Tapassio

Budapest’s city centre now boasts a cornucopia of tapas restaurants, yet Tapassio sets itself apart by drawing inspiration not only from the Iberian Peninsula, but from across the Mediterranean and the Middle East as well. You’ll find Cypriot aubergine salad, Turkish muhammara and gorgonzola gnocchi side by side with Spanish classics such as patatas bravas and croquetas de jamón. Even playful nods to Budapest come in the form of hortobágyi pancake and bite-sized lángos. The interior is spacious and vibrant, the bold colours lending a distinctly Spanish feel. Yet unlike a typical tapas bar, the tables here are comfortably spaced, and both the plates and glassware have been selected with obvious discernment. Service is polished and attentive. Even though the pace is brisk, the staff still take the time to explain each dish and its preparation. A clever highlight is the Trust the Chef menu — a generous 13-course tasting menu at an unbeatable price, put together entirely at the chef’s discretion. On our visit, it came with a surprise extra: a pan-seared portion of duck liver with port wine. This chef’s menu has been a long-standing crowd pleaser The wine list is curated to match the breadth of the menu, leaning mostly towards European labels and offering several options by the glass. Noteworthy entries include Basque txakoli and a rare alcohol-free drink made with verjuice. Tapassio is a celebration of the idea that food has the power to bring people together — that cuisine unites us, rather than divides.