Rácskert

One of the most popular ruin pubs, Rácskert offers amazing food, interesting events, and a wide variety of drinks at a reasonable price.

Budapest attracts tourists for many reasons throughout the year, let that be the astonishing historical buildings, fascinating architectural masterpieces, exciting museums, thermal spas or the always bustling nightlife. The streets of the city are full of culture, tradition and fun to make sure you’re never bored while you’re here. One of the most interesting aspects of Budapest’s nightlife is the experience of ruin pubs flooded by tourists and locals alike.

Ruin pub – what is that?

The idea of ruin pubs originated in the early 2000s when owners didn’t have enough money or the intention to renovate inner-city venues and decided to add furnitures from the flea market to a store or residence already in ruins. The concept became extremely popular quickly after the success of Szimpla Kert, so dozens of other unique, worn-down pubs opened in the 7^th district. One of the most popular ruin pubs is Rácskert.

Located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, just a few minutes’ walk from Deák Ferenc tér, Rácskert offers a truly special experience. The indoor part of the venue has an interesting décor with artistic murals that cover the whole of the walls, old-school furnitures, and plenty of seating options. It provides a lively atmosphere, especially during Hungarian and Balkan folk nights when you can enjoy live music from just a few feet away. It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind event you shouldn’t miss out on.

Street food – for vegans too

The outdoor part fills up a huge courtyard with benches and tables, where you can have a nice conversation with a pint of beer in hand or enjoy the amazing street food that’s available. There are several street food trucks, all serving vegan street food that’s certainly a shame to miss even for meat-eaters. From burgers to ice cream, you’ll find a wide variety of options to go with your evening beer or fröccs. Don’t forget to try the sweet potato fries, they’re amazing.

Drinks are at a surprisingly reasonable price, even though Rácskert is in the heart of the city. The staff is friendly, they speak English well, so you will surely have a great service. This might sound strange to foreginers, but you can order lemonade in many flavors, and they even have a small garden in the courtyard where they freshly pick herbs like mint or basil to make them even more special to you.

Rainy weather? No problem!

The open courtyard can be worrisome in case of light showers of rain in the summer. But not for Rácskert. They’re able to seat more than a hundred people with cover above their heads to protect them from getting wet. So no night has to be cut short just because the weather is not so nice.

At Rácskert, they often hold pub quizzes in the evening, so don’t be surprised if you see a large screen with groups of people around them trying to figure out the answers to several pop culture questions. Feel free to go and sign up for one if you’re brave enough, but you’ll definitely need someone who speaks Hungarian in your group, as the quizzes are only available in Hungarian.

So if you enjoy exploring nightlife in Budapest, make sure you add ruin pubs to your itinerary, because places like Rácskert will certainly not disappoint. They’re full of life, laughter, and joy – and that’s definitely something that locals appreciate too. And when in Rome…

Q & A

Is Rácskert a ruin pub?

Yes, a rather popular and unique one. So if you enjoy relaxing in a ruin pub and you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, make sure to book a table at Rácskert.

What kind of events are there at Rácskert?

They have Balkan and Hungarian folk music nights that are so full of life, you won’t be able to stand still for long. They also have pub quiz nights, but those are in Hungarian.

Is there any food at Rácskert?

Absolutely. Street food is exceptional here, and they’re so delicious, you won’t even notice that they’re all vegan, even if you’re a meat-eater. Enjoy a pint of beer with a burger or sweet potato fries at a reasonable price.