1. Szimpla Kert
Szimpla kert is the most famous, quirkiest OG ruin bar of Budapest. It was among the first ruin bars that opened in the city in 2004. Szimpla has the craziest decoration and furniture, you can even sit in a bath tub if you feel like! It's located in a ruined, two-storey building, has an open-air courtyard and every single rooms has different vibes and knick-knacks.
Szimpla Kert
@ExploraDora
It's the most diverse ruin bar: they open in the afternoon and stay open as late as 4 am in the morning. You can come here for a chilled afternoon or evening and even stay to party for the night. There is even one room dedicated for shisha on the ground floor. They have a flea market or craft fair every Saturday, and a farmer's market every Sunday. Often they have live music in one of the rooms and they like to exhibit art from local designers and artists. In the summer, they have open-air cinema in the courtyard. Make sure to look around in every room and spot the random ornaments.
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2. Csendes Ruin Café
Csendes means 'silent' in Hungarian and compared to other, bigger ruin bars it has a cosier atmosphere. It's located in a central yet quiet street not far from Astoria metro station. It used to be a traditional coffeehouse (it was called Fiume back then). Csendes has colourful, fun decorations all around the walls and it's a great spot for a chilled afternoon or evening. Every month, they have a few nights with live music sessions.
Csendes Létterem - Vintage Bar & Café
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If you are looking for a ruin bar for friendly conversations in a lovely atmosphere, look no further, Csendes is the perfect choice! Because of it's cosy vibes, it is more like a ruin café but you can definitely get drinks here too. There is a charming park next door called Károlyi-kert which is a perfect little green escape in the middle of the city center. Csendes has a wine bar & garden too (called Csendes Társ) which is open during the summer months and is located right at the entrance of Károlyi-kert, just a few steps away from Csendes.
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3. Instant-Fogas
Instant-Fogas is Budapest's biggest party place in a ruin bar setting. If you are looking for a place to have drinks and party all night, Instant is definitely a good choice.
Instant-Fogas Complex
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The place has 7 different dance floors so if you don't like the music at one of them, you still have 6 to choose from! It's a place for partying so it's a good choice for a night out or - if you are thinking of doing a ruin bar hopping tour - it's ideal last destination for the evening.
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4. Füge Udvar
Füge udvar means 'fig tree courtyard' and it refers to the fig tree that is standing in the middle of the pub area. The place is basically playground for adults: there are lots of areas to sit while sipping your drink and having a chat, there are 4 dance floors if you feel like partying, and you can even play pool, darts, ping-pong or other games.
Füge Udvar
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It's kind of like going over to a friend's house: you have food, drinks, you can play foosball and if the mood escalates, you can party hard. Whether you want to have a few drinks and just chill or want to party all night long, Füge Udvar is a good choice for an evening out. They have a nice selection of street food, especially burgers so you don't have to worry about going somewhere else when you get hungry.
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5. Lámpás
If you don't pay attention, you can easily walk by the entrance of Lámpás. It's a great example of a place that you would not think of entering if it wasn't a recommended ruin bar. There is a suspicious staircase leading from the entrance door to a cellar area
Lámpás Pub
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It's an authentic underground bar with bohemian vibes and live music. Lámpás is not as well-know as other bigger ruin bars and that's why it has a very friendly atmosphere and lower prices.
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6. Manyi
Manyi is a ruin bar and cultural center on the Buda side. It opened 2 years ago in an abandoned building which turned into a quirky, fun space. Just like other ruin bars, Manyi is so much more than a place with drinks in a ruined building! They organize various events, including jazz concerts, party nights, workshops, exhibitions, yoga sessions, etc.
Manyi
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It's worth to visit Manyi because you really get the feeling of what other, more famous ruin bars used to be like many years ago, before they became part of the tourist attractions. Manyi is still a very local, alternative place where you can meet interesting people and participate in various activities. They even have lunch menu so you can drop by to grab a hot meal in a ruin bar,
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Ruin bars are part of Budapest's identity and you should definitely visit one or more of these unique attractions. Whether you want to have a night out, check out one of the cultural events or just visit for the atmosphere, ruin bars have something to offer to every visitor!
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