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Budapest is filled with söröz?s (beer bars), but the way to go is to head for one of the romkerts ("ruin gardens," which are housed in the courtyards of abandoned buildings). There you will meet a cross section of artists, professionals, students, and tourists enjoying a DJ or Hungarian microbrew. If wine is more your thing, don’t miss spending a few hours in a wine bar (more upscale than the divey borozós). Wine bars have lengthy wine lists comprising excellent Hungarian wines, and most servers speak reasonable enough English to recommend a wine and explain what you are getting.
This hidden spot down a dilapidated backstreet is the ideal place to rub shoulders with the city's coolest locals. Low-lit and cozy, the craft beers and cocktails are well-curated and the tapas plates are generously portioned. It gets very busy on weekends, and they close every summer to transform into a roving bar at Hungary's many music festivals.
This popular grungy ruin bar lies through an unmarked rusty brown door, tucked discreetly in an ivy-covered brick wall. Everything here feels used and well-worn and that's exactly what endears it to locals, who come here for the laid-back atmosphere, live music events, art exhibits, and a nice, quiet garden out front. The food menu is sparse, but the fare itself is good, hearty, and homemade.
This café is a rye slice of Tsarist Russia in the heart of modern Budapest. Antique chairs and leaning reading lamps, corner nooks with Victorian curtains, and a second-floor wooden railing overlooking the gallery: Café Zsivágó is almost a staged backdrop that insists on memorable nights. Small traditional bands play regularly on the ground floor and spontaneous concerts are held by guests who fancy plonking the old piano in the back room. For those on a budget, affordable draft beers and local wines are on offer. For everyone else, there are lovely cocktails and a fantastic selection for teetotalers here, too. Just don’t come hungry, as food options are slim.
