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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.
An extension of the Hotel Clark, this chic and atmospheric rooftop bar offers a breathtaking view of the Chain Bridge below, as well as along the Danube to the Parliament. Soak up the views while sipping one of the bar's signature cocktails (the whisky sour is especially good). The seating area is covered and heated, meaning the bar is open year-round; though it's always hard to get a table so book ahead.
Just around the corner from Széll Kálmán tér Metro station, this hip Tinseltown-themed bar attracts a mixed Hungarian and international crowd, who come for the delicious cocktails and classic Hollywood memorabilia.
Rabbit Hole is a welcome relief at a time when most cocktail bars charge entire-meal prices for a single drink. Fun, friendly, and unfussy, the vibe is relaxed and the cocktail menu is heavy on the classics, but the bartenders are equally happy to whip up something special based on your tastes. Prices are refreshingly affordable, with all cocktails under 3,000 HUF; beers, wine, and palinka are even cheaper.
Rumpus' humble entrance belies the sprawling, multilevel, intricately designed Polynesian bar inside. Sink into their bamboo chairs with a punchy cocktail theatrically served in a ceramic god mug---it's not inexpensive, but a well-crafted cocktail rarely is, and here they're often excellent (and potent). Make a reservation or risk waiting up to an hour to gain entrance.
If you need a break from the party district's endless beers and shots, this is your spot: a cool mixologist bar serving classic and contemporary cocktails, free of pretension. The concoctions here are creative and punchy, served in hip surroundings by chipper, friendly bartenders, with all mixology-focused drinks on the menu priced under 4,000 HUF. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
