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Fat Mo's Music Club
With a speakeasy Prohibition theme, and enough beer and booze to fill Bonnie and Clyde (with bullets, that is), FM's has live jazz (and sometimes country) from or daily. DJs take over at midnight from Thursday to Saturday.
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Fehér Gyűrű
The 'White Ring' has always been a firm favourite and it's still not clear why. Perhaps it's opposite the 'White House' and it's always fun to spot MPs. More likely it's because there are so few pubs in this area.
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Gerlóczy Kávéház
This wonderful retro-style café looks out onto one of Pest's most attractive little squares, and serves excellent snacks and light meals, including a cheese plate sent over from the Nagy Tamás cheese shop around the corner.
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Gödör Klub
This venue in the old bus bays below Erzsébet tér in central Pest is a real mixed bag, offering music right through the spectrum; everything from folk and jazz, but especially rock.
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Hauer Cukrászda
This Art Deco (but frayed) café along busy Rákóczi út is often overlooked in favour of its sexier cousins, and is a real find for that. The cakes may not be Gerbeaud-quality, but the place feels local and real.
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Holdudvar
This large courtyard on the grounds of the ELTE, the city's largest university, has a predictably split personality: earnest and coffee-drinking, wild and out of control.
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Incognito Café
The 'Unknown' is hardly that. It was the first café to open on what everyone now calls 'the tér', way back in 1994, and it's still low-key and going strong.
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International Buda Stage
This theatre is a more recent arrival and further afield at the foot of the Buda Hills, with occasional performances - often comedies - in English.
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Jailhouse
This tiny venue with a friendly atmosphere has underground DJs and live music. It's an excellent place to part ways from the usual choice of venues. It hosts a lesbian night on the first Friday of the month.
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Janis Pub
Close to the university, this ever-popular pub is a shrine to the late, great Janis 'Pearl' Joplin and usually a stop for a quick one or two on the way to somewhere else. But some linger here for the choice of five imported beers on draught and the darts.
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Kaméleon
This throbbing club in the newer wing of Buda's massive Mammut shopping mall is a true 'chameleon', with a different party in swing every night of the week - from La Noche Cubana on Friday to live bands on Monday.
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Két Szerecsen
Not quite on the square (Liszt Ferenc tér) but close enough, the very relaxed 'Two Moors' serves both main meals and decent breakfasts, as well as coffee.
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Kisrabló
This pub is close to the university (and to many of Budapest's hostels), and is thus very popular with students; it's an attractive and well-run place.
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Közgáz Pince Klub
With few frills and cheap covers at the Economics University, this is the pick-up venue of choice for many a student and there's plenty of dance room. Beware: the bouncers bite, and avoid Wednesday unless you like karaoke.
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Kultiplex
This huge complex has something for everyone -performance space, cinema, grill restaurant, great DJs, theme parties - and a simple inside/outside bar, where you can enjoy an unreconstructed drink.
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Lánchíd Söröző
The 'Chain Bridge Pub', at the southern end of Fő utca, has a wonderful retro Magyar feel, with old movie posters and advertisements on the walls, and red-checked cloths on the tables. Friendly service too.
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Mokka Cuka
On the island that attracts the capital's beautiful people, Mokka Cuka is a leading outdoor underground venue showcasing great indie DJs.
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Mozaik Teaház
An eclectic - note the mosaic of a satyr outside - rarity among Budapest teahouses: non-New Age music played and smoking permitted.
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Művész
Almost opposite the State Opera House, the 'Artist' is a more interesting place to people-watch than most cafés (especially from the terrace), though its cakes are not what they used to be, with the exception of the almás torta (apple cake). It's been here since 1898.
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Mystery Bar
This miniscule gay neighbourhood bar with draped muslin and Greek statuary also moonlights as an Internet café and is just the ticket for boyz who want to log on and get off.
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Negro
This stylish café just behind the basilica (views!) attracts Budapest's über-trendy crowd, dressed to the nines and sipping the latest concoction. Great breakfasts.
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Piaf
Piaf is the place to go when everything else slows down. There's dancing and action well into the new day. Most of the action - and characters - are in the smoky cavern below.
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Picasso Point
A stalwart of the Budapest entertainment scene, this is a laid-back place for a drink and good for meeting people. Great décor.
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Poco Loco
At the corner of Harcsa utca and Frankel Leó út on the way to Óbuda, this one-time seamy place has cleaned up its act; however, it remains interesting. There's live music some nights.
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Sark Café
This popular alternative music pub and club on three floors has a big cellar with a dance floor where bands occasionally perform.
