Drinks with a view – the best rooftop bars in Budapest
Drinks with a view – the best rooftop bars in Budapest
Admire the stunning landscape of Budapest from above while sipping on your favorite drink.
Budapest is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous cities in Europe, which can be attributed to both its natural geographical features and its man-made, historic monuments. In addition, Budapest is also widely-known for being an amazingly affordable travel destination for both day-time activities and nights out. When these two perspectives meet, something wonderful comes to life, and it’s called a rooftop bar.
- • Budapest’s rooftop bar scene has exploded in recent years, offering professional cocktails and unparalleled views of major landmarks like St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Parliament.
- • Top-rated spots include 360 Bar for its famous igloos in winter, High Note SkyBar for its proximity to the Basilica, and Leo Rooftop for a close-up view of the Chain Bridge.
- • Most rooftop bars require prior reservation, especially during the sunset hours and on weekends. Dress codes are generally smart-casual.
As you probably guessed, there is an abundant variety of rooftop bars in Budapest ranging on the scale of “hip” to “fancy”. If you’re looking to have a nice meal and relaxing drinks while taking in beautiful views, we highly recommend that you keep reading.
The best rooftop bars in Budapest
1. 360 Bar
Location-wise, 360 Bar is without doubt high up on the winners’ list. This rooftop bar is about as central as a bar can get, and therefore is close to just about any place you could pick downtown to continue the night at. 360 Bar has an impressive selection of drinks, including signature cocktails, and offers tasty street food such as burgers. To favor those who like to sway a little after a few drinks, there’s also a live DJ set on most nights. Fun fact: in the winter, they put up transparent igloos with stove heaters so you can enjoy the view while sipping on your favorite beverage, no matter the season!
2. High Note SkyBar
Located on top of Aria Hotel, High Note Skybar is a unique two-level bar overlooking downtown Budapest, right next to the breath-taking Basilica. Thanks to its central location, it’ll also be a tourist-favorite for those who want to gawk at the city from above before taking a deep dive into its buzzing nightlife. The bar offers a unique range of food and drinks complete with a selection of fancy desserts.
3. Intermezzo Restaurant & Roof Terrace
Intermezzo Restaurant & Roof Terrace can be found on top of Hotel President, treating guests to amazing views over all of Budapest and the stunning buildings of the Hungarian State Treasury and Parliament. Intermezzo offers a wide selection of grilled dishes and cocktails, and frequently ups the ante with a live DJ set. Ready for another fun fact? The rooftop bar is usually turned into an ice rink in the winter, so guests can skate while admiring the beautiful city from above, which makes Intermezzo a true individual even among the best rooftop bars in Budapest.
4. St. Andrea Wine & Skybar
St. Andrea Sky & Winebar is an elegant rooftop bar located on top of one of the most attractive buildings of the tourist-favorite Vörösmarty square. St. Andrea is also a perfect choice for those who want to get fantastic, 360° skyline views of the city from the very center. As for food and drinks, the bar prides itself on special bar food dishes created by an internationally acknowledged chef, signature cocktails and, nomen est omen, a large selection of fine wines. By the way, if you’re quite the wine enthusiast, let us recommend an exquisite wine-tasting opportunity in Budapest.
5. Toprum
Situated on top of Hotel Rum, Toprum also lets guests take in a panoramic view of the Budapest skyline right from the city center. This rooftop bar is widely-known for its broad selection of bar food and drinks served all day long in the form of a buffet breakfast, brunch and bar bites. The dishes are all based on Hungarian and international classics and prepared with special care and a twist. Toprum frequently has live jazz music and puts up glass walls in the winter to keep the guests warm in the winter.
6. Skygarden Rooftop Terrace
Built on top of Mystery Hotel Budapest, Sky Garden Rooftop Terrace is an oasis above the city with beautiful views over some of Budapest’s signature monuments including the Buda Castle, the Fisherman’s Bastion and Gellért Hill, and the Nyugati Railway Station – which is just a few minutes’ walk away from the hotel. Sky Garden Rooftop Terrace is a perfect place if you want to relax with a nice cocktail and some snacks a little away from the busy center, but want to be able to get right back into it after!
7. Fisherman’s Bastion
When people think of the Fisherman’s Bastion, they don’t usually do it in the context of rooftop bars, they just casually mention it as an important piece of Hungarian history, a popular tourist attraction towering over Buda as part of the majestic Buda Castle. As a matter of fact, we also covered this magnificent landmark in our article about the best viewpoints in Budapest – be sure to check it out!
However, thanks to its location, the Fisherman’s Bastion also offers visitors breath-taking viewsover all of the city and the Danube, making it one of the best rooftop bars in Budapest! Serving guests cold refreshing drinks in the summer and warm beverages in the winter, the Fisherman’s Bastion is open all year round for visitors wanting to admire Budapest from another perspective.
8. Leo
Located on top of Hotel Clark Budapest, Leo is a classy rooftop bar and restaurant offering stunning views of the iconic Chain Bridge, the Buda Castle and the Danube, just to name a few. In addition to the superior setting, Leo is also famous for its quality food and drinks, buffet brunch, as well as its tropical atmosphere. If you’re on the Buda side of town and crave for some fancy food, this rooftop bar is definitely a must-go.
