Every May, Conde Nast Traveler releases its Hot List, a collection of the best new hotels, spas, restaurants, and nightspots. Check the Daily Traveler every day for a new post from this year's list.

In the heart of Budapest, Dió is a stylish showcase for New Magyar cooking--traditional Hungarian dishes deliciously reinterpreted to reflect a growing local taste for lighter, healthier fare. The intimate vaulted space has a long bar with a backlit glass wall, lovely chandeliers, and plenty of mirrors. Istvan Szur's menu follows the seasons, and dishes such as guinea fowl soup with vegetable strudel, roasted goose liver with cinnamon rolls and sour cherry sauce, and venison steak with sunflower seeds and garnishes of fried quail eggs, truffles, and noodles show his talent for mixing earthy and elegant ingredients. The cheesecake with apples, dates, and medlar puree is superb, and there's an outstanding list of Hungarian wines (entrées, $23-$48).

Address: 4 Sas utca
Tel: 36-1-328-0360

Further reading:
* Hot List 2008
* Guy Martin rolls through Budapest on the EuroCity 179