More about: 9 Best Ruin Bars in Budapest
To understand the spirit of a city, you have to discover its nightlife, and Budapest is a city that is definitely worth discovering at night. Only then can you delve into its soul and understand all its secrets.
And there's no better way to do this than with a ruin pub crawl, where you'll explore these popular, scruffy-looking bars that attract both tourists and locals alike. Here are the best options in the Hungarian capital.
1. Szimpla Kert, the pioneer of ruin bars in Budapest
What is now an unmissable attraction was born almost by chance. In 2002, the owners wanted to launch a new concept of bar where you could do a bit of everything, from listening to live music to smoking a hookah with friends. To realise their dream, they rented a dilapidated building in the old town.
After some renovation work, they decided to leave it looking a bit scruffy, and the formula was a hit. Today, Szimpla Kert is the most popular ruin bar in the Hungarian capital and a must if you book a party tour of Budapest's ruin pubs. Any long weekend should include a stop at this legendary place.
It's a real labyrinth, and I recommend spending some time exploring its atmosphere. You might end up having a pint in the old Trabant car in the courtyard or in the comfortable armchairs on the first floor.
Useful information
- Address: Kazinczy utca, 14.
- Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, from 3pm to 4am. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, it opens at 12 noon and closes at 4am.
2. Instant-Fogas, the largest ruin bar in Europe
In 2008, the legendary Instant and Fogas venues joined forces to create Europe's largest ruin bar. This huge space, which you should include in your ruin pub crawl in Budapest, has seven different rooms dedicated to different musical genres: techno, live concerts, remixes of famous songs, rock, metal, EDM and Latin music.
Admission is free and the doors close at six in the morning. In short, Instant-Fogas is the ideal place to let off steam after a day of sightseeing.
Useful information
- Address: Akácfa utca, 51.
- Opening hours: open every day from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
3. Csendes Létterem, for a day or night out
In a narrow street near the National Museum is Csendes Létterem, a ruin pub housed in an elegant 19th-century building. If you don't see anything unusual from the outside, go up to the windows and take a look inside. All kinds of objects hang from the walls: a bicycle, mannequins, messages left by customers, mirrors, traffic signs and other curious items.
Unlike many ruin pubs, Csendes Létterem opens early and is a great place for breakfast. In addition to traditional dishes, the menu includes vegan options such as pancakes with maple syrup and fruit, chia pudding with coconut milk and mango purée.
You can also add it to your Budapest ruin pub crawl, as this peaceful place transforms into a DJ set with soul, funk and jazz at night. To get an idea of what's on offer, I recommend reading the post on 10 things to do in Budapest at night.
Useful information
- Address: Akácfa utca, 51.
- Opening hours: open every day of the week, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
4. Kőleves Kert, the "stone soup garden"
If you're travelling to Budapest in summer, don't miss the terrace at Kőleves Kert, a ruin bar in the Jewish quarter. Add it to your list of party tours of Budapest's ruin pubs.
In the warmer months, you can enjoy a pint of beer or a glass of wine at the colourful tables in the garden. The trees and plants create a green oasis and, with a bit of luck, you can relax in the hammocks.
The drinks menu at Kőleves Kert is as varied as the food menu, which includes salads, vegetarian dishes and heartier fare such as roast duck (a Hungarian speciality) and baked beans with hard-boiled eggs.
Useful information
- Address: Kazinczy u., 37-41.
- Opening hours: open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
5. Mazel Tov, to sample the best dishes and cocktails
Located in the heart of the Jewish quarter, Mazel Tov is a cultural space that gives a nod to gastronomy, an option you have to include on your party tour of Budapest's ruin pubs. This ruin bar is more of a restaurant offering tasty Middle Eastern recipes. The place is very busy, so it's best to book a table in advance on their official website.
Classic dishes include hummus (served with tahini, parsley, olive oil and pita bread), falafel and sabich, an Israeli sandwich with fried aubergine, hard-boiled egg, tomato, cucumber and other ingredients. There are also fusion dishes and delicious desserts to round off your meal.
At Mazel Tov, the most striking feature is the plants hanging from the first floor, creating a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. After dinner, you can come here to enjoy a cocktail such as the peach spritz, a variation on the Italian drink with peach and prosecco, or the cosmojito, made with Absolut Blue.
Useful information
- Address: Akácfa utca, 47.
- Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday, from 5pm to midnight, and Wednesday to Sunday, from noon to midnight.
6. Grandio Jungle Bar, the urban oasis in the Jewish quarter
Just a few metres from the Great Synagogue is the Grandio Jungle Bar, a newcomer that has quickly climbed the ranks. As the name suggests, the bar is located in an inner courtyard and its tables are surrounded by lush vegetation.
Many of its customers stay at the party hostel on the first floor, but you can access the bar even if you're not staying there.
In addition to drinks, you can watch football matches or take part in a karaoke night. So don't hesitate, add it to your party tour of Budapest's ruin pubs.
Useful information
- Address: Nagy Diófa utca, 8.
- Opening hours: open every day from 12 noon to midnight.
7. Élesztőhá, to taste the best beer in Budapest
Hungary and beer are closely linked. The first document mentioning beer dates back to 1152 and refers to a funeral that had to end with a "beer party". Today, you can find brands such as Dreher, a pilsner-style lager, and Soproni, a refreshing IPA that you'll find in any bar in the capital.
Of course, this Eastern European country also produces craft beers, and Élesztőház is the perfect place to try them, a must on any ruin pub crawl.
If you're feeling peckish, take a look at the menu. The establishment is known for its mushroom salad and its unbeatable burgers.
Useful information
- Address: Tűzoltó utca, 22.
- Opening hours: open all week at different times, Sunday and Monday from 3pm to 1am; Tuesday and Wednesday from 3pm to 2am and other days from 3pm to 3am.
8. Dürer Kert, the mecca of punk and metal
Unlike the other ruin bars on the list, Dürer Kert is not located in the Jewish quarter but in Kelenföld, a district that came into being in the 1970s. Although it is a little far from the centre, you can get there by trolleybus or bus. The journey takes about 30 minutes, but I assure you it's worth it.
Seeing Budapest at night is a must, especially along the banks of the Danube. Right here stands a building with a unique history. Before the arrival of the Soviets, it was a boarding school run by French nuns from the Sacré Coeur. With the establishment of the People's Republic of Hungary, the nuns left the building, which was then used by the communist nomenklatura.
Today, it houses a ruin bar that has become a Mecca for punk, metal and trash music fans. Its concerts have been livening up Budapest's nights since 2008. It also has pinball machines, ping pong tables, rooms with sofas and an old bus converted into a chill-out area.
Useful information
- Address: Öböl utca, 1.
- Opening hours: the concert venue is only open when events are scheduled. Before planning your visit, I recommend checking the official website.
- Interesting fact: Dürer Kert has a sister venue, Dürer Part, a beach bar on Lupa Beach, a destination just a few kilometres from the Hungarian capital and the perfect place for both drinks and outdoor sports. If you're interested in activities outside the city, I recommend reading the post on the best day trips from Budapest.
Szatyor Bárun, a different destination in Budapest
9. Szatyor Bárun, a different destination in Budapest
Like the Dürer Kert, the Szatyor is not located in the Jewish quarter but on an elegant avenue in the capital: Bartók Béla. This residential street is home to bookshops, art galleries (Faur Zsófi, Gross Arnold, etc.), cafés (Addicted2Caffeine, Hadik, etc.) and some of the best restaurants in the capital.
Szatyor is one of the few ruin bars on this side of the Danube. Unlike the other bars on the list, it is not very popular with tourists, who prefer the establishments in the city centre. Its décor has a slightly shabby feel, although it is not as extreme as Szimpla Kert. To get here from the old town, take the tram from Deák Ferenc Square (lines 47 and 49) and get off at the Gárdonyi tér stop.
Useful information
- Address: Bartók Béla, 36.
- Opening hours: open every day from 12 noon to midnight.