Szóda Café

A celebrated pub, just a few minutes from the Great Synagogue. The Hungarian word szóda means plain water which has been carbonated. Be a local for a night and at the bar order ‘egy fröccsöt!’ (A spritzer!)

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Address: VII. Wesselényi utca 18.
Web: http://www.szoda.com

Cinetrip

Cinetrip is a Budapest-based venture, started in 1998. Nowhere but in Budapest’s amazing baths can you find such a combination of music, water and light! An unusual, uplifting and thrilling adventure: ‘water- and space-related parties’, as it defines itself. It is indoors from autumn to late spring, and then it moves outdoors. Watch out for innovations all the time. Swimsuit or summer dress recommended, flip-flops a must – and don’t forget your towel! Budapest, by the way, is probably the only big city in the world that is also a spa city. Go and have a sparty!

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Address: Rudas Bath
Web: http://www.cinetrip.hu

Apacuka

Ateliers, galleries and a café-restaurant in the ‘Magnates’ Quarter’, which these days has an atmosphere redolent of Le Quartier latin. There are universities, a great public library, student hostels and other cafés nearby. A real place to chill out during the day and have lunch (excellent cuisine at affordable prices), and to party in the evenings. Have a look!

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Address: VIII. Horánszky utca 5.
Web: http://www.apacuka.com

Corvintető – underground above the city

A roof garden atop a 1926 department store, once a trendy shopping paradise for locals, now simply a dilapidated-looking building in the heart of the city. You can walk up a staircase full of bicycles, or be courageous and take the lift – an adventure in itself. Be prepared for a surprise! There are DJs, and great fun to be had right into the small hours.

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Address: VIII. Blaha Lujza tér 1-2.
Web: http://www.corvinteto.com

Liszt Ferenc tér – discover Budapest’s favorite open-air bars

The trendy place, full of bars, restaurants, terraces and people. Just a few metres from Andrássy Avenue. You can go there at any time, day or night, to have a break or a few cocktails before a crazy party.

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Address: VI. Liszt Ferenc tér

Ráday utca - not only a street packed with restaurants

This street also offers a cultural experience all day long, along its entire length: theatres, tapas bars, galleries, unique places to have a quick bite, chic bars and restaurants. Busy summer festivals are organised here: book fairs, street performances, concerts, music and theatre. A favourite place for locals as well as visitors.

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Merlin

A club, café and theatre in the city centre, in the courtyard of The City Hall. A venue for video festivals, film premieres and concerts. The big names in Hungarian and international music, artistic, electronic and underground groups, DJs and events are all part of the experiences on offer. Apart from parties it is a venue for lectures and debates, and the only permanent venue for English-speaking quality theatre – watch out for its programme.

Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday: 10.00 – 24.00/ 01.00, Friday-Saturday: 10.00 – 05.00

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Address: V. Gerlóczy utca 4.
Web: http://www.merlinszinhaz.hu

Szilvuplé Varieté

If you want to dance all night this is a strategic place – a café-cabaret in the ‘Broadway of Pest’. It is possibly the least segregated and most colourful of venues: even the toilet is covered with a patchwork of colours. Affordable drinks. Closes at 4 a.m. The party can continue in the neighbouring streets!

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Address: VI. Ó utca 33.
Web: http://www.szilvuple.hu

“Fonó” House of Folk Music

You should attend at least one dance house event when in Budapest – and you are likely to find it here. Authentic Hungarian folk music for all ages, and lessons in how to dance to the tunes! Housed in part of an old factory, the Fonó Music House in southern Buda has been a cultural centre for folk music, world music and jazz since 1995. Experience the real Hungarian virtues, and learn some spectacular moves.

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Address: XI. Sztregova utca 3.
Web: www.fono.hu

The retro café Bambi: back to the 1960s

Named after the young deer from the woods, this bar has miraculously survived successive waves of modernisation all around it. It still has its neighbourhood regulars, playing dominos, sitting on the red fake-leather sofas and sipping from authentic coffee glasses, and is popular with students who are not just into hype. A highly authentic place dating back to 1961, this is no reproduction, but is caught in a real time-warp.

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Address: III. Frankel Leó út 2-4.

Marxim Pizzéria

A pizzeria with Communist regalia – illegal, in the strictest sense of the word. An easygoing encounter with the symbols of the old regime. Even the names of pizzas are very funny – try one!

Opening hours: weekdays 12.00 – 01.00, weekends 12.00 – 02.00, Sundays 18.00 – 01.00

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Address: II. Kis Rókus utca 23.
Web: http://www.marximpub.extra.hu

Menza café & restaurant

The Hungarian word menza means a cheap student refectory: almost a swear-word, redolent of aluminium trays and cutlery, heavy, greasy smells and crowded, cheap surroundings. This trendiest of trendy retro joints fits no part of this stereotype. The menu has many genuinely traditional items, but prepared in a new, exciting way; don’t miss the lángos (pronounced lahn-gosh): Hungarian fried bread with a variety of toppings. Menza is in the middle of the Liszt Ferenc tér terrace area.

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Address: VI. Liszt Ferenc tér 2.
Web: http://www.menza.co.hu

Kádár Eatery

A charming, legendary neighbourhood eatery in the main square of the former Jewish quarter, only open for lunch. You should share a table with a checked table cloth – always on show at authentically traditional Hungarian eateries.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11.30-15:30

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Address: VII. Klauzál tér 9.

Take Five - a jazz pub

A place with style that is still welcoming and informal. Opened in December 2007, it still has the feel of a recent trendy place. The leading artists in Hungarian and international jazz keep returning here. They are especially proud of being the ‘haunt’ of the famous Veronika Harcsa Quartet.

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 18.00-02.00, in the basement of Vista Travel Agency

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Address: VI., Paulay Ede u. 2.
Web: http://www.take5.hu

Cotton Club – with revue shows from the ‘20s

A very large club near the Grand Ring Boulevard, for the not very young, for lovers of jazz, poker and stand-up comedy in English. Besides the typical American revues, programmes feature Hungarian shows, operettas, Latin-American songs and famous movie soundtracks.
In the revue show dancers wearing period dresses present a fantastic performance, including Charleston, swing, and can-can.

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Address: VI. Jókai utca 26.
Web: http://www.cottonclub.hu

Kaméleon Club – feel the rhythms

Located in the centre of Buda, on the fourth floor of a shopping mall called Mammut. It has a VIP section, resident DJs, guest performers and dancing till dawn. Don’t miss the salsa club with dance lessons and a live conga show on Fridays!

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Address: II. Lövőház utca 2-6.
Web: http://www.kameleonmulato.hu

Sofitel DJ’s Night – the best tip for an exclusive evening

If you are over 30 and still love discos, no problem: the Sofitel Budapest is the first luxury hotel in Hungary in which people can try out partying. The venue is the Paris Budapest Café – overlooking the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage panorama and the River Danube. DJ Night parties will be held every Friday. (Entrance from Dorottya utca)

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Address: V. Roosevelt tér 2.
Web: http://www.eventsatsofitel.com/djnight/

Moulin Rouge – evening speciality for men… and women as well

The only surviving cabaret from the Good Old Days of ‘the Broadway of Pest’. Inside the Operetta Theatre’s building, you should sample the traditions in entertainment in this part of the world.

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Address: VI. Nagymező utca 17.
Web: http://www.moulinrouge.hu

Tropicana Casino

Between Café Gerbeaud and the river, very much in the centre of Pest. Slot machines, plus American roulette, blackjack, Caribbean draw poker/ stud poker and punto banco baccarat.

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Address: V. Vígadó u. 2.
Web: http://www.tropicanacasino.hu

Monte Carlo Budapest

Monte Carlo Budapest, the largest game organizer in Hungary and the largest electronic poker room in Europe, awaits you! Visitors over 18 are welcome from all around the world!
If you are a first timer, do not be afraid. Staff will be more than glad to explain you the rules of games and the house. Keeping the basic rules of politeness is necessary, but the main goal is for you to have fun and enjoy the time you spend in the casino. We are sure you will find at least one out of the 250 machines in the Monte Carlo Casino that will get to your heart.

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Address: H-1051 Budapest, Dorottya u. 2-4.

Las Vegas Casino

This is to be found in the Sofitel Hotel, entrance from Roosevelt tér. Slot machines, plus American roulette, blackjack, craps and poker.

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Address: V. Roosevelt tér 2.
Web: http://www.lasvegascasino.hu

Symbol Budapest

This latest party venue consists of no less than seven parts: the ‘220-year-old cellar restaurant’, the Puskás Pancho Sports Pub with live football broadcasts, café & lounge, Italian fusion restaurant, gallery & events hall, and garden. Appropriately named, it symbolises the renewal of Budapest. It was opened in 2008, in a grand Old Buda mansion from the late 1780s. Great, varied, meticulous design.

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Address: III. Bécsi út 56.
Web: http://www.symbolbudapest.hu

Bar Ladino – a chilled-out evening

Students and neighbourhood guests frequent this venue which, though in the heart of the old Jewish quarter, has no explicitly Jewish specialities on the menu. A new place with a great interior, full of life and people, where you are made to feel at home. Go there for a drink with friends and a chilled-out night of chat.

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Address: VII. Dob u. 53.
Web: http://www.ladino.hu

Old Man’s Music Club – live music and evergreen classics

A great, popular place with live music every night from nine to eleven. Quite an adventure for observing how locals drink, dance and have fun. This is in the urban jungle within the Grand Ring Boulevard. A favourite haunt of city workers.

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Address: VII. Akácfa utca 13.
Web: http://www.oldmans.hu

Pár perc krumpli – fast food à la Budapest

Its name literally means ‘a-couple-of-minutes potatoes’, and it is a fast food place for serious lovers of French fries (to be historically accurate, Belgian fries). Many variations and sauces, an ideal place to have a quick bite! Check it out at the popular Ráday utca terrace area or in Buda at Móricz Zsigmond körtér.

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Address: IX. Ráday utca 1-3.
Web: http://www.parperckrumpli.hu

Hummus bár – before the party

A Mecca for vegetarians and a place for a quick bite before a party, operated by a Syrian immigrant. He is very proud of his daughter, who became a celebrated Hungarian artist, called Roza El-Hassan. Ask him about her!

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Address: V. Alkotmány utca 20.and VII. Kertész u. 39.
Web: http://www.hummusbar.hu

Café Miro Grande

A fashionable place in popular Liszt Ferenc tér, with live music every night. An equilibrium between music and food. If you like the place you can try all the other Miro restaurants in the city, for example in the Castle District or the Westend shopping mall.

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Address: VI. Liszt Ferenc tér 9.
Web: http://www.cafemiro.hu