Budapest is one of the best city breaks in Europe and is absolutely packed with incredible things to do, places to eat and of course a pretty amazing bar scene. The ruin bars are so unique to this city and began in the mid 2000s as a way to utilise the abandoned spaces in the dilapidated seventh district. Today there are plenty you can visit as well as a whole host of wine bars, craft beer bars, rooftop bars, hidden bars… there’s something for everyone in Budapest! So make sure you read on and don’t forget to send this list to whoever you’re heading to Budapest with 😉
1. Szimpla Kert
Szimpla Kert is the most iconic ruin bar in Budapest. In fact it is probably the most iconic bar in Budapest full stop. Whether you come in the evening when it turns into a sprawling house party or you just want to see want to poke your head in during the day, you have to experience Szimpla in one way or another. Szimpla Kert means Simple Garden and it was the original ruin bar. The space is eclectic, messy, scrawled over time and time again by history and definitely a bit sticky! On Sundays there is a Farmer’s Market and during the day, the daylight shows off the cacophony of colours that adorn every surface here. At night, Szimpla comes aglow and is full of a strange mix of somewhere around student age inter railers and an older generation that came to have a look and are either straight back out again or just soaking up the atmosphere a little bit.
It is slightly bizarre to have been in both groups. When I first visited Budapest in 2014 (which is now closer to when Szimpla first opened than it is to today’s date) I was one of those student aged inter railers and came twice in nearly as many days. On a trip to Budapest last year (in 2025) I came as a thirty something year old on a press trip and definitely was more in that bracket of coming for one drink for half an hour to soak up a bit of the atmosphere before deciding that was quite enough of that. It is also sightly bizarre to have seen this place change each time I’ve come. From the half cut car chairs to the ever growing graffiti on a Mr Bean cartoon cardboard cutout to his disappearance in 2026, I wonder what will be different next time 🤔
2. Hotsy Totsy
Hotsy Totsy is a hidden speakeasy in the heart of the seventh district of Budapest. The cellar doors that lead down into this basement are fairly unassuming compared to all of the other venues in this area so you could easily walk past without noticing it. But if it’s on your radar then it’s not too well hidden that you’ll completely miss it and there are no secret passwords to get into this 20s prohibition vibey bar. Hotsy Totsy is cosy and intimate and because it’s in a basement with a curved roof it almost feels as though you’re sitting in an underground train carriage or passageway, making the covert drinking hole atmosphere seem even more tangible. The cocktails are inspired by buildings of New York and the flavour combinations are intriguing. So many unexpected tastes to choose from and sitting at the bar I enjoyed the theatrics of them being made. I can’t remember the name of my cocktail but it was delicious. So refreshing with a hint of sweetness. So good!
Plus, Hotsy Totsy places at number 267 on the list of TOP500BARS around the world. That is a pretty incredible effort!
3. The Duchess
The Duchess is as sleek and sophisticated as its name suggests. This rooftop bar is situated at the top of the Matild Palace and overlooks the Elizabeth Bridge as it traverses the Danube. You’ll enter a lobby on the street and get whisked right up to the top of the building where the bar is a dazzling sight to greet you as the elevator doors open. The rooftop is so unusual as the bar winds its way around the complicated roof structure of the building which makes it a little bit unusual and a little bit more surreptitious. Which tracks because the roof terrace was built for Royal Highness Maria Klotild who commissioned the palace and requested the secret garden rooftop for drinks with her friends…! On the menu there are a number of signature cocktails both with and without alcohol and all of which reflect their ‘liquor library’.
4. Leo Rooftop
Leo Rooftop sits at the top of Hotel Clark which overlooks the fabulous Chain Bridge on the Buda side of the Danube. Leo Bistro is at the bottom level and Leo Rooftop as you would guess, right on the top floor. The Hotel is named for the Scot Adam Clark who oversaw the building of the Chain Bridge. There are lions at both ends of the bridge to guard it and so it was for the lions that Leo has been named. The rooftop is a trendy spot with a buzz in the air and is a great spot to sit and enjoy the incredible view of the city lights whilst you sip your drink. I have to admit that I don’t really remember what the drinks menu was like as I came with work colleagues after a work trip and we just ordered a bottle of prosecco to share!
5. Time Out Market
There are Time Out Markets popping up all around the world and their aim is to bring together the best of the city that each one represents. Time Out Market Budapest opened in 2025 and I actually visited during it’s very first week so it was incredibly busy. Combine drinks with tasting your way around the city with lots of the best food vendors and flavours under one roof. At the Wines of Hungary bar you’ll find some of the best wines of the country and at the cocktail bar you can sample your way through a series of cocktails inspired by the bridges of Budapest. But of course it was a bubbly, sweet but aromatic Chain Bridge for me.
6. Koleves Kert
Koleves Kert is a more chilled ruin bar experience compared to the madness of Szimpla Kert. Koleves is not too far away and is tucked in a more open space with trees around the patio. I spotted this bar on my first night around the city on my most recent 2026 trip and then came back the following evening with my parents where we enjoyed a glass before a later dinner reservation. There is a small choice of Hungarian wines and beers to choose from as well as soft drinks. There is also a decent looking food menu and in this setting would make a perfect Budapest relaxed ruin bar evening.
7. Danube River Cruise
So not technically a bar but a cruise on the Danube is a great place for drinks! There are plenty of different cruise options with drinks from more relaxed ones that include a glass of sparkling wine to those that are a little more free flowing with unlimited Aperol Spritzes! The views will be the same on each so it’s up to you to choose your vibes. I certainly recommend coming at sunset when the beautiful buildings along the banks of the Danube catch a fabulous golden glow and you might get some stunning colours as the sun begins to set. Just remember to wrap up warm in the winter and bring an extra layer in Spring & Autumn because the warm late afternoons can suddenly turn!
8. BiBo Budapest
BiBo is most well known for its unbelievable food which is a fusion of Spanish and Hungarian cuisine for a medley of incredible flavours you might not expect to find together. It’s also very well known for its toilets which are situated in a very Insta friendly mirrored corridor! The restaurant and bar areas are both wonderfully aesthetic and the wrap around terrace has a glorious view across the Danube and the city. I visited at night so the lights of Budapest were twinkling all around but a daytime glass of wine or cocktail would be wonderful in the sun as well. My reservation was for an exclusive tasting menu where every delightful course was paired with a glass of Hungarian wine and I can tell you the wines were all pretty delicious! In the afternoon this is a great bar spot to enjoy a drink on the terrace with friends and in the evening the impactful decor, glorious view and chic cosy vibes are perfect for an elevated date 🍷
For more food & drink reccos around Budapest, take a look at my other guides 👇
Cat x