The best bars and cafés Budapest

An exceptional borozó (wine bar) in the sense that it serves mainly beer. Remarkably (to be trivialized), the cellar is frequented by young people, who are not all that keen on drinking. The lively atmosphere is conducive to playing pool and cso-csó (table soccer). L'Helvécia regularly posts events, beer prices and cocktails on its Facebook page. A very busy place, with friendly service and improbable encounters between locals and tourists.

Lámpás is in cahoots with Café Spinoza, of which it is the counterpart for the younger party generation. The entrance is located on the left side of the café, marked by an illuminated sign with the name of the bar. You go down the stairs and find yourself in a huge brick cellar with a particularly low ceiling. The (regular) concerts complete the atmosphere, and the drinks are particularly cheap... All this makes it a relaxed HQ, popular with Hungarian and international students. For the program, please refer to the Facebook page.

A good classic that we appreciate for its quality/price/service ratio and its large terrace on the Liszt Ferenc square in summer. The service is up to the reputation of the establishment and there are many cocktails. Café Vian also offers a soup as a main course for lunch every day of the week: cream of celery, gazpacho, beef stew, etc. All of this can be accompanied by a homemade dessert for those with a sweet tooth. Quality service and warm atmosphere. An ideal address for the small hungers and the relaxation between two visits.

Karaoke is an activity that unites and appeals to all generations. It's the perfect way to spend a wild evening and pretend you're a talented singer. Self-deprecation is obviously the order of the day here, even if a few gems may come out of the proceedings. A great time is had by all. It's up to you to choose the song you'd like to sing, then wait for the microphone to be released. On the other hand, opinions are mixed as to the length of the show: some had to wait the whole evening without being able to get on stage, while others quickly had the pleasure..

Just a stone's throw from Matthias Church, this little café is a gem for stopping off for a hot drink and a delicious pastry. If you're in a hurry, it's also possible to take away (but take your time...). The Walzer Café is a quiet place, a little removed from the touristy streets of Buda. The pastries in the window are all tempting, and the welcome is warm. A beautiful interlude of simple happiness to share with friends or family. A warm welcome.

Pompas is an all-day establishment that serves great burgers, bagels, and breakfast in the morning. It's a relaxing place where many faces come and go throughout the day to eat on the go or have a coffee. The menu is tempting, the products used to cook are of high quality, the portions are generous and the staff is smiling and helpful. In the evening, Pompas is also a bar where you can have a drink with friends. It is a nice address to visit during your stay in Budapest.

A café-restaurant with a retro touch, plebiscité by a clientele that is resolutely connected and easy. 

The Spiler is one of Budapest's must-see street-food and fun bars. The place is a bit industrial but modernized, and you are surprised by the amount of bottles behind the counter (something that is now more and more found as a decorative element). One comes to drink a glass of wine or beer at any time of the day and to eat a small burger-fries, a grilled sausage, a taco... Warm atmosphere all day long and live music sometimes at night.

A pleasant family café in the ^13th arrondissement, specially designed for parents and their children. Briós serves good breakfasts, sandwiches or cakes for a sweet break. It's also the ideal place to have a brunch on the weekend (or during the week, of course!) with a complete offer of delicacies. It's not always easy to find a free table during busy periods, but everything comes to those who wait. Pleasant service. Warm atmosphere. One appreciates in more the good quantities served.

The little brother of Spíler, Pest's renowned bistro-pub-bar, opens its doors in the open air close to Buda Castle and the Mary Magdalene Church. Here, you can enjoy a wide range of beers, as well as "Jacqueline", a refreshing low-alcohol drink popular in Germany but rare outside German borders. The burgers are succulent, and the sausages "just like in Germany" are simply delicious. A warm atmosphere and attentive, smiling service. A great place to relax with friends.

The cheerful terrace of Casa de la Musica Hostel (see "lodging") is also open to non-residents. Want to soak up the sun in the mini plastic pool or sip a beer in the evening after having tasted the burgers/goulache of Arthur, French cook? It will cost you only a huf handle.

Let's be honest, we would have liked to keep this address all to ourselves! Nestled in the exquisite Palazzo district, on its most prominent pedestrian square, the little Lumen is admittedly narrow (no seating inside) but its gigantic terrace is a must for Pesto's beautiful days. Perfect for a succulent latte break - and other new wave coffees - as well as for eating hummus and other spreads, in limited quantities. Its bigger brother, opened later, is 350 meters away, Horánszky utca 5.

This bar-bistro hasn't done things by halves. The interior volume of the establishment is remarkable (so much so that when there aren't many people around, it's immediately obvious!), then the terrace in the perfectly renovated building courtyard is grandiose. Apa Cuka is a spacious, well-designed place, pleasant for a coffee or a meal. DJs and jazz bands are regularly scheduled. Good drinks, cocktails and food menu. Smiling, dynamic service. Warm atmosphere.

In Budapest, before or after jumping on the train, you can sip a beer with friends in this open-air bar called Zsiráf (giraffe in Hungarian). Decorated with lanterns and flower/green planters on the esplanade of the big West Station. Inspired by the DJ's mixes, or the live concerts at the central counter, you can choose your beer size. For those who are a little peckish, a wooden hut simmers good burgers. Ping-pong table, big tables and a festive atmosphere (during our last visit, the service was disappointing).

At the corner of Hunyadi market, a small café nestled in a lovely kiosk, ideally positioned to enjoy the afternoon sun, outside on chairs equipped with pads and sheltered by large umbrellas in season. Ideal conditions to sip your favorite elixir (creamy latte, homemade lemonades, teas...) to the hum of the fountain in season! It's also hard to resist their pastries (carrot cake, brownie on a bed of red fruits...). Fills up on Saturday mornings after the farmers' market (see the market of Hunyadi tér).

A very welcoming wine bar-tapas bar frequented by the youth of the whole of Buda! Large tables and more intimate corners to make communion around the wine in all its forms, without forgetting some sausages hung on the bar for the Magyar touch. A clientele that loves good wines (from all the Hungarian wine regions) as well as good food, comes here in the evening. You can enjoy good food at any time (cold cuts or cheese slates, salads, tapas, bagels...) and relax on the terrace. Wine tastings on request.

This café meets all the criteria of a trendy place in the Basilica district: a wide variety of perfectly roasted coffees, tables big enough to work at and a store where you can buy coffee in all its forms as well as the tools needed to make the precious nectar. Here, the waiters, with their sophisticated hairstyles, are above all barristas(coffee specialists)! Let yourself be tempted by the coffee of the day to familiarize yourself with coffees from around the world (Honduras, Brazil, Mexico...).

Home of coffee professionals, the establishment trains the future Budapest baristas. The service and the precious nectar are top notch! Come at any time of the day to enjoy a delicious coffee in the carefully decorated room, on armchairs or at the table. We don't count the time spent here and we enjoy the good smell of coffee. Warm atmosphere. Possibility to buy packets of coffee. The establishment also serves fresh drinks (juices, smoothies...) and pastries to accompany your drink.

It may not seem like a given, but Budapest has become a popular destination for specialty coffee lovers! These establishments borrow more from coworking spaces than from the literary cafés of the 19th century. And Expresso Embassy is one of its worthy representatives. The interesting thing is that this café is open relatively late at night and even on Sundays. Latte, americano, and even some pastry delights to accompany the caffeinated specialties in this uncluttered decor of exposed bricks and large tables.

Located near Budapest's Holocaust Memorial, not far from Corvin Square, Andersen 2 is the little brother of the Andersen pub (Krúdy utca 16) further downtown in the Hungarian capital. Here you'll find the same style, with American pub-style wooden tables or more industrial ones that blend in well with the uncluttered decor, and a small bar where you can order a few beers, cocktails and soft drinks at low prices. Locals come here mainly because the pub is a little out of the way, but the atmosphere in high season is friendly.

THE Budapest rooftop cocktail bar with views of the most beautiful bridges! At the top of the Clark Budapest hotel, with its open-air jungle ambience, enjoy one of the city's finest views. Choose a classic cocktail or try one of our signature drinks. Small plates are available to share with your elixir of choice. Vegetarian and vegan options, and we highly recommend the veggie bites. If you don't have a table available on the roof terrace, you can always dine downstairs at Leo Bistro.

Come and experience good South American coffee through the doors of Daisuke. Here, coffee is served like a jewel. Nothing is left to chance for you to enjoy your drink. You order at the counter, take a seat and are served your nectar with a smile. And, of course, there are sweet treats to accompany your coffee. An ideal place to work in a calm, motivating atmosphere. The establishment also offers wine, for drinking on the premises or for purchase. Coffee is also on sale. Ask for advice.

Apa Cuka moved from the th arrondissement to the rue des cafés, the famous Ráday utca in the IX. The Ada Cuka bisztró plays in the «cosy» register while serving good dishes and refreshing drinks (in summer) on its terrace. Apa Cuka also opened a second establishment in Life, Nagymező utca 54-56.

For those who had known the Mumus bar, Lokál is no other than his replacement. In a little less good, we must admit that. But it remains an en-suite bar with a terrace installed in its courtyard, as well as an interior with dance track for concerts and swing courses.

Small intimate bar, very central (right next to Eclecticism tér), especially attended by the hour of the aperitif and the weekend. A well-stocked card, including cocktails. A place where gays and lesbians are well seen and many. Good atmosphere. You can even come to work because the bar is connected in Wi-Fi!

Fill the Winebox is a wine bar that offers a great selection of good Hungarian and international wines. Take a seat at one of the tables in this sober, modern decor with a touch of industrial (very fashionable at the moment!) then choose the wine you like (don't hesitate to ask for advice). Accompany it with a small dish to share (tapas, cheese or charcuterie board) which will go perfectly with the wine. Warm atmosphere, here they are only passionate about wine. A beautiful address a little out of the way.

A tapas bar open from late afternoon until early night. Pintxo Budapest is located just a few steps away from the Petőfi Museum. Here you can enjoy many excellent tapas (dishes served in small portions to be shared or eaten alone for those with a sweet tooth) with friends or family. To choose from: spinach and cheese toast, croquettes, potato tortilla, mixed salad, cheese or charcuterie board, prawns, squid, octopus... Nice list of Hungarian and international wines to accompany your tapas. Warm atmosphere.

On the quayside near the Széchenyi Bridge, the Pontoon offers visitors a beautiful view of the Danube (and especially beautiful sunsets when the sky is clear). From the elevated terrace, where a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are served, you can watch the regular concerts taking place just below in an improvised stage (where people gather around the artists). In summer, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The program is regularly posted on the Pontoon's Facebook page (jazz, DJ, rock, there's something for everyone).

If you are in the area of Pingvin Söröző, you won't miss it with its bright pinguin holding a beer in his hand hanging from the entrance. This pub is mainly occupied by locals, it's a good place to meet authentic people. But tourists also come here. Population of various ages depending on the day. Good draught beer and other equally good cocktails. If you are looking for quietness, this is not the right place because the music is quite loud. Some special evenings are sometimes organized.

Unique! This small, cosy café-restaurant in the mezzanine of a building on the other side of the main boulevard is run by specially trained people with motor or mental disabilities. It is a way for them to be integrated in a sustainable way. The tables can easily be brought together to make larger tables (the café is sometimes closed for various events). Coffee, tea, cookies and cakes for a sweet break and lunch menus at friendly prices.

A large and inviting terrace on sunny days for this former neighborhood inn whose building has retained its original charm. You can sit on wooden garden chairs, protected from the sun under a large awning to enjoy lemonades, coffee, smoothies or glasses of wine. Inside, a wooded decor dominates, decorated with many flower pots. For those who would have a hunger, the list of burgers, tortillas, salads or soups does not forget anyone!

A real little bar of regulars: here, it's simple, almost everyone knows each other! This does not prevent a warm welcome for strangers. The friend of the owner, a great traveler, had fun putting up bills all around the bar, which gives the place a slightly Dublin atmosphere. In season, its shaded terrace makes it a great place for your aperitifs in Óbuda (the establishment is located a stone's throw away from most of the nearby museums, such as the Vasárhely Museum). There is a screen showing some soccer matches.

At around 11pm/min, this tiny basement space, with its unappealing söröző feel, is transformed into the HQ of "bobo underground" expatriates. These share the few tables with a regular Hungarian clientele. An explosive cocktail that rarely leaves the premises before 2am. As for the music, a variety of styles are programmed depending on the evening: jazz, tribal or rock. It's a super-sympatic place to go and see the different worlds of characters, each more interesting and surprising than the last, come together.

An oasis of human warmth and good music in the middle of a residential area. The house organizes táncház (a folk dance session preceded by a class), concerts and sells the CDs of its own label (THE reference in folk music), especially on Wednesdays. Initiate yourself with or without a partner on that day! Young and old alike come to the Fonó to dance to the rhythm of traditional dances from the Carpathian Basin and the rest of Europe. Food and drinks are available in the café at lunchtime and in the evening.

A small, vintage, very cozy and central bar, one foot in the 8th arrondissement (still a bit rough around the edges), with a wide selection of beers and cocktails. The owners are lovely and you'll soon feel right at home. A menu is available for those who like to eat, with dishes made with fresh and seasonal products, but especially knödels, those famous central European balls similar to quenelles. The bar hosts jazz concerts during the week as well as occasional DJs.

A cozy little café on the very noble Andrássy Boulevard. Here, it's simple, everything is organic and fair trade, from the coffee beans to the sandwiches and salads, and this since 2011. The specialty coffees (cortado, piccolo, coldbrew...) are accompanied by a wide choice of homemade cakes - we're crazy about the carrot cake! -and a wide range of homemade cakes (we love the carrot cake), freshly squeezed fruit juices and smoothies (which you can take away in a returnable bottle). Recommended for a sweet breakfast or to sunbathe on the wooden tables spread out in the street.

The smell of coffee spreads harmoniously over the two floors of the Kelet, where students and young workers enjoy the books and magazines available for free. Take the opportunity to browse the "shelves" and dive into one of these books. The food served is simple and good (wraps, sandwiches, tapas, but also soups and daily specials). All in all, Kelet Kavezo is an establishment that perfectly reflects the joie de vivre of Bartók Boulevard. Friendly service, calm and dynamic atmosphere at the same time. A nice address to take a break.

On the Buda side, in the Széllkapu park, the Zsiráf Buda is a bar open all day which sees its atmosphere changing during the hours that pass. First, it is a café where you come to drink a hot drink, eat a good home-made pizza; then it is a bar where you drink a nice cocktail on the terrace or a beer; finally, you stay in the night atmosphere without it getting out of hand and you meet locals or tourists. Quality and smiling service. A nice place to stop when you visit Buda.

Finally a barista café in the center of the Jewish Quarter! It has the usual cortado, flat white, creamy latte and brew. But in addition to the drinks, there are delicious little treats, like this salted butter caramel cheesecake, croissants or quiches and toasted sandwiches. The design is hipster - green walls have been carefully deconstructed and the wooden tables and numerous outlets welcome digital nomads in droves -, but the establishment is so endearing that we regret that it closes so early!

A bit of a bistro-café on two floors with a mezzanine, that you really don't expect in the very chic Parliament district. In a decor of green plants and recuperation-doit yourself, one comes to refresh oneself at any time, to have a drink in the evening on a bench placed in the street or to eat a piece (menu between noon and 2 pm, and at any time quiches, cakes and zero waste delivery). Excellent choice of craft beers, natural Hungarian wines, rums and whiskeys, but also homemade syrups, teas and fresh juices.

A very dynamic cultural center on the beautiful main square of Óbuda. It includes an exhibition hall, a concert hall and a film projection room (the cultural program is rich, see the site for more information), and above all a pleasant café-restaurant installed in the entrance. On a beautiful parquet floor, small tables placed here and there invite you to take a break: delicious coffees, creamy hot chocolates, a whole range of carefully selected teas and the indispensable lemonade in fine weather. All this can be enjoyed outside in season.

Café Zoo is an original café in Budapest. It offers a relaxed atmosphere and light fare. What makes this café unique is that it also houses domestic and exotic animals. Customers can therefore enjoy their meal while observing the animals. Advance reservations are recommended, as the café is very popular.