Nightlife in Budapest
Budapest's nightlife is thriving and expanding, offering fresh experiences and classic nights out. The Jewish Quarter in District VII is packed with arty hangouts like Szimpla Kert, in a derelict town house, or the Fészek Klub cellar artists club. The scene is more trendy on Liszt Ferenc tér, while old warehouses around the city are transformed into cool clubs. Dokk Club draws jet setters to Boatyard Island with its chic beach.
New York Café
Ornate decor and cocktails
This palatial bar in Pest is where Hungarian film director Alexander Korda
planned his 1940s assault on Hollywood. The New York Café's ornate gold
decor, complemented by red velvet chairs and mirrored tables, comes into its
own at cocktail hour.
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Address
New York Palace Hotel, 9-11, Erzsébet krt, Budapest 1073
Telephone
+36 (1) 886 6167
Oscar American Bar
Film-themed drinking
This dimly-lit Buda favourite has a reassuringly long bar. The Oscar American
Bar is film-themed and has posters of Hollywood greats on the walls. Locals
sit in directors' chairs, sipping cocktails and quality wines.
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Address
14, Ostrom utca, Budapest 1015
Telephone
+36 (1) 212 8017
Pótkulcs
Arty music bar
According to the club's motto, Pótkulcs, on the Pest side near to Margaret
Island, is 'difficult to find and hard to leave'. Once there, though,
visitors can sit, drink and admire the work of local independent artists on
the walls.
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Address
65/b, Csengery utca, Budapest
Telephone
+36 (1) 269 1050
The Caledonia Bar
Scottish sports bar
This is a piece of Scotland in Budapest's District VI. The Caledonia Bar is
frequented by expats and Hungarians who come for Belhaven Best beer and a
selection of whiskies. The all-day Scottish breakfast and televised sport
are especially popular.
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Address
9, Mozsár utca, Budapest 1066
Telephone
+36 (1) 311 7611
Café Bobek
Cocktails and kitsch
Named after a Communist-era cartoon bunny, Café Bobek is one of Budapest's
more relaxed nightspots. Visitors can sprawl out on comfy chairs with a
local beer or a house cocktail in hand until past midnight.
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Address
53, Kazinczy utca, Budapest
Telephone
+36 (1) 322 0729
Szimpla Kert
Derelict house turned bar
Szimpla Kert occupies a once-derelict townhouse in lively District VII. The
basement contains two buzzing bars with a shabby chic aesthetic. A cool
young crowd gathers here to chat, drink and smoke. On summer nights, the
courtyard fills up fast.
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Address
48, Kertész, Budapest 1073
Telephone
+36 (1) 352 4198
Dokk Club
Dancing with jet-setters
The Hungarian jet set comes to Dokk Club to sip expensive cocktails and sway
to popular tunes. Housed in a converted warehouse on Hajogyári Sziget
(Boatyard Island), the club has its own beach on the banks of the
Danube.
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Address
122, Hajogyári Sziget, Budapest 1030
Telephone
+36 (1) 30 535 2747
Fészek Klub
Hangout for Budapest bohemia
Located in the nightlife-rich District VII, Fészek Klub is an intimate
cellar-club. It has attracted Budapest's arty crowd for over 100 years. The
upstairs club plays an eclectic mix. The action moves out to the ornate
courtyard in summer.
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Address
36, Kertész utca, Budapest 1073
Telephone
+36 (1) 342 6548
Living Room
Dance until dawn
A favourite with 20- and 30-somethings, the live DJs at Budapest's Living
Room play a blend of Hungarian and international music. The intimate venue
on one of Pest's main thoroughfares regularly keeps partying until the early
hours.
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Address
17, Kossuth Lajos utca, Budapest 1053
Telephone
+36 30 9929932
Capella
Drag and disco
The evening gets going with the midnight drag show at Capella. Then, gay and
straight clubbers dance the night away to classic disco tunes. Twisting
stairs, balconies and narrow hallways define this Pest waterfront club.
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Address
23, Belgrád rakpart, Budapest 1056
Telephone
+36 (1) 318 6231
A38 Ship
Hip Ukranian vessel
This Ukrainian ship is now a happening floating nightspot in Buda. A38 Ship
hosts concerts featuring local acts and international names, like DJ Krush.
There's a flash restaurant on the top deck, and a low-key bar in the engine
room.
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Address
Petõfi Bridge, Budapest IX
Telephone
+36 (1) 464 3940
Trafó House of Contemporary Arts
Alternative arts club
Housed in a former electrical power station in District IX, Trafó House of
Contemporary Arts hosts a varied programme. There are many performances
which can be enjoyed by non-Hungarian speakers. The basement club hosts
alternative gigs, attracting Budapest's creatives.
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Address
41, Liliom utca, Budapest 1094
Telephone
+36 (1) 215 1600
Palace of Arts
Artistic excellence
Budapest's centre for all things artistic is magnificently situated on the
Danube's east bank, by Lágymányos Bridge. Along with the Ludwig Museum, the
Palace of Arts comprises the 1700-seat Belá Bartók National Concert Hall and
the 452-seat Festival Theatre.
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Address
1, Komor Marcell utca, Budapest 1095
Telephone
+36 (1) 555 3301
Gödör Club
Underground concerts
Erzsébet tér in Pest is home to nightclub and
art space, Gödör Club. The mixed crowd comes for Romany rap and live jazz.
The club, whose name means pothole, is set under the square's pool. Summer
concerts take place outside.
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Address
Erzsébet tér, Budapest V
Telephone
+36 (20) 201 3868
Hungarian State Opera House
Ornate home of culture
Miklós Ybl constructed this ornate masterpiece in 1884. The pearl of Pest's
Andrássy út features the marble Royal Stairway, and frescoes by Bertalan
Székely. The Hungarian State Opera House offers great value ballet and opera
performances to cultured Budapesters.
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Address
22, Andráassy út, Budapest 1061
Telephone
+36 (1) 331 2550
