Eger
A subdued ruin bar by day, the 'Cardinal' transforms into a raucous dance club late in the evening; the cops at the door most weekend nights are a dead…
Must-see nightlife in Hungary
Debrecen
'Once Upon a Time' is a delightful retro-style cafe near the main square serving Italian coffee along with sandwiches (560Ft) and homemade cakes (from…
Szeged
This long-established warehouse club near the bus station is still party central at the weekend and hosts theme nights.
Budapest
A very welcoming watering hole, Good Spirit Bar comes fully stocked with more than 300 types of whisky in its collection, with malts and blends from…
Óbuda & Buda Hills
Run by a tattooed Filipino-American, this thimble-sized coffee house aims to spread the fame of Liberica Barako coffee from the Philippines. While arabica…
Budapest
We are pleased to see a real wine bar open on the Buda side, with well over 100 types from a dozen Hungarian regions available by the 1.5dL (150mL) glass …
Budapest
Think anything Scottish and the Caledonia (sometimes spelled with a 'K') does it – whisky (140 types) with or without Irn-Bru, plus smoked salmon,…
Budapest
Housed inside the futuristic (and whale-shaped) Bálna Budapest and with a terrace overlooking the Danube, 'Jonah' (get the connection?) delights beer…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
A big, bold and bustling bistro bar on the nightlife central that is Gozsdu udvar, Spíler serves craft beer, wine, cocktails and full meals (tapas 390Ft…
Castle District
As its name implies, this pub – now in its 29th year – is right at the Chain Bridge head and has a wonderful retro Magyar feel to it, with old movie…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
A welcome stop along Andrássy út with its mostly limited catering facilities, this simple cafe serves great coffee alongside smoothies, juices, teas,…
Budapest
The 'Pulp Fiction' is a quirky little basement cafe that has a loyal following despite all the competition in this part of south Buda. The old books and…
Budapest
Some people say that this upbeat cafe just south of Szabadság tér has the best espressos, flat whites, cappuccinos and lattes in town (500Ft to 850Ft)…
Budapest
This grande dame of a traditional cafe dates back to 1887. Awash with leather and dark wood inside, it's also a great spot for people-watching. It serves…
Budapest
This place has brought history back to Bartók Béla út. The Hadik is a revived old-world cafe that pulled in the punters for more than four decades before…
Budapest
Design-led decor and excellent locally roasted coffee make this little cafe, down a tiny pedestrian alleyway, a great place to pause. Go across the road…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
Vittula is a great studenty cellar bar (not club!) covered in graffiti, where hedonistic folk and bearded men drink late into the night accompanied by…
Castle District
This diminutive cafe dating from 1827 is the perfect place for coffee and cakes (550Ft to 750Ft) in the Castle District. Be warned: in high season it’s…
Budapest
The 'Rocking Horse' (with appropriate decor) is a two-storey affair with Czech beers on tap, friendly bar staff whose eye you can catch and DJs some…
Castle District
Dark, wood-panelled, underground bar specialising in an extensive range of Belgian beers. There are just under a dozen on tap and a much more extensive…
Sopron
This wonderful cafe on the 1st floor of the Firewatch Tower has stunning views through oversized windows and cutting-edge decor, and is surrounded by a…
Budapest
This small but comfortable cafe on the ground floor of delightful Bedő House is tailor-made for fans of the Secessionist style, with sinuous art nouveau…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This huge tree-filled complex, with courtyard and eight bars and four dance floors in two buildings, hides a warren of good times, including live music…
Budapest
As chilled a place to drink and nosh as you’ll find in south Buda, the Tranzit has made its home in a small disused bus station, put art on the walls and…
Budapest
Children and adults alike are treated to a warm welcome at this basement rabbit warren attached to the Élesztő ruin pub and cluttered with teddy bears,…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This bar on the roof of what was once the fashionable Paris Department Store eight floors above Andrássy út 39 offers nothing extraordinary in the way of…
Budapest
In fair weather this little cafe called the 'Silent Partner' sets up a terrace around the gates of peaceful Károlyi kert and serves coffee, wine and light…
Budapest
This big boozer known as the 'Plum Blue Tomato' in Hungarian is like something out of the old American sitcom Cheers, especially the ground-floor bar and…
Budapest
For a place housed in a communist-era kiosk dating back to the 1970s with a bizarre flyaway roof, this DJ bar and cafe is very hip and has a great terrace…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This Spanish restaurant/bar/club at the southern end of the Gozsdu udvar is a one-stop-shopping night out in Budapest. Arrive mid-evening and grab a seat…
Budapest
This popular cafe by the edge of the lake in City Park dating back to 1895 is a great place to relax, watch rowers on the lake and have a coffee or…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
One or two of your fellow elbow-benders in this convivial neighbourhood boozer might just be Hungary's next big star as this is a favourite of the nearby…
Budapest
Central and always heaving, DiVino is Budapest's most popular wine bar, as the crowds spilling out onto the square in front of the Basilica of St Stephen…
Castle District
This lovely new cafe on the top floor of the one-time Batthyány tér covered market takes its coffee very seriously indeed, with blends from Colombia to…
Budapest
Not the original branch of this 'august' 1870 institution, but it is the most central and convenient one. Take a seat within the opulent interior and…
Budapest
This throwback thirsty, with flowers in its hair, peace signs emblazoned on the walls and cringy slogans ('Don't worry, feel hippie') is a comfortable…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
Owned by the tour agency of the same name, the Yellow Zebra cellar pub is meant for cyclists. It has a half-dozen Czech and Hungarian craft beers on tap,…
Lake Balaton & Southern Transdanubia
This family-run retro-style wine bar and bistro is a peaceful retreat near the lakefront. The menu is stacked with local wines, and the owner is often on…
Budapest
A favourite new watering hole in Buda, this pint-sized pub (though there are three tiny floors) has some 55 craft beers available from Hungary's five…
Lake Balaton & Southern Transdanubia
One of the most popular places in town to grab a drink or a quick bite (dishes 1200Ft to 3100Ft), Karolina is a sophisticated cafe-bar with live music…
