Stressful life and working circumstances always force people to find opportunities for releasing tension. For this purpose special free time and leisure time experiences are regularly offered by tourist agencies for seasonal holidays, but still people like losing their social roles and obligations more frequently. Although activities people do in their leisure time, in order to have fun or celebrate, belong to their personal sphere, they do them in someone else’s company, which is why they are commonly considered as community experience. Nightlife in Budapest features three special types of institutions:
- Ruin pubs or gardens
- Rave/acid/techno parties on streets and special places
- Traditional discotheque playing euro-disco and techno
Given below is the list of best clubs in Budapest. You, guys, should definitely not miss these one out.
Doboz
On the top of the list of best clubs in Budapest is the largest party venue and bar in District VII which has all the characteristics of a Ruin Pub, but according to its owners and creators, Doboz isn’t just another pub. Furthermore, it serves as a cultural hub for up-and-coming designers. So much so that young architects and interior designers were involved in renovating the building. With its themed, vast spaces, Grill Terrace, House Party Room, The Saloon Doboz is truly a sight to behold. Aside from the party scene, the main attraction of Doboz is undoubtedly the King Kong sculpture hanging from a tree in the middle of the garden. Its walls are decorated with the works of Hungarian photographers, sculptors and designers. A remarkable portion is a wooden King Kong statue on the tree in the courtyard. Doboz has it all. There is a nightclub, a bar, a courtyard, artist’s workshops, a shop, a gallery and an apartment, which can be rented to host your very own house party. DJs and concerts here keep the crowd entertained all night.
Kolor
To start and end your evening is the fun and trendy Kolor. Eventful nights settled in Kolor, a casual and hip place comes with excellent cocktails, good food and reasonable prices and making it one of the best clubs in Budapest. Located in the beautifully restored Gozsdu Courtyard, Kolor lives up to its reputation. Among the busiest bars in Budapest awaits you with music to dance to on Fridays and Saturdays. The place is open for lunch and dinner and the cocktails are delicious. Drop in anytime, the place is open from midday until late. Funky DJs taking over the music, live parties, and late opening hours make this bar-club-restaurant a favorite among the younger crowd and among the best clubs here in Budapest. You’ll see Kolor featuring: a weekly film club, TED inspired discussions and monthly meet-ups featuring interesting current themes, like hip-hop culture.
A38
It possesses a legendary status due to its outdoor and indoor stages hosting artists and bands from almost all genres including pop, rock, alternative, jazz, electro, and progressive styles. Seeing a concert at A38 is a must. A38 Ship combines alternative rock and visual arts as well. A common characteristic to the 1990s is that there is a restaurant in these places. Thirdly, a new form of pubs that were called ruin bars or ruin gardens were created in the mid-2000s. These are the late modern age alternatives to traditional cafés and bars. In most cases ruin bars and alternative places combine arts and music with food and drinks, and prefer creating a kind of atmosphere with old photos or second hand furniture, creative wall paintings and innovative signals.
Csendes Vintage Bar & Café
This high-ceilinged space used to be a grand coffee house during the glory days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which makes the current ruin bar decor, featuring creepy dolls hanging upside down from the walls, all the more bizarre. Try to book ahead of time as Csendes fills up to capacity in the evenings with a mix of locals, expats, and tourists. For the best experience, sit by the floor-to-ceiling windows; after you leave, visit the charming park around the corner, Károlyi-kert, known for its atmospheric location and perfectly manicured flower beds.
Ellátó Kert
You really cannot go wrong with an open-air place in Kazinczy utca and this is where Ellátó Kert is located. This ruin pub features: table tennis, table soccer and a kitchen, serving taco and chicken. Experience its outdoor courtyard, which feels like a charming oasis away from the throngs of the busy Kazinczy Street. During the colder months, head all the way to the back, where there’s everything from comfortable sofas, a pool table, a makeshift Virgin Mary shrine and a food vendor slinging Mexican food.
Éleszto
Beer enthusiasts will be happy to know that Élesztő has 17 different types of craft beer on tap. Mainly Hungarian microbreweries are represented, along with some guest breweries from England. Millet beer, blueberry beer, cherry beer, elderberry beer and ‘Korty’, a truly unique Hungarian brew fermented with Tokaji Aszú, are just a few must-try specialties. You can be sure that if anything beer-related happens in the Carpathian Basin you can taste it here. But it is not only highlighted as a ruin pub: inside there is a Brewery School, a Home Brew Bar, a café, a theatre, a craft pálinka bar and a hostel. It’s part of a bigger project, as according to the owners, there’s a restaurant, a café, a bar and a brewery coming soon. Now, that craft beer seems to be taking over taps across the world, Élesztő is definitely a beer lover’s place to visit. The best choice is to have your beer on one of the outdoor patios.
