with crispy bacon, braised red cabbage infused with apples and mulled wine, and the pièce de résistance, traditional Brioche Herb Stuffing. All served with Cranberry Sauce and Roasted Turkey Gravy Sauce to complete the harmony of flavors. The roast is accompanied by a delicious wild mushroom soup with roasted chestnuts and a homemade pie with pumpkin, apple or pecans.

Festive Brunches at Matild Café & Cabaret

    The ever-popular Sunday brunches become even more magical during the festive season. The dedicated culinary team of the Matild Palace creates mouth-watering dishes that make the brunch experience truly festive. From timeless classics to seasonal specialities, this symphony of flavours will satisfy all palettes. The magic of the season will be brought to life with stunning live music performances that will set the extravagant mood for festive brunches. And for children, a wide range of circus-inspired playful activities promises endless fun during the Santa Claus Brunch on 10 December, the Christmas Brunch on 25 December and the first New Year's brunch on 1 January.

Dance of the senses on New Year's Eve

     With the glittering world of the grand circus, bright lights, dazzling decorations and an atmosphere that sparkles with joy, Matild Palace is preparing for the last night of the year. Spago's New Year's Eve menu is not just a meal, it's a memory in the making, an experience that will warm the hearts of guests long after the festive lights have gone out. The 4-course gourmet menu features specialities such as raw bar selection, duck liver terrine, confit duck ravioli, butter seared venison fillet, pan-fried monkfish and even a choice of forest berries pavlova with blackberry sorbet and Thai basil for dessert. For those who want to indulge more than just their taste buds this evening, the Cirque du Matild: New Year's Eve Cabaret Show & Gala Dinner at Matild Café & Cabaret will bring the magical world of revues back to life for one night. For this night, dancers, acrobats and live music will fill the café’s iconic elevated center stage. An exciting evening where culinary arts are combined with the magic of the circus and the thrilling world of cabaret. Star performers will be virtuoso pianist Károly Nyári and his singer daughters Alíz Nyári and Edit Nyári. The highlight of the evening will be a unique show by the world-class acrobats of the Hungarian State Circus.

    The Duchess Rooftop Bar on the hotel's rooftop terrace promises to be a real New Year's Eve spectacle, with steamy beats and mesmerizing views, where guests can watch almost all of Budapest's midnight fireworks live while enjoying a delicious cocktail.