Balázs Bisztró

Balázs Bisztró has been on Zamárdi’s free beach for forty years, run by the same family the whole time. Today Balázs Mészáros is in charge, and it has become one of the south shore’s most serious beach bistros: self-service, relaxed and beachy, but with no compromises in the kitchen. If you’re looking for tripe in Zamárdi, sooner or later you’ll end up here.

The tripe

The house’s most famous dish is tripe stew (pacalpörkölt). It’s cooked for more than eight hours and cut wider than usual so that it keeps its texture. In 2026 it reached the final of the national tripe competition, and the bistro is a stop on the tripe lovers’ passport. If you’ve always avoided tripe, this is the place to give it another try.

The kitchen

Alongside the tripe come the classics of the Balaton beach kitchen: fish soup, fried bream, hake and bone-marrow toast. In the evenings the grill is fired up, with grilled meats and pork knuckle. There are burgers and chips too, so children won’t go hungry. The drinks include local beer.

Space and atmosphere

The bistro sits at the western end of the free beach, in a quiet bay with a direct view of Tihany. There’s a playground nearby, so children can run around on the shore while the adults eat. Cyclists are catered for as well: there’s lockable bike storage and an e-bike charger, a real plus for anyone riding round the lake.

What guests say

Guests praise the tripe, the fish dishes, the generous portions and the fair prices, and many mention the view. It’s self-service, so at noon in high season there can be a queue at the counter, but that comes with beach bistros.

Good to know

Seasonal, open from April to October. In winter they occasionally hold promenade events, announced on their Facebook page. Last summer fish soup cost around 3,500 HUF, tripe around 4,000 HUF and a local beer around 1,500 HUF.

Who it’s for

Tripe fans, cyclists, families and anyone looking for seriously cooked Hungarian beach food by the water. If you want a quiet dinner with table service, this isn’t your place.

How much does it cost?

Good value: beach-bistro prices, with quality well above average.