Everyone knows how difficult it can be to leave the office dead tired at six in the evening and then look for a nice place to drink some beer or wine or cocktails, preferably not between four walls. Well, we decided to share a guide to our favorite outdoor places!
1/12
360 Bar
360 Bar, one of Budapest's new-generation rooftop bars, opened on top of the Paris Department Store in a rather nice and elite environment; for example, the office of Ustream is just a floor below, so we'd better watch where we step out of the elevator. From above, a beautiful panoramic view welcomes us – people say the view is the second-best here after the Sziget Eye Ferris wheel, and we could not agree more. The bar's owners ensured that we can enjoy feasts not only for our eyes, but for our mouths as well. On the drink list, we can find shots (1,000-2,000 HUF), beers, ciders (380-750 HUF), wines, and cocktails (around 1,500 HUF) as well. The menu includes some snacks and sandwiches made by one of the city's best bistro-pubs. Croque Monsieur, Norvegian, Mozzarella, Pain du Fromage – these can all become ours for up to 2,000 forints.
2/12
Csendes Társ
Everyone knows Csendes. The eclectic ruin pub at Astoria provided the setting of many world-changing conversations, usually accompanied by fröccs wine spritzers. Csendes Társ is this pub’s outdoor version, not far from the original pub. On the corner of Károlyi Garden, everyone will find the perfect place to sit out amid the evening air. If we want to drink or eat, we do not have to move an inch, as Csendes Társ has everything we might desire: beer (around 500 HUF), a large wine list, and the finest cocktails. Csendes provides foodlike tortillas, ciabattas, and tramezzinis (around 1,200 HUF), but they also have daily specials and salads as well.
3/12
Dunaparty Megálló
Downtown is not necessary the all-time center of high life. The double-decker bus at south Buda has been welcoming visitors for years now. We can admire Csepel Island’s industrial panorama from the Danube shore while sending down a drink or two. There is a bike path right next to the bus, giving us an alternative for approaching the Megálló. The menu lists all of the classics: lángos with lots of toppings (250-500 HUF), hake, fries, and crepes (150-200 HUF). While we wait for our food, we can visit the other bus for a beer, from which they have lager, brown, wheat, and cherry versions (300-500 HUF) as well; they also have fröccs, cider, and alcohol-free lemonades, not to mention the coffees.
4/12
Fellini Római Kultúrbisztró
What Megálló is to District XI, Fellini fills this role for District III. Even the owners are the same, and both places have the characteristics that are necessary for a place to be successful on a hot summer day. First, the circus caravan and the loungers around it are all located by the Danube’s shore, so it can be a perfect hangout place for dogs and kids as well. Secondly, there is a bike path just like at Megálló, so we probably will not face any difficulties with approaching the place. Fellini does not have to be ashamed about its drink selection, either: its iconic Belgian beers (around 1,000 HUF) are a real treat, including the cutting-edge Delirium Tremens. They also have wines, cocktails, and alcohol-free lemonades; if we want something to bite, we can choose from some sandwiches and grilled foods (around 1,500-2,000 HUF).
5/12
Fruska Picnic & Bistro
In recent years, Kopaszi Dam received its rightful treatment: it was beautifully renovated, and ever-better restaurants opened around it, such as Fruska. The restaurant, located toward the end of the peninsula, presents a great atmosphere just with its interior, but it is the best to sit out in front of it, enjoy the great weather, and watch the sun set after a long day. The place provides us with all of the right equipment to make the most of these times: fröccs (700-800 HUF), beers (500-800 HUF), and different kinds of exciting lemonades await all guests. If we would like something to eat, there is no need to worry, either – in addition to their fixed offers (picnic bites, wooden platters), they have dishes dreamed up by guest chefs every two weeks as well.
6/12
Kertem
When asked about iconic places in Városliget, 99 out of 100 people answer with Kertem, since it is at a central location, outdoors, and its charming atmosphere. We can also discover some music performances here, so we certainly will not be bored. When it comes to food, we have only one choice, which defines the tone of the whole Kertem: the Balkán Burger (around 1,200 HUF). We will tell you no more about this – if you have not tried it yet, visit Kertem and stuff it down as fast as you can (okay, we can tell you that it represents the famous south Slavic flavors; the keywords are pljeskavica and ajvar). In addition, we can drink beers (around 600 HUF), fröccs from quality wines (around 500 HUF), and lemonades that are really nice to drink after a running race that ended in City Park.
7/12
Pagony (Closed)
Across from Gellért Bath is Pagony, with some empty pools that are just fine for cooling down, even without water. With this little trick, the owners helped the place to often fill to capacity. The view might have something to do with the popularity of this place as well: from one side, we can see the Liberation Monument on top of Gellért Hill, but we can also catch a glimpse of the aforementioned bath, or even the moon above us. If we want to eat something, we can choose from the following: burgers (1,500 HUF), soups, grilled foods, and desserts (around 1,000-2,000 HUF). The beer selection is beyond average, as it includes Hungarian craft and Czech beers (600 HUF), but the wine list (around 500-600 HUF/deciliter) is quite strong, as well.
8/12
Rombusz Terasz (Closed)
The end of Ráday Street that is closer to Kálvin Square has started to awaken. One of the most striking signs of this is Rombusz, which is surprisingly welcoming with a huge garden, despite its crowded location; the gravel-strewn terrace is still a nice outdoor space to sit at, too. The drinks are priced reasonably, and there is beer (400 HUF), wine, pálinka, and other shots (around 500 HUF), not to mention the draft prosecco. As for food, Kolbice’s group provides us with the usual funnel-shaped crescents stuffed with sausage goodies (1,190 HUF).
9/12
TáBor
Millenáris really picked up the pace this year, and a lot of opportunities appeared that can provide shelter for the thirsty and hungry visitors. For wines, one of the best is Tábor in and in front of the small stall of Bortársaság. There usually is a strong buzz here on hot summer days among those drinking some fine wine (white, red, sparkling, rosé, 3-400 HUF/dl) or fröccs (250-500 HUF) next to the lake, lying on nature’s green island of peace. On every other Thursday, we can take part in tastings at our own pace if we purchase tasting tickets. For the alcohol-free selection, we would like to emphasize the artisanal syrups (150-200 HUF/dl), for which we only need some Köveskáli almonds as snacks. But if we are even hungrier, the neighboring Pasta Station also has some discounts, also on Thursdays.
Address: 1024 Budapest, Kis Rókus Street 16-20
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Opening hours: 14:00 - 22:00
10/12
TiBOR
TiBOR is a recently opened wine stand of KIOSK, on Március 15 Square. Although the restaurant also has an alfresco place called Terasz, TiBOR is aimed more toward wine lovers, especially because their selection is also specialized. Every other week, visitors can taste different wineries’ specialties. There are usually six items from each winery, including rosés, whites, and reds. The permanent fröccs selection also includes white and rosé wines (wine: 300 HUF/dl; soda: 50 HUF/dl). With featured winemakers changing every other week, we can buy tasting tickets so that we can try everything. In addition to the wine tastings and the beautiful view, visitors can also try different fröccs cocktails (850 HUF). There are seven variations of this drink: apple, lemon-mint, raspberry-elderberry, vanilla, Angostura, and rose.
Address: 1052 Budapest, Március 15. Square 4.
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Opening hours: 17:00 - 01:00
11/12
Tip Top Bar
Last year, the Tip Top Bar above District V was one of the first venues to launch the rooftop-bar movement in Budapest, and since then, many other places joined in the trend (as seen above). Regardless of what used to be in the ground-floor premises – a pub, bagel place, or even bistro – the roof terrace carries on its business seamlessly, and awaits guests wishing for an “upper class” feeling. We can either munch on some paninis or choose something from the drinks: cocktails (around 1,300 HUF), beers (around 700 HUF), cider (around 700 HUF), fröccs made from excellent wines (500-1,000 HUF/1.5 dl), and lemonades (around 600-800 HUF) all wait for us to calmly sip them in the light of the setting sun.
Tip Top Bar (closed)
Address: 1053 Budapest, 3. Kecskeméti Street
12/12
wndrlnd
The vowel-free wndrlnd captured the creative outdoor ruin pub atmosphere with its light garlands, lanterns, and eclectic decorations, all on Margaret Island. The culture-loving guests can also get some visual stimuli from the frequent exhibitions that define the pop-up bar as much as the outdoor grill or weekend parties. They are not too delicate about the foods, but this does not mean that it is not made with high quality. We can get letcho (900 HUF), croquet sandwich (around 700 HUF) in different variations: with chicken breast, salmon, gomolya, or sirloin. As for drinks, we can choose from cocktails (around 1,000 HUF), wines, fröccs, or beers (around 600 HUF) and cider (800 HUF). Update: The place has ceased.
