Essencia
Hungary
Essência brings Portuguese and Hungarian cooking together through chef-owner Tiago Sabarigo and his wife Éva Jenei. Their restaurant on Sas utca draws on memories of both countries’ childhood food, combining those familiar flavours with contemporary techniques. Tiago leads the kitchen, while Éva oversees reservations and private dining. A bright front room with arched windows leads past the open kitchen to a more intimate dining area, where blue-and-white tiles recall Portugal. Five- and seven-course dinner menus allow guests to follow Portuguese influences, Hungarian ones or a mixture of both. The choice gives the meal a personal connection to the owners’ two culinary backgrounds.