budapest bars: the best bars in budapest
|
Welcome to the Drink in the Sights guide to the best bars in Budapest. Hopefully you'll find this guide to where to drink in Budapest useful on your visit to the Hungarian capital.
|
|
|
I'm going to come out and say this straight away... Budapest is the best place I have ever been for bars. They are simply incredible buildings, or in some cases what's left of buildings. While Budapest has some outstanding, for want of a better word 'normal' bars, it's the ruin bars that have given the city a new life. It's hard to believe the first ruin bar didn't open until 2004, in the crumbling District VII. These days they aren't just bars, they are among the best tourist attractions Budapest has to offer.
It's not a difficult business model, find a condemned building, make it just about safe, stick a sound system in, go to the skip, take out anything that looks fun, graffiti the walls, and install a bar. The results are frankly amazing. And don't forget Hungary isn't in the euro, so even in the ruin nightclubs a pint of beer will only cost 1000 HUF, which is about £2.50. While finding beer for £1 a pint is still pretty easy. The other thing to note is that all the bars are on the Pest side of the river, so try to get a hotel on that side. So here we go, my guide to the best bars in Budapest.
|
|
Best bars in Budapest
|
Szimpla Kert
|
|
|
You simply cannot start anywhere else when it comes to talking about the best pubs in Budapest. This is the first, and most iconic ruin bar there is. Initially opened as a small cafe in 2002, in 2004 it moved down the road into a much bigger space, and became the bar that I'm willing to say is the best I've ever visited. A pint of something like Pilsner Urquell will cost 1000 HUF, while if you go to the Mad Scientist brewery bar on the top floor you can try a variety of their craft beers at 2500 to 3000 HUF. I'd never usually say this, but in a bar like this it doesn't matter what you're drinking, you're going to be enjoying yourself so by all means treat yourself to the craft beer, but don't feel like you need to.
|
|
|
Szimpla Kert is busy at any time of day, and you'll even notice tour guides showing people around, it's that much of an attraction. But at night it really comes alive, as the lights all come on, and it's like having a drink inside a Christmas tree, with some of the oddest decorations you can imagine. There's live bands on at the weekend, but it never gets so loud that it's off putting. And with so many different rooms and bar areas it's still easy to find a quiet spot should you choose to. Not surprisingly Szimpla Kert also makes my list of the best bars in Europe. It doesn't really matter what else I say about this place, you have to go to believe it. Szimpla Kert simply is the best pub in Budapest.
|
|
|
Instant-Fogas
|
|
|
Once upon a time there were two quite nice ruin bars. One called Instant, and one called Fogas. Then one day they decided to become one absolutely massive complex. We'll run through the stats... there's 26 rooms, 18 bars, and 7 dance floors in this ruin bar. To put it in context you can download a map to help you get round. Some of the rooms open at 4 in the afternoon, the rest open up as the place becomes a nightclub. Don't worry about going during the day though as long before it becomes a nightclub this is one of the best bars in Budapest.
|
|
|
I've never been at the weekend, but on a Thursday night it was very busy, but friendly all night long. I mention this because there are a lot of reviews going round about trouble with bouncers etc, but I didn't see any of that. Just for the record at least in the week it's free entry, and around 1000 HUF a pint. My view is that this place is glorious. The outside area is beautiful, while the inside is a ruin bar at its quirkiest best. It's also the only nightclub I've actually stayed out in for years, mainly because it has a room for everyone. So while me and my hard-rocking amigo were getting down with the sickness in Robot, the rock club right at the bottom of the complex, our other friends could go and enjoy some rubbish music somewhere else. We simply arranged to meet up every 30 minutes to get a drink, and check everyone was O.K. It would not be difficult to get completely lost in this wonderfully weird labyrinth of a pub. This is certainly where to drink in Budapest later in the evening.
|
|
|
Para-Noir
A couple of streets down from Szimpla Kert is this absolute gem of a Budapest pub. And it's so easy to walk straight passed given its unassuming exterior. Before setting off to Budapest I'd done my usual research, and found mention of a horror themed bar. So I knew I had to pay it a visit. This place is a bit different, and a bit special. This is simply the best cheap pub in Budapest. At as little as 300 HUF per pint, and a reasonable selection to choose from, as well as a very friendly barmaid who seemed to really love the place, this is probably the ideal starter bar
|
|
|
Yes the music is quite heavy rock, but it's not particularly loud or intrusive, and what else would you expect them to play in a horror bar? Where this place really impresses though is the decor. Every horror character you could name makes an appearance, either in the form of artwork or models. The walls are pitch black, and covered in fake cobwebs, with skeletons hanging from them. It doesn't matter if you're not a horror fan or don't like heavy metal you'll still love the place which is why it makes my list of the best bars in Budapest.
|
|
|
|
|
Red Ruin
|
|
|
Another place for a seriously cheap pint is Red Ruin. Again it's got a bit of a rock vibe going on, but nothing over the top. This is much smaller than the other bars we've discussed so far, but it's just got a nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and cool artwork. Plus it's got a Frank from Donnie Darko mask, so what's not to like? The beer selection is large enough to have something you'll enjoy, and this is where we tried the Hungarian shot of choice Uni-Cum. Which is an unfortunately named spirit, with an unfortunately vile taste. But having seen it in every bar we felt that we had to give it one go. I'd say Red Ruin is an ideal stop for a pint or two, or a nice place to start the night. It's a great little Budapest pub.
|
|
|
Hopaholic
This is one of the more expensive offerings in Budapest. But it more than justifies the price tag with the selection of beers available, knowledgeable barman, and cool aesthetics. There's always at least 10 craft beers on tap, and a whole host of bottles and cans in the fridge. It's also a very popular spot with the locals. One night we got there a little later, probably around 10, and the customers had completely filled the bar, and most the street outside. This is a proper craft beer pub, for proper craft beer drinkers, at proper craft beer prices. For real ale drinkers this will be one of the best bars in Budapest.
|
|
|
Hedon
On the subject of proper craft beer places we have Hedon, with it's unique logo. This is a different type of bar. You go in, pre-pay on a card, and then take said card to the taps at the other end of the room. You then pour your own drinks into the glass of your choice. This gives you the opportunity to either get a pint of one beer, sample all 30, or more likely something in between. As nearly all the beers are Hungarian this is the perfect opportunity to sample everything the locals have to offer. It's a pretty cool idea, in a pretty nice pub. Go on try them all. This is where to drink beer in Budapest if you want to try them all. Certainly one of the best bars in Budapest.
|
|
|
Liquid Rock
As you've probably gathered Budapest likes its rock bars. And this one is a very nice offering, with amusing film stills where beers placed in characters hands at inappropriate times covering many of the walls. It's seriously cheap, and has a decent selection of beer on tap and bottles. In most cities this would be near the top of the list, but it's still one of the best bars in Budapest.
|
|
There's also the option of doing a Budapest pub crawl which at only £18 with a lot of drinks included will certainly get your night started. You can book the pub crawl here.
I hope you found my guide to the best bars in Budapest useful. Now I've show you where to drink in Budapest it's down to you to go find them all.
Please also check out my guide to the best Budapest Sights