There are many options for the LGBTQ community to choose from
There are many options for the LGBTQ community to choose from

Gay bars Budapest Hungary – the best LGBTQ travel guide 2024

Discover the LGBTQ+ side of Budapest, Hungary with bars, cafés, clubs, and saunas that were made for members and friends of the LGBTQ+ community. In our current article, we introduce the best gay bars. Dive into the gay nightlife of Budapest!

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Gay bars Budapest Hungary: while Hungary’s capital may not have such an obvious, in-your-face kind of gay scene as a Western European capital, it certainly has a lot of options when it comes to bars, cafés, clubs, and other fun places to check out. Let’s see what LGBTQ+ places Budapest has to offer.

 rainbow over the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest
rainbow over the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest

Gay bars in Budapest

Why Not Café and Bar

Why Not Café & Bar from the inside
Why Not Café & Bar from the inside

Located on the bank of the Danube, Why Not Café & Bar is a truly unique place, partially thanks to its astonishing panorama. From the terrace you can see the Liberty Bridge, St. Gellért Thermal Bath on the Buda side, and Gellért Hill with the Liberty Statue, which is a magnificent sight at night.

During the day, Why Not is a rather quiet gay-friendly café where you can try coffee specialties, delicious lemonades, sandwiches and salads, or sit back and relax with a nice pint of draft beer or a cocktail in your hand after a long day of sightseeing. In the evening, however, Why Not transforms into an LGBTQ+ bar full of life and interesting programs. From bingo nights to drag shows, karaoke nights, broadcasts of sport events, and acoustic concerts, they have something for almost every day of the week to make sure all visitors have a memorable experience.

The service is A-plus, and they have special offers on drinks every night – check out their website for the latest events and offers. The interior design of Why Not also catches the eye with its striped wallpapers and stunning pictures.

How to get there: take metro line 4 or tram 2 to Fővám tér from where it’s only a 1-minute walk. It’s a dog-friendly place, so feel free to take your canine best friend with you.

Summary of
Why Not Café and Bar

Opening hours
monday 10:00:00 – 03:00:00
tuesday 10:00:00 – 03:00:00
wednesday 10:00:00 – 03:00:00
thursday 10:00:00 – 03:00:00
friday 10:00:00 – 03:00:00
saturday 10:00:00 – 03:00:00
sunday 10:00:00 – 03:00:00
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1056 Budapest, Belgrád rakpart 3-4.

Alterego Club and Lounge – one of the best gay club in the city

 The entrance of Alterego Club and Lounge
The entrance of Alterego Club and Lounge

Alterego has been a signature gay bar of Budapest’s nightlife for more than a decade, and it’s still one of the most popular places to go on a Friday or Saturday night if you’re looking for a gay night out. Alterego quickly gained fame after it opened thanks to its midnight drag show moderated by the hilarious and quick-witted Lady Dömper who’s ready to read you on spot as if the library were always open. The show features lip-sync performances, stand-up comedy pieces and dance acts by drag queens Lady Dömper, Betty Blue, Mary Lou, and Giselle.

Alterego has a packed dance floor, several bars, a karaoke room, and even some lounge sofas if you’d like to rest your feet after some heavy dancing. Enjoy different happy hours every day, sip delicious cocktails and let the hottest songs keep you entertained until the morning. Check out their website for the latest parties and events.

How to get there: it’s just a few minutes’ walk from Oktogon (tram 4-6, metro line 1) or Nyugati pályaudvar (tram 4-6, metro line 3). There’s no official dress code, but smart casual is recommended.

Summary of
Alterego Club and Lounge

Opening hours
friday 22:00:00 – 05:00:00
saturday 22:00:00 – 06:00:00
mo tu we th su closed.
Price Range
$$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1066 Budapest, Dessewffy utca 33.

Phoenix Bar & Club – gay bars in Budapest Hungary

The black and gold interior of Phoenix Bar & Club
The black and gold interior of Phoenix Bar & Club

Alterego has been a signature gay bar of Budapest’s nightlife for more than a decade, and it’s still one of the most popular places to go on a Friday or Saturday night if you’re looking for a gay night out. Alterego quickly gained fame after it opened thanks to its midnight drag show moderated by the hilarious and quick-witted Lady Dömper who’s ready to read you on spot as if the library were always open. The show features lip-sync performances, stand-up comedy pieces and dance acts by drag queens Lady Dömper, Betty Blue, Mary Lou, and Giselle.

Alterego has a packed dance floor, several bars, a karaoke room, and even some lounge sofas if you’d like to rest your feet after some heavy dancing. Enjoy different happy hours every day, sip delicious cocktails and let the hottest songs keep you entertained until the morning. Check out their website for the latest parties and events.

How to get there: it’s just a few minutes’ walk from Oktogon (tram 4-6, metro line 1) or Nyugati pályaudvar (tram 4-6, metro line 3). There’s no official dress code, but smart casual is recommended.

Summary of
Phoenix Bar & Club

Opening hours
monday 18:00:00 – 02:00:00
tuesday 18:00:00 – 02:00:00
wednesday 18:00:00 – 02:00:00
thursday 18:00:00 – 02:00:00
friday 18:00:00 – 02:00:00
saturday 18:00:00 – 02:00:00
sunday 18:00:00 – 02:00:00
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1065 Budapest, Nagymező utca 25.

One of the best gay bars in Budapest: Crush Budapest

The interior of Crush Budapest
The interior of Crush Budapest

Formerly known as Gaga Budapest, Crush is a brand-new LGBTQ+ venue opened in February 2020. During the day, Crush is a café, and in the evening it transforms into a multifunctional LGBTQ+ center. You can choose from a variety of programs every day, like lesbian evenings, karaoke parties, queer variety shows, drag shows, Latin discos, live DJs and pub quizzes. It’s just as colorful as our beloved rainbow flag.

What makes Crush really special is its sincerity and straightforwardness – its glass windows have no curtains or blinds, so you can see what’s happening on the stage from the street.

How to get there: a few minutes’ walk from Astoria (metro line 2) or Deák Ferenc tér (metro lines 1, 2 and 3, trams 47 and 49, and many buses).

Summary of
Crush Budapest

Opening hours
Closed Temporary
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1074 Budapest, Dohány utca 22-24.

Édes Érzés – with a beautiful bar scene

The interior of Édes Érzés
The interior of Édes Érzés

A cozy, all-in-one place in Buda, Édes Érzés is both a café and a bar – and a nice place to hang out in general. Their service is amazing, they have delicious lemonade and craft beer, and the cleanliness of the restrooms is impeccable. They organized game nights during Budapest Pride and have event booklets and rainbow-colored flags all over the place.

How to get there: Édes Érzés is just a few minutes’ walk from Móricz Zsigmond körtér (trams 6, 47 and 49, metro line 4), or Gárdonyi tér (trams 47 and 49).

Summary of
Édes Érzés

Opening hours
tuesday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
wednesday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
thursday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
friday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
saturday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
mo su closed.
Price Range
$$
Social Media
Address
1113 Budapest, Bartók Béla út 37.

Habroló Café and Bar – one of the nicest gay bars Budapest

a cozy and fun LGBTQ+ bar in Budapest
a cozy and fun LGBTQ+ bar in Budapest

Having been a part of Budapest’s gay nightlife since 2006, Habroló successfuly infuses old-school glamour with modern chic. Start your night out at this cozy bar, enjoy some nice cocktails, tasty snacks, a quick drag show or a karaoke night, or just have a nice chat with others at the comfortable lounge area.

How to get there: it’s just a few minutes’ walk from Astoria (metro line 2) or Ferenciek tere (metro line 3).

Summary of
Habroló Café and Bar

Opening hours
tuesday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
wednesday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
thursday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
friday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
saturday 17:00:00 – 23:00:00
mo su closed.
Price Range
$$
Social Media
Address
1053, Síp utca 5.

Best gay-friendly night clubs and parties

Hello party in Toldi
Hello party in Toldi

You’re into queer pop? If Gaga, Ariana or Kylie is your jam, this is definitely your kind of party. Hello is a party series that’s mainly held in the atrium of Toldi Cinema, but has been hosted by several other venues as well throughout the years. Check out their Facebook page for the next fabulous night out and dance until dawn with members and friends of the LGBTQ+ community.

Summary of
Toldi Club

Opening hours
Every Day
13:30:00 – 23:00:00
Price Range
$$
Social Media
Address
1054, Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 36-38

WOW – gay bars Budapest especially for ladies

WOW party in Toldi
WOW party in Toldi

Short for Women on Women, the WOW party series is all about girl power. Mainly held in the atrium of Toldi Cinema, WOW offers an unforgettable night out with mostly female artists to a mostly female crowd. Their Facebook page is always where you can find the date and location of the next WOW party. Join the members and friends of the LGBTQ+ community and dance until the morning to fresh, current music.

Summary of
Toldi Club

Opening hours
Every Day
13:30:00 – 23:00:00
Price Range
$$
Social Media
Address
1054, Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u00fat 36-38

Garçons – where the party never ends

Garçons Budapest
Garçons Budapest

Garçons advertizes itself as ‘a gay party for fashion junkies, posers, models, art-heads and other freaks’, and that’s for a good reason

Al. If you’re into chic clubbing and thematic nights, follow their Facebook page to find out where you can join in on the fun next. They always post the date and the location of the next event, just don’t miss out on being able to dress up for a fancy night out.

Summary of
Garçons Budapest

Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1054, Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 36-38

Akvárium Klub

The entrance of Akvárium Klub – one of the most popular gay friendly bars in Budapest
The entrance of Akvárium Klub – one of the most popular gay friendly bars in Budapest

Akvárium Klub and its immediate surroundings, Erzsébet tér and Deák Ferenc tér are the best known and largest meeting places in Budapest. Every night, thousands of young people spend their free time here, partying, drinking, chatting on the steps of the Akvárium Klub or in the parks, or having a picnic with a blanket on the grass around Budapest Eye. Akvárium is not simply a club, it’s more of a cultural center where you can find popular concerts and exhibitions. It’s not specifically a gay bar or night club, but is certainly a gay-friendly venue.

How to get there: it’s just a few steps away from Deák Ferenc tér (metro lines 1, 2 and 3), the heart of Budapest.

Summary of
Akvárium Klub

Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media

Gay-friendly restaurants

Why Not Bistro

Live, love, and eat at Why Not Bistro
Live, love, and eat at Why Not Bistro

Just a few minutes from its sibling, Why Not Café & Bar, Why Not Bistro is an amazing place to stop by if you’re doing a sightseeing trip along the Danube. It has a relaxed, familiar atmosphere with reasonable prices and excellent service. The interior is both eclectic and Mediterranean at places, and the designers paid special attention to the lights. The spectacular view of Gellért Hill makes any breakfast or brunch worth the visit. Don’t forget to try traditional Hungarian dishes like goulash, beef stew, or Hortobágy-style pancakes to get a real taste of Hungary.

How to get there: few minutes’ walk from Ferenciek tere (metro line 3) or Fővám tér (trams 2, 47, 49, metro line 4).

Summary of
Akvárium Klub

Opening hours
tuesday 16:00:00 – 23:00:00
wednesday 16:00:00 – 23:00:00
thursday 16:00:00 – 23:00:00
friday 16:00:00 – 23:30:00
saturday 12:00:00 – 23:30:00
sunday 16:00:00 – 23:30:00
mo closed.
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1056 Budapest, Belgrád rakpart 18

Budapest gay saunas and baths

Magnum Sauna

Magnum Sauna – a hot and steamy gay sauna in Budapest
Magnum Sauna – a hot and steamy gay sauna in Budapest

Magnum is the most popular gay sauna in Budapest, where the mood is always hot. The general rule here is: do what you feel like doing. Relax in the steam, take a refreshing massage or have a more intimate adventure if you’re up for it. It’s a safe and discreet place where tickets include the use of slippers and towels, as well as other accessories: shower, soap, condom, lubricant, etc.

The only bad news: unfortunately, only gay and bisexual men are allowed to enter.

How to get there: it’s a five minutes’ walk from Corvin-negyed (trams 4-6, metro line 3)

Summary of
Magnum Sauna

Opening hours
monday 13:00:00 – 00:00:00
tuesday 13:00:00 – 00:00:00
wednesday 13:00:00 – 00:00:00
thursday 13:00:00 – 00:00:00
friday 13:00:00 – 04:00:00
saturday 13:00:00 – 08:00:00
sunday 13:00:00 – 00:00:00
Price Range
$
Web Address
Address
1085 Budapest, Csepreghy utca 2.

Sauna 69

Sauna 69 – the place for steamy adventures in Budapest
Sauna 69 – the place for steamy adventures in Budapest

Steam rooms, dark rooms, cabins, buffet, and bars – that’s Sauna 69 for you. If you’re up for a truly steamy adventure, this is certainly the place to go. They’re all about safety and discretion; condoms, slippers, and other useful things are available at the counter. Sauna 69 is exclusively for gay and bisexual men.

How to get there: a few minutes’ walk from Mester utca (trams 4-6) or Boráros tér (trams 2, 4-6)

Summary of
Sauna 69

Opening hours
monday 14:00:00 – 00:00:00
tuesday 14:00:00 – 00:00:00
wednesday 14:00:00 – 00:00:00
thursday 14:00:00 – 00:00:00
friday 14:00:00 – 02:00:00
saturday 14:00:00 – 04:00:00
sunday 14:00:00 – 00:00:00
Price Range
$$
Web Address
Social Media
Address
1094 Budapest, Angyal utca 2.

Q & A

How big is the gay scene in Budapest?
Since Hungary is more conservative than Western Europe, Budapest’s LGBTQ+ scene is less visible from the outside, but it’s certainly very lively from the inside. There are lots of bars, clubs, cafés, parties and saunas for you to visit.
What are the most popular gay bars in Budapest?
Why Not Café and Bar, Alterego Club and Lounge and Habroló Café and Bar are probably the most popular gay bars, but there are a lot of others that are worth checking out.
Are there any gay parties in Budapest?
Of course, the most popular LGBTQ+ party series are Hello, WOW and Garçons. Follow them on Facebook to see when and where the next event is held.

Summary: gay bars Budapest

Budapest, a beautiful city rich in music and cultural heritage, is home to some of the best bars and clubs that cater to the LGBTQ+ community, making it a must-visit destination in any gay travel guide. When visiting Budapest, you’ll find that the gay bars and clubs are not only about nightlife but also about embracing diversity and offering a welcoming space for everyone. For those seeking relaxation and leisure, Budapest’s spas and saunas are renowned for their inclusivity, providing a serene escape within the vibrant gay Budapest scene.

If you are interested in the gay bars Budapest, we hope this gay Budapest guide helps you to find the best destinations. Of course, not only gay travelers but every visitors are very welcomed all of the mentioned club, cafe and bar above!

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