Tried and Tested Bars & Cafes In Budapest

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, has many options for bars and cafes for a drink out. You can choose from some posh, special places, party bars, or regular places for cheap local beers. I’ve visited a wide range of places for drinks on many visits to Budapest.

In most parts of the city, you can find a place to rest your legs and have a beer, including near the castle, the Jewish quarter and the central areas. There are also dog-friendly places throughout the city, and if you want food, there are many good restaurants.

Pubs and Bars For Beer When Exploring Budapest

Lakat Presszó

A cheap place for a drink near Kelenföld station is Lakat presszó. We really enjoyed visiting and found the staff friendly. As a bonus, their outdoor seating offers great shade, which was ideal during our summer visit. Lakat presszó had a good range of drinks, including beers and coffee.

FIRST Local Craft Beer

FIRST Local Craft Beer and Kitchen is a relaxing place for drinks, with its own brewery that creates some interesting beers. FIRST Local Craft Beer and Kitchen produces some great Hungarian craft beers which are served on tap or in bottles here. Their Belgian Witbier was very nice and reminded me of Hoegaarden. The pilsner also had great flavours.

Stifler Garden

Stifler Garden is an out-of-town bar near the Puskas Area, a nice place for drinks if you’re in this part of the city. I visited for a few beers in their beer garden, which had loads of seats and shade from trees.

They had a great selection of drinks, including cocktails and beer. I had a couple of large glasses of Dreher on a warm summer day. The service was friendly and quick. They also have a big food menu, making it a good place for a session.

Anonymus Bar & More

Anonymus Bar & More is a lakeside spot for drinks with a lovely terrace, housed in a historic building. We visited here for a few drinks on a break exploring City Park. They had a good range of drinks, including Hungarian beers, coffees, and refreshing lemonades.

Stég Pub On Margaret Island

There are a few places to stop for a drink on Margaret Island, including Steg Pub. Stég Pub is a great rest stop that serves some nice beer. On my visit, I enjoyed a Hofbräuhaus beer on their terrace. They also serve food, including langos and other pub food options.

Pointer Pub

Pointer Pub is a traditional English-style place that serves good-value beer. It has both indoor and outdoor seating, and both are nice. I enjoyed some Hungarian beers, but they also had some British brands.

Bohém söröző

Bohém söröző is near Kelenföld railway station and a cheap, handy place to grab a drink while waiting for a train. We found the bar welcoming. It is a cheap bar with a nice interior and a covered terrace. We enjoyed good coffee and Hungarian beers. As a bonus, the staff was very hospitable, and it was a great place to wait for our train.

Hard Rock Cafe

In the main shopping area of the city is Hard Rock Cafe, a world-famous chain of bars. We enjoyed sitting outside here. Their beer and service were great too. This is an ideal place to meet up with someone while they are shopping.

Cafe Vian Gozsdu Udvar

Cafe Vian Gozsdu Udvar is in Gozsdu Court, a lively part of the Jewish Quarter. They have a nice indoor seating area which opens at 9 am for drinks. I’ve visited a few times and enjoyed some local beers and a chill.

Cafes in Budapest

Párisi Passage Café

For an exclusive experience with a spectacular venue, the Párisi Passage Café is a top place to visit. It is on the ground floor of the luxurious Párisi Udvar Hotel, an Art Nouveau marvel. Inside, it has many decorative features which keep you entertained while drinking.

I visited for a drink and snack, and after reading their menu, I opted for a local beer, a coffee and a salmon and cream cheese roll. The service here was good but relaxed, which added to my experience.

Centrál Grand Cafe & Bar

A really posh place I visited for a drink and a snack is Centrál Grand Cafe & Bar. This is a beautiful Art Nouveau venue that serves coffee, food and other drinks. The decorative interior, nice terrace and good service made this a pleasure to spend time in. On my visit, I had some large local beers and a nice relaxing time.

Vibrant Bars For Evening Drinks in Budapest

Szimpla Kert

The most well-known of the ruin bars in the city is Szimpla Kert. Szimpla Kert is a fantastic place set over a few floors with countless bars inside. There are lots of side rooms with eclectic furniture and decor. The entire place has some colourful lighting, which adds to the vibe.

We visited a few times and found Szimpla Kert to be a great place for a drink, especially for local Hungarian beers. It was quite a sociable place, and I had a chat with other visitors from around the globe.

UdvarROM

In the Jewish Quarter is UdvarROM, a fun bar that stays open late. UdvarROM has a great atmosphere, is popular with backpackers and is pretty easy to meet new people. The decor is bright and colourful, and they have some nice comfy seating and some long tables that are ideal for groups.