Budapest Ruins Bar
Besides taking photos with the Parliament and the bridges in the background, every self-respecting tourist must complete the following minimum program in Budapest.
I can already guess, my dear rascals, that you’re clearly waiting for the third point and with pictures… But let’s start from the first.
Today, it’s all about the ruin bars. And yes, I do believe that visiting the ruin bars in Budapest is a must for everyone. Budapest’s ruin bars are something more than just a place to have a drink. They’re a part of the city’s modern history and its culture.
Szimpla Kert
Budapest, Kazinczy u. 14 (here and below, the address links to Google Maps).
It all started in 2002, when a few young entrepreneurs in the Erzsébetváros district decided to start pouring beer. Not on a big scale — just for friends. At the time, the neighborhood looked rather depressing: most of the buildings were in desperate need of renovation, there were plenty of abandoned ones, and the general atmosphere was bleak.
One of those derelict buildings, marked for demolition, was turned into a friendly bar. They took over the ground floor, brought in old sofas, armchairs, and chairs from their garages. Decorations were found in nearby dumpsters. Basically, they dragged in anything that might come in handy.
The first ruin bar was named Szimpla, which in Hungarian means “simple.”
Most people didn’t have the money to hang out in “New York–style” places, but spending time with friends in such an unusual spot — and with such interiors — felt like a real adventure. Szimpla quickly became popular.
Little by little, other cafés, kebab places, and bars began to open nearby. When in 2007 the city authorities finally found funds to renovate the neighborhood and announced that the first ruin bar would be closed, the people of Budapest protested and managed to save Szimpla.
I read an interesting fact in one media outlet.
During World War II, the Erzsébetváros district was turned into a ghetto, from which thousands of Jews were deported. After the war, many buildings were occupied by Roma people, then they moved out, and the neighborhood became a very sad sight. In the very center of the city, entire streets were filled with abandoned buildings.
But! Starting in 2002, when Szimpla and similar venues kicked off the gentrification process, Erzsébetváros began to attract higher-income residents more often, increasing the neighborhood’s investment appeal.
And now? Erzsébetváros is the center of nightlife and partying for all of Europe’s youth (ahem — and boomers, Gen Y, and everyone else too).
Szimpla is open day and night. Entry is free.
During the day, there are fewer people, so you can walk around calmly and take photos — there’s a photo spot on every meter. If you get thirsty, there are bars with friendly bartenders on both floors. Beer on tap or in bottles. There’s no food inside, but just around the corner from Szimpla is Street Food Karavan — street food from food trucks.
On Sundays, Szimpla hosts a flea market.
In the evening, security checks bags – no knives, weapons, or water allowed; drugs – I’m not sure. That’s why on Fridays and Saturdays there’s usually a line at the entrance. Entry is still free. Inside, there are a lot of people, some just walking around and looking. No one forces anyone to drink or buy anything. The atmosphere is relaxed. Getting to the bar is tricky — you’ll have to wait.
Csendes
Budapest, Ferenczy István u. 5.
Csendes in Hungarian means “quiet.”
In terms of atmosphere, it’s more like a regular bar with original design. There’s a waiter and a menu. Don’t expect a full meal — just snacks like chips and olives. For drinks, there’s a local lager, IPA, and cocktails.
All the attributes of a hipster ruin bar are present. A bathroom cut in half so two people can sit comfortably. Old floor lamps, umbrellas, bikes, chairs worn through decades, and other junk scattered around every corner.
The biggest downside of this ruin bar is its opening hours. On Sundays, it’s closed. On other days, it opens at 6 PM and closes at midnight. We arrived at 11 PM, and the bartender was already wiping down the taps, while the waiter sadly informed us that he wouldn’t even fetch a bottle of beer from the fridge — he had to start wiping tables soon.
But I’m a blogger, so I had to drag myself there again just for you. Overall, I liked the ruin bar. I recommend it.
By the way, are you aware that it’s generally not acceptable to stay in one place for more than an hour? The Budapest drinking marathon won’t complete itself.
Mazel Tov
I don’t know who includes it in lists of ruin bars or why it has such a high rating on maps. From the outside, judging by the façade, it looks like everything inside should be fine. You go in and immediately realize that it’s just a regular glamorous restaurant — and a Jewish one at that.
You’re greeted by a hostess, three menus — kitchen, bar, specials — a bunch of waiters, manager-supervisors. Prices match the vibe. In short, you get the idea… Budapest has plenty of other restaurants with Hungarian cuisine, not all these falafels and hummus. And another downside — in summer, this greenhouse (an inner courtyard with a glass roof) can get unbearably hot; in a huge hall, there’s only one fan.
Lampas
A small basement space. They open at 6 PM and honestly stay open until midnight and beyond. On weekends, they host concerts in the “Hello, we’re looking for talent” series. No waiters or menus. Service is at a small bar counter. There’s only one bartender, so lines are possible. The selection is limited, but the beer prices are the lowest in the area. As for food, at most chips and nuts. You pay at the bar and find a spot.
The downside — it gets stuffy when there are many people, and there’s that typical basement smell.
Where else to go
Budapest has around twenty ruin bars or drinking spots that consider themselves as such. Szimpla is number one — a must-visit, even if some of the newly trendy locals wrinkle their noses.
If the ones I’ve mentioned aren’t enough, here are a couple more worthwhile ruin bars to check out:
- Puder (Budapest, Ráday u. 8) — one of the few ruin bars where they not only pour drinks but also serve food, and quite decently. Even during the day. Prices are reasonable, and the interior is amazing.
- Instant-Fogas Ház (Budapest, Akácfa u. 51) — for when you primarily need dancing until six in the morning. If Puder is a ruin-food spot, Fogas is the main European ruin-dance palace. Seven dance halls on different floors, twenty bars. At Szimpla, visitors are of all ages; at Fogas, mostly under twenty-five.
