The Central Market is going to be one of your must see’s when visiting this city because it’s open all week long, is fully indoors and you will find the largest number of fruit and vegetable vendors you will find anywhere in Budapest. It’s simply the place to go for fresh food.

What impressed me the most was the amount of pride each vendor had for their produce. Displaying all of the items pristinely so that everything catches your eye and you can tell that everything is very fresh. They even pick out any squished, mouldy or wilted fruits and vegetables throughout the day and would never even consider selling it! (Unlike our mishap in Berlin, where a fruit vendor proceeded to sell Frederic an entire bag of golden kiwis that had all fermented and wouldn’t budge on the price…)

In Europe the produce stands are run differently, it is not like your grocery store where you can pick and rifle through all of the produce looking for the best or ripest specimen.

No, in Europe you have to actually get in line and point to what you would like, no touching, no tasting, no smelling before you buy. So this can be a little tricky if shopping at a small produce stand on the street. But this is not so at the Central Market where everything is top quality and a lot of it is locally grown as well.

I did not see anything really exotic there, but we didn’t mind in the least. The watermelons I bought were absolutely amazing, much more reliable than the ones we get in Canada. And the navel oranges were huge and juicy sweet. I also bought blueberries, raspberries and blackberries which were pretty reasonably priced considering the fact that they are usually the most expensive of fruits by weight.



Central Market by Veronica Grace

 

Some of the prices I got:

1 pint of blueberries 2.50 euros
watermelon 0.46 euros/kilo
peaches 1.06 euros/kilo
plums 0.53 euros/kilo
blackberries 1.96 euros/kilo

Converting that to USD per lb:

1 pint of blueberries $3.21
watermelon $0.27/lb
peaches $0.62/lb
plums $0.31/lb
blackberries $1.15/lb

These are specialty fruits and aren’t even as cheap as apples, oranges and bananas, so you can only imagine how inexpensive buying these things regularly in Hungary would be.

The Central Market is also famous for having typical Hungarian (meat based) food stands, paprika, crafts, clothing, collectible dolls, knickknacks and anything else Hungarian you’re in the mood for.

Overall, as a big city with a warm climate it is pretty darn liveable and affordable! It’s also not as small and compact in regards to living space compared to other European metropolises.

I will definitely be back one day!

So if you’re looking to visit Budapest and want to find the best places to find raw and vegan food check these out:

Central Market
1093 Budapest,
Vámház körút, Hungary

Obviously the best place to get your produce from every week, no raw restaurants here though.

Le-bar
Múzeum Körut 19 (at Brody Sandor, Muzeum krt)
Budapest, Hungary
Vegan, Raw options, Organic, Juice bar, Take-out

This place is rumored to have some raw options on their daily menu along with fresh juices and cooked vegan plate lunches.

Edeni Vegan
Iskola Utca 31 (1011)(at corner of Gyorskocsi utca, 1 block from Batthány tér bus and metro station, 1 blk from the Danube)
Budapest, Hungary
+36-6203077575
Open Mon-Thur 8-21, Fri 8-18, Sun 11-19, closed Saturday.
Vegan buffet, Hungarian and Mediterranean food, Juice bar, Take-out
Cash only.

This place has GREAT juices at a steal of a price… 2.50 euros for a large glass and some inexpensive buffet style plate lunches too. They speak a little English here and can tell you about their menu and fresh juices.



Napfenyes Etterem
Rózsa u 39, District VII (1077) (at Király u.)
Budapest, Hungary
+36-1-3135555
weekday 10:00-6:00pm Saturday 10:00 to 2:00pm

Vegan, Organic, Salad bar, Juice bar, Hungarian, Italian

Hummus Bar – Kertesz
Kertesz u. 39 (1073 Budapest VII) (at Jewish quarter, across Franz Liszt Music Academy, metro Oktagon on M1)
Budapest, Hungary
+06-1-3217477
Daily: 12:00pm-11:30pm, close midnight
Vegan, Middle Eastern, Fast food

Falafels, pita, hummus, soups. English spoken and on the menu.

You will also find several little corner grocery stores, but they are particularly small and only sell the bare essentials of the SAD lifestyle, a little bit of fruit, which can be helpful if you’re in a pinch, but otherwise head to the Central Market.

Here are some more of my photos of beautiful Budapest

Parliament – by Veronica Grace

Chain Bridge – by Veronica Grace

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Comments

  1. Now Egyptian vegan meal in Budapest, Dob utca 60

    Koshari

    ingredients: lentils, rice, macaroni, chickpeas, tomato sauce, onions and garlic.

  2. Actually the first raw vegan restaurant opened this summer:

    Az élet étterme (Restaurant of life)
    Cím: 1126 Budapest, Kiss János altábornagy utca 21.
    Daily: 11.00–21.00

    The central market is beautiful but not the best place to get your fruits and veggies. I buy from an organic market that is open on Saturdays, and a farmers market that is open on Sundays (https://www.facebook.com/SzimplaPiac). This farmers market is special, because it takes place in the courtyard of a ruin pub.
    Hope you get to come back and visit these places! 🙂

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