12 Best Bars in Budapest, Hungary

Originally a Ukrainian stone-freighter, A38 is now a fantastic addition to the nightlife of Buda, permanently moored a 15-minute walk south of Liberty Bridge (just beyond Petőfi Bridge). It has a restaurant upstairs, an exhibition space, a bar, and a large dance floor downstairs. There's a different band on hand every night, from jazz to Latin, retro to electronic.

Somewhere between a snazzy lounge and a culture-club dive music bar, Akvárium is one of the city’s most popular downtown venues. A top-notch lineup of international and Hungarian musical guests fills the program weekly. Recently renovated, the main hall features a state-of-the-art sound system and sound insulation that keeps audiences coming back and due to its location (under the square), there are no city volume restrictions imposed on its concerts. The glass ceiling in the main room is the bottom of the water fountain located on the neighborhood square above, creating a fantastic, surreal effect, with the help of multicolor lighting. A huge outdoor, open-air terrace sprawls out over the concrete steps leading down to the club---the perfect meetup point for pre-concert drinks or before a night on the town on clear summer nights. Free cultural events often take place here, too.

Heaven for oenophiles seeking out Hungary’s lesser-known wineries, Bortodoor was founded by three longstanding expats as a store, event space, and, most importantly, a wine bar. Here you’ll sample a curated selection of Hungarian wines by the glass, some of which you won’t find anywhere else, amidst an enthusiastic mix of local and international patrons. Friday and Saturday are the liveliest, but Sunday offers the best value when the week’s leftover bottles are served at discounted prices.

A wonderful place to experience Hungary's diverse wine culture, Cintányéros is warm, friendly, and charmingly designed. The staff here care deeply about local wines. House pours are very affordable and their seasonal menu offers varied choices for those seeking finer vintages.

Among Budapest's best ruin bars—drinking holes built within old, abandoned postwar buildings and populated with flea market furniture—Csendes oozes underground atmosphere. Csendes means quiet in Hungarian, but this vintage bar is, in fact, almost always lively. The junk shop chic decor (think hanging bicycles, vintage knickknacks, and industrial artworks) brings in the hipster crowds, while the great beer selection, quality bar food, and incredible prices ensure they stick around. A few doors down, Csendes also has a lovely café-wine bar with a terrace (at the corner entrance to Károlyi-kert).

It's a trek to get here (not as bad if you drive or bike it), but it's worth it. This place is a gem: a waterfront "cultural bistro" that's part beach, part music club, part outdoor cinema (on Wednesday), and part good old-fashioned bar and bistro. Open every day all summer, dogs, children, and ducks are all welcome (they even cater to kids wishing to feed the ducks). Dangle your feet in the Danube as you enjoy drinks and then wander to the other venues dotted along the strip of beach.

This complex of seven buildings and their interconnecting courtyards is home to some of Budapest's liveliest bars and restaurants---it can be touristy and overpriced, but it's a great pit stop on a night out. Spíler Original is the most popular hangout in the complex. Other places to visit include sister property Spíler Shanghai, plus Vicky Barcelona, Spritz Bar, and Blue Bird Karaoke Rooms. On weekends you'll find a flea market here, and the complex also has its own escape rooms.

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.

Rub shoulders with Budapest's artists, intellectuals, and various movers and shakers at this divey neighborhood bar. It regularly hosts art shows plus the occasional busker-like music event. Prices are a bargain for the area and the homestyle Hungarian food is often delicious.

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 unique, colorful, and charming bar and bistro started life as a little theater—just a one-room space where seating faced a small stage. Púder still holds the occasional showcase, but post-pandemic, it's been transformed into an upscale pub, with local craft beers, cocktails and a hipster-friendly menu of vegan and Asian fusion dishes. The place gets busy on weekends when reservations are essential.

The oldest and best-known of Budapest's uniquely Hungarian romkerts (ruin bars), Szimpla Kert is known for its wild, exuberant, grungy style. Built inside a former stove factory, this maze of dark rooms, eclectic furnishings, local art, and crazy light installations attracts a raucous crowd of locals and tourists frolicking their way through the night with wild abandon. Expect a noisy, lively night here with the occasional patron's dog darting between tables while the owner downs shots. Visit by day to get a better feel for the decor, although expect to be joined by a steady stream of influencers, as it's one of the city's top attractions. Szimpla also hosts a weekly farmers' market featuring all-natural products on Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm, and runs an antiques shop next door.