9 Best Ruin Bars in Budapest
Low lighting, original decoration and writing on the walls: three elements that have decreed the success of the ruin bars.
Budapest | ©Dan Freeman
To understand the spirit of a city, you have to discover its nightlife. Budapest deserves to be discovered at night, only then can you delve into its soul and understand its secrets.
And there's no better way than with a pub crawl where you'll explore these popular, scruffy-looking bars that attract tourists and locals alike. The list below brings together the best spots in the Hungarian capital.
1. Meet the pioneer of ruin bars, Szimpla Kert
What is now an unmissable attraction was born almost by chance. In 2002, the owners wanted to launch a new bar concept where you could do a bit of everything from listening to live music to smoking a bong in the company of friends. To realise their dream, they rented a building in the old town that was in a state of disrepair. After some renovation work, they decided to give the rooms a scruffy look and the formula hit the nail on the head.
Szimpla Kert is the most frequented dingy bar in the Hungarian capital and a must if you book a Budapest dingy pub crawl. Any long weekend should include a stop at this mythical place. It's a real labyrinth and I recommend you spend a little time exploring its ambience. 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, open from 3pm to 4am. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays it welcomes the first customers at 12 noon and closes its doors at 4 am.
2. Dazzle yourself with Europe's largest ruin bar, Instant-Fogas
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 party tour of Budapest's ruin pubs, has seven different atmospheres dedicated to different genres of music: techno, live concerts, remixes of famous songs, rock, metal, edm and Latin music.
Admission is free and the doors close only 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: Instant and Fogas is open daily from 6pm to 6am.
3. Come to the ruin bar Csendes Létterem both at night and in the morning
In an alleyway 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 to the windows and take a look inside. All kinds of objects hang on the walls: a bicycle, mannequins, messages left by customers, mirrors, road signs and other curious objects.
Unlike many dilapidated pubs, Csendes Létterem opens early and is a recommended choice for breakfast. In addition to traditional recipes, their menu includes vegan options such as pancakes with maple syrup and fruit, chia pudding with coconut milk or mango puree.
You can also add it to your party tour of Budapest's rundown pubs, as in the evenings this mellow spot transforms into a dj set with soul, funk and jazz. To get an idea of the entertainment on offer, I recommend reading the post on 10 things to do in Budapest at night.
Useful information
- Address: Akácfa utca 51.
- Opening hours: Csendes Létterem is open every day of the week from 10am to 2am.
4. Rest in the "stone soup garden", Kőleves Kert
If you're travelling to Budapest in summer, you can't miss the terrace of the Kőleves Kert, a ruinous bar in the Jewish quarter. Include it in the list of Budapest's ruin pub party tours.
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 form a green oasis and with a bit of luck you can relax in the hammocks.
The drinks menu is varied, as is the menu, which includes salads, vegetarian recipes and more hearty dishes such as roast duck (a Hungarian speciality) and baked beans with hard-boiled eggs.
Useful information
- Address: Kazinczy u. 37-41.
- Opening hours: Kőleves Kert is open daily from 11:30 to 23:00.
5. Taste the best dishes and cocktails in Mazel Tov
Located in the heart of the Jewish quarter, Mazel Tov is a cultural space with an eye for gastronomy. In fact, this ruin bar is more like a restaurant offering tasty Middle Eastern recipes. The establishment is very busy and it is preferable to book a table in advance on its 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 is also no shortage of fusion recipes and delicious desserts to round off the meal.
Mazel Tov's most striking feature is the plants hanging from the first floor, creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. After dinner, you can come here to enjoy a cocktail. The menu offers original drinks such as a peach spritz, a variant of the Italian drink with peach and prosecco, or a cosmojito, made with Absolut Blue, Mandarine Napoleon, Cointreau, cranberry syrup and cranberry juice.)
Useful information
- Address: Akácfa utca 47.
- Opening hours: 5 p.m. to midnight (Monday and Tuesday) and 12 p.m. to midnight (all other days).
6. Step into the urban oasis of the Jewish Quarter, Grandio Jungle Bar
Just a few metres from the Great Synagogue is the Grandio Jungle Bar, a newcomer that quickly climbed the hierarchy. As the name suggests, the bar is located in an inner courtyard and its tables are surrounded by greenery. Many of its customers stay in the party hostel on the first floor, but you can access the bar even if you're not staying there.
In addition to a few drinks, you can watch football matches or take part in a karaoke night. So don't hesitate and add it to your party tour of Budapest's wicked pubs!
Useful information
- Address: Nagy Diófa utca 8.
- Opening hours: Grandio Jungle Bar is open every day from 12am to midnight.
7. Tasting the best beer in Élesztőhá
Hungary and beer are closely linked. The first document mentioning it dates back to 1152 and tells of a burial that was to be concluded with a "beer festival". 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. Clearly, the Eastern European country also brews craft beers, and Élesztőház is the perfect place to sample them.
If you get the itch, take a look at the menu. The establishment is known for its mushroom salad and incomparable burgers.
Useful information
- Address: Tűzoltó utca 22.
- Opening hours: Élesztőház is open all week at different times: from 3pm to 1am (Sunday and Monday), from 3pm to 2pm (Tuesday and Wednesday) and from 3pm to 3pm on other days.
8. Immerse yourself in the history of Dürer Kert
Unlike the other ruin pubs 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's a bit far from the centre, you can get here by trolleybus or bus. The journey takes about 30 minutes, but I can assure you it's worth it.
Getting to know Budapest by night is a must, and even more so on 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 the French nuns of Sacré Coeur. With the establishment of the Hungarian People's Republic, the nuns left the building to be used by the communist nomenklatura. Today it houses a dingy bar that has become a Mecca for punk, metal and trash fans. Its concerts have been livening up Budapest's nights since 2008.
There are also pinball tables, ping pong tables, lounges with sofas and an old bus converted into a lounge area. Dürer Kert has an offshoot: Dürer Part, a beach bar on Lupa beach. This beach is located on the Lupa Lake, a destination just a few kilometres from the Hungarian capital. It is the perfect place for both drinks and outdoor sports. If you are interested in activities outside the city, I recommend you to read the post about the best excursions from Budapest.
Useful information
- Address: Öböl utca 1.
- Opening hours: the concert venue is only open if there are events scheduled. Before planning your visit, I recommend you check the official Dürer Kert website.
9. Experience a destination with a difference, Szatyor Bár
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 this list, it is not frequented by tourists, who prefer the more central establishments. Its décor has an unkempt feel to it, although it does not go to the extremes of Szimpla Kert. To get here from the Old Town, you can 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: Szatyor Bár is open daily from 12 noon to midnight.