The 7 Best Ruin Bars in Budapest – The Ultimate Guide

Now a staple of Budapest’s vibrant nightlife, these underground bars first appeared in the early 2000s when a group of enterprising students decided to revitalise a run-down factory in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, and Szimpla Kert, the first romkocsma (ruin bar), was born. With little money, the pioneers behind this now famous trend created a space filled with found furniture and eclectic decor, combining the rugged, industrial feel of abandoned brick with local art and bohemian spirit.

Since then, ruin bars have popped up in and around Budapest’s 7th district, bringing life back to forgotten structures and revitalising abandoned spaces, in the process creating some of the most distinctive drinking spots in the world. Welcoming, inexpensive and almost always open, these open-air courtyards have become hubs for art, music and alternative culture. Whether you’re looking for a quiet afternoon drink or to dance the night away, ruin bars are the perfect place to experience an authentic Budapest night out.

While Budapest is brimming with ruin bars, here's our curated list of the best. Most are located in or near the bustling Jewish Quarter, close to many great central hotels and must-see attractions. Whether you’re looking for an all-night party or a relaxed coffee with friends, these spots all promise great food, a buzzing atmosphere and an authentic ruin bar experience.

• The original: Szimpla Kert
• Best for an all-night party: Instant-Fogas
• Best for sophisticated food: Mazel Tov
• Best for craft beer: Élesztőhaz
• Best outside of District 7: Szatyor
• Best for a quiet night: Csendes Létterem
• The local favourite: Kőleves Kert

The original ruin bar and the most famous in the city, Szimpla Kert – "simple garden" in Hungarian – is the place that started it all. Located in the courtyard of an abandoned factory in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, Szimpla may be the most the most popular with tourists of all the ruin bars, but that hasn’t stripped it of its bohemian spirit.

Szimpla feels more like a circus than a bar, with multicoloured awnings spanning the open-air garden where you can catch local bands, movie screenings, and theatre performances throughout the week. Weave your way through two floors of neon lights, disco balls and art installations, or grab a drink in a converted bathtub or an old WWII car. Stop by the farmers market on Sundays, borrow a book from the living library, or search for vintage treasures in the flea market. And when you're peckish, head to Karavan across the road for the best local street food the party district has to offer.

Good to know:

• Open Monday-Friday: 3pm to 4am, Weekends: Noon to 4am
• Farmers market on Sundays from 9am
• Kazinczy u. 14, 1075 Budapest

Spread across seven floors with 18 bars and two outdoor gardens, Instant-Fogas is the largest ruin bar in Budapest and the ultimate destination for a night of non-stop partying. Fogashaz and Instant started life as small independent bars but joined forces with five other local venues to create a true “ruin bar kingdom”.

Each of the seven themed venues in this expansive complex has its own distinct offering, be that the latest electro DJs, quiet cocktails on the roof, rowdy beer pong in the garden, or old-school rock 'n' roll.

With so much to explore, Instant-Fogas is great for large groups and is within walking distance of central hotels such as Hotel Nemzeti Budapest MGallery and Ibis Budapest City. There are also multiple food vendors on site, or you can head to Mazel Tov next door for a creative Mediterranean menu. Top tip: remember to return your glass and token at the end of the night for an eco-cup refund.

Good to know:

• Open daily: 6pm to 6am. Gets busy past 10pm, so arrive early or book in advance.
• Akácfa u. 51, 1073 Budapest (Next to Mazel Tov)

Next door to Instant-Fogas, you’ll find another classic Budapest ruin bar, Mazel Tov, but the two couldn’t be more different. For starters, the furniture in Mazel Tov actually matches, and the towering glass ceiling threaded with hanging lights and creeping vines makes this light and airy space feel more like a greenhouse than a party den.

Restaurant by day, watering hole by night, this ruin bar still sports the traditional exposed brick and dilapidated façade, but instead of cheap beer and street food, you’ll find bespoke cocktails, refined Mediterranean cuisine and table service.

Not wanting to be outdone by its notorious party neighbour, Mazel Tov offers live music in its courtyard but closes at a far more reasonable hour. Think of it as a ruin bar that traded the graffiti and grunge bands for art prints and elegance. If you want to experience the ruin bar aesthetic but prefer a charcuterie board to street tacos, then this is the place for you.

Good to know:

• Open daily: Noon to midnight
• Reservations are highly recommended, especially in summer.
• Akácfa u. 47, 1072 Budapest (Next to Instant-Fogas)

If tasty hops and a hospitable atmosphere are what you’re looking for, then welcome to Élesztőház. Its name means “yeast“ in Hungarian, and with 30 rotating taps showcasing the best local brews, this really is the hipster home of craft beers in Budapest. They even offer courses on how to brew your own ale!

But Élesztő is not only about beer. Split into five distinct bars, Élesztő offers something for everyone. Vino Piano serves local Hungarian wine and tapas. Spirit Bar is the place for high-quality spirits, in-house cocktails or a round of Pálinka fruit brandy. The butcher's kitchen serves mouthwatering ribs and succulent sides. And for those looking for a more casual afternoon, Rengeteg RomKafé, nestled in a sea of old teddy bears and typewriters, serves artisanal hot chocolate and fresh-ground coffee. Try the ginger and chilli hot chocolate if you’re feeling brave! All of this, and you can bring your four-legged friends too.

Good to know:

• Élesztő: Open Sun to Wed: 3pm to 1am. Thurs, Fri, Sat: 3pm to 3am
• Butcher's Kitchen: Open daily: 3pm to midnight
• Spirit Bar: Open Tues to Sat: 5pm to 1am
• Vino Piano: Open Tues to Sat: 4pm to midnight
• Rengeteg RomKafé: Mon to Fri: 3pm to 10pm. Weekends: 10am to 10pm
• Tűzoltó u. 22, 1094 Budapest

More stylish and less ramshackle than your standard Budapest ruin bar, Szatyor is also one of the few found outside the Jewish Quarter. On fashionable Bartok Bela street, this sophisticated locale sticks to the ruin bar aesthetic with mismatching lights and maximalist, industrial decor, and even has an old F1 car hanging from the ceiling. But the clientele here is more ‘after-work drinks’ than your typical ‘party all night’ crowd.

Located next to the fabled Hadik café, a historic meeting place for bohemian writers and poets, Szatyor draws on this literary influence with themed cocktails, artisanal wines and a relaxed, conversational atmosphere. Try dishes from their traditional Hungarian menu as you explore the hand-painted murals created by local artists decorating this expansive two-floor venue.

Good to know:

• Open Sun to Wed: Noon to 11pm, Thurs to Sat: Noon to midnight
• Bartók Béla út 36, 1111 Budapest (next to the Hadik café)

Another ruin bar with its own distinct feel is Csendes Létterem. Csendes means “quiet” in Hungarian, which is not a description you often associate with a ruin bar. The structure used to be a coffee house in the 1800s, and Csendes has stayed true to that inspiration, feeling more like a Parisian café than a nightclub.

With mannequins, doll heads, fairy lights and even an old bike decorating the walls, this is the perfect place to experience the classic ruin-bar aesthetic without the party atmosphere. Stop by for breakfast, sit down with a traditional Hungarian cocktail or sip an espresso while listening to poetry or local acoustic musicians.

Csendes actually consists of two locations: Csendes Létterem, the ruin bar and café, and Csendes Tars, an open-air wine bar in the beautiful Károlyi-kert public park just down the street. Both locations are well worth a visit; just make sure you confirm which one you’re meeting at.

Good to know:

• Café open from 10am. Bar open 2pm to midnight
• Csendes Létterem: Ferenczy István u. 5, 1053 Budapest (Near the Hungarian National Museum and Mercure Budapest Korona Hotel)
• Csendes Tars: Magyar u. 16-18, 1053 Budapest (by Károlyi-kert park). Open from April to mid-October

If you’re lucky enough to visit Budapest in the summer, Kőleves Kert is the perfect place for a laid-back lunch or lazy afternoon hangout. Though hidden deep in the “party quarter” on the bustling Kazinczy street, this bright and lively outdoor garden is far more relaxed than its boisterous neighbours.

By day, this place is full of families, students and digital nomads soaking up the sun, and by night, a mellow crowd arrives to sample craft beers, cheap cocktails and refreshing fröccs spritzers. Colourful tin tables and comfy hammocks are dotted around the courtyard, and in its centre, you'll find an old circus wagon repurposed into an iconic wooden bar.

And right next door is Kőleves restaurant, offering a hybrid menu of Jewish-Hungarian staples alongside international classics, and a small farm shop of local goodies and fresh homemade food. The welcoming, mellow atmosphere and lower prices here are just a few of the reasons Kőleves is a local summertime favourite.

Good to know:

• Open daily in summer from 11:30am to 11pm
• Attached to Kőleves restaurant
• Kazinczy u. 37-41, 1075 Budapest

No matter if you’re looking for the ultimate party, a laid-back lunch or a flea market excursion, Budapest’s ruin bars promise an authentic cultural experience you can’t find anywhere else. These bars define the city, celebrating Budapest’s historic 7th district, and welcoming you with open arms, cheap beer and irrepressible bohemian spirit.