Onyx Étterem

The transformation of the “old Onyx” began back in 2020, under the name Metamorphosis, and it kicked off in dramatic fashion with a literal Last Supper. That night, guests did not just witness a turning point in Hungarian fine dining history, they took part in it, smashing the old interior with chisels and hammers. What followed was a year of experimentation under the name Onyx Workshop. Its tasting dinners introduced the first versions of dishes that would later appear in the reinvented Onyx Restaurant. While the Workshop focused on experience-driven, progressive gastronomy, the full-fledged "main restaurant" opened in spring 2025 as a fully immersive gastro-show. The 11-course ÆTHER menu is nothing short of a culinary time-travel, spanning over 1200 years. It begins during the Industrial Revolution and ends in a future that feels both utopian and dystopian. While the creative force behind the menu is signed by the Onyx Creative Community, you can name as executive chef Ákos Horváth. Giving away too many details would ruin the surprises, but one dish, a "fine dining canned fish" is a bold tribute to ancient Roman cuisine, bursting with umami thanks to garum. Later, a beautifully seared steak transports us to the 2100s, and yes, it is ostrich meat. In this narrative-driven dining experience, every detail carries a message, even the ones that seem insignificant at first glance. The wine list has always been one of Onyx’s strong suits. While wine pairings are available, guests are encouraged to choose their own path, even with spirits. Interestingly, the non-alcoholic pairings are crafted by restaurant manager Kornél Kárpáti, featuring his house-made ferments and kombuchas. Guests sit at a single communal table, wearing matching coats, lending the experience a faintly dystopian, phalanstery atmosphere. But at the end of the meal, you get to take home a token from the evening, no less than a symbol of life and survival. And survival is exactly what Onyx represents. Rising from the ruins of its former self, it does not just impress with theatrical staging and bold flavours. It makes you think. This is a multi-sensory, boundary-pushing experience that raises the bar far beyond what we have come to expect.