Hungary's Priciest Ice Cream Found at Lake Balaton as Food and Beverage Prices Set to Spike
As summer approaches, Hungary braces for an approximate 10% increase in food and beverage prices at dining establishments nationwide.
During an April weekend that hinted at the summer to come, RTL News visited dining venues in Gyenesdiás to investigate the anticipated food and beverage prices around Lake Balaton this year.
The report revealed that fans of traditional dishes could expect to pay 2,390 forints for a serving of bean goulash, and 2,990 forints for both catfish paprikash with cottage cheese noodles and Hortobágyi pancakes.
One restaurateur shared that they aim to maintain last year's prices during the preseason, but from the peak season onwards, customers should anticipate an average price increase of 10%.
This sentiment was echoed by the President of the Hungarian Catering Industry Association, László Kovács, who stated that price hikes should be expected not just around Lake Balaton but nationwide. Despite rising costs and inflation, the increased prices are adjusted according to demand to ensure they don't surpass a threshold that consumers might find unacceptable. "To avoid crossing the threshold that might be almost unacceptable for guests, caterers are carefully raising prices. We know of 8-10% increases in the near future, and some have already implemented this," Kovács explained.
Ice Cream Pricing at Lake Balaton
When it comes to summer at Lake Balaton, one cannot overlook the cost of ice cream. The majority of visitors questioned by RTL mentioned that the price of a scoop is insignificant when seeking relaxation.
The channel noted encountering scoops priced at 600 forints, which is 50 forints more than last year's average price.
A report by Likebalaton.hu also covered the ice cream scene around Lake Balaton over the weekend. They visited ten towns along the 'Hungarian Sea' and found that at most venues, a scoop cost 600 forints. However, in Balatonlelle, they found a shop still offering scoops at last year's price of 550 forints.
The most expensive ice cream was found in Tihany, where a scoop was priced at 890 forints.
At the same location, ice cream sundaes ranged from 3,690 to 5,290 forints, highlighting the premium experience of enjoying summer treats by the lake.