budapest bars: the best craft beer pubs in budapest

Welcome to the Drink in the Sights guide to the best bars in Budapest your guide to the ultimate craft beer pub crawl in Budapest. 
I'm going to come out and say this straight away... Budapest is the best place I have ever been for weird and wonderful 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. Unusually for me I'm going to start the guide with a couple of places that maybe aren't the best for craft beer, but are just spectacular places to drink. 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.
Élesztőház
Quite simply with 30 craft beers on tap you wont find a better selection of beer anywhere else in Budapest. This is a huge ruin bar, with all the best ruin bar features like bare brick walls and a proper industrial feel, but also more wonderful Hungarian beer than you could drink in a week let alone a day. Despite the size of the building it still manages to stay busy and maintain a great buzz as locals and tourists come together to appreciate the hoppy goodness on offer. The staff are proper beer geeks who know the beers inside out and are happy to assist you as much as they can. A great place, with great people and great beers. A must on any list of the best Budapest pubs and certainly one of the best places for craft beer in Budapest.
Kandalló
With 16 Hungarian craft beers on tap Kandallo is a proper beer drinkers paradise in Budapest. You'll find everything from stouts and porters through to IPA's and sours in this gorgeous and spacious Budapest bar. The staff are top class and more than happy to help you pick your beer, and if you fancy a burger there's no where better in the city. There's wonderful bare brick walls and seriously comfy leather seats to sit back on as well as plenty of screens to ensure you never miss a big game. This is a great place that should be on any list of the best bars in Budapest.
Gravity Brewing
Just when you think Budapest can't get any better you find a brewery tap in an old bunker serving 9 of their own amazing craft beers plus a local guest. Dark Matter is a great chocolate stout, so if it's on, and you have a sweet tooth, give that a go, while Red Shift is a great red ale. I love that all their beers have interstellar names, and also taste great. If you come on a Saturday they do a brewery tour, so make sure you don't miss that. The staff are excellent and the setting is pretty sleek with a great laid back vibe going on. How often do you really get to drink great beer in an old bunker? One of the very best Budapest pubs and a must on any Budapest pub crawl.
KEG sörművház
KEG is the only pub on this list of the best bars in Budapest from the Buda side of the river, but it's well worth crossing the River Danube for. It's an absolutely stunning bare brick covered cellar bar with comfy seats and the kind of staff you just know have tried every beer they have on offer. And with 32 taps that's a hell of a lot of beer they've sampled. Between the taps and the 100's of bottles you'll never be able to get through them all so it's probably best to order a couple of taster flights rather than trying to have a pint of each. In terms of quantity, and for that matter quality, of beer you won't find many better places in Europe let alone Budapest. It's a wonderful place, with a great atmosphere, and an absolute must on a Budapest craft beer pub crawl.
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.
Madhouse
Mad Scientist is very much the Budapest Brewery so their Madhouse tap house has to feature on any list of the best pubs in Budapest. In total they have a massive 25 beers on tap including Mad Scientists own classics like New York Milk Stout and their Liquid Cocaine IPA along with a few guest Hungarian beers. The staff are brilliant and ensure you get the beer that's right for you, while the setting is lovely. Madhouse is a large open plan venue with a great laid back atmosphere, potted plants, and just a general good feeling vibe. If you want to drink proper Budapest craft beer there's no better bar in Budapest than Madhouse.
First Craft Beer & BBQ
You'll find more than 20 craft beer on tap as well as over 200 bottles in this beer drinkers haven in Budapest. Around about half the beers will be First's excellent creations including one of the best Chocolate and Vanilla stouts you'll ever find. With so much choice it's great that the staff are proper beer geeks who will help you select your perfect beer. The bar itself is absolutely gorgeous with wooden floor boards and a wonderful bare brick arched roof. This is one of those Budapest bars which is always busy, but don't worry the staff manage to keep the beers pouring expertly. A must for craft beer lovers in Budapest
Hops Beer Bar 
There must be well over 200 bottles as well as the 11 beers on tap in Hops Beer Bar giving it one of the best craft beer selections in Budapest. It's also a seriously good looking pub with beer pins covering the walls, which is something I just love. There's no heirs and graces here it's just a proper beer drinkers bar full of proper beer drinking people serving a great selection of beer. As usual in Budapest the staff really know their stuff and couldn't be more helpful and friendly. What more could you want? Certainly one of the best pubs in Budapest.
Rizmajer Beerhouse
This really is a good looking place for a beer. There's bare brick walls and ceilings everywhere in this wonderful craft beer paradise. Don't worry though it's not just a pretty face. You'll find 14 Hungarian beers on tap backed up by a substantial selection of cans and bottles from around Europe. This is very much a traditional beer drinkers location where locals and tourists come to gather for a mutual love of all things hoppy. One of the top Budapest bars, with some of the best staff you could ever hope to meet.
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 bars in Budapest 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.
I hope you found my guide to the best bars in Budapest useful. Now I've show you where to drink in Budapest I hope you enjoy your craft beer in Budapest pub crawl.