1/8
Könyvtár Klub
It wouldn't be fair if Könyvtár Klub (translates to Library Club) wasn’t at the top of our list. The name of the place can be misleading though, especially for parents, who might fall in the trap of the belief that their innocent little child is spending each night at the library reading Heidegger and talking of Michelangelo. Reading at night is mission impossible, but an argument with art history BAs about the perception of Marina Abramovic's last performance is not out of the picture. The beer is cheap, there are special offers every day, and you can sign up for a beer drinking contest or a bar quiz; so it definitely is a spot straight out of university heaven. Don't be surprised if you bump into one of your teachers when ordering at the counter.
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum körút 4.
2/8
Csendes
Csendes (you know what’s going on in these brackets: Silent) is a quiet nook during the day, but it goes wild at night. It's an ideal place to study at while sipping a spotted cup of coffee, but after 4PM, sinking your books into the oblivion of your backpack is one of the better ideas. 4PM is the time when the first beers knock on the door, and later on, when the biggest lightbulb you'll ever see (i.e. the Moon) illuminates the night sky, glass-clinking and the constant murmur of chatter take over the place. Put your laptop away, order a glass of rosé, or get your hands on a mind-dizzying shot.
Address: 1053 Budapest, Ferenczy István utca 5.
3/8
Ördögsarok
Ördögsarok is your place if you're looking for a really trashy cheap pub. It’s a great hangout to get to know new people over a game of foosball, although the tables are rusty, the chairs are uncomfortable, and there’s always a massive queue at the toilet. We’re not the choosy ones, so we like it that way, and it’s a cool spot to chill out at after lectures. To make things even better, Ördögsarok also suited for throwing in one last beer while waiting for the night bus.
Address: 1075 Budapest, Károly körút 1.
4/8
Mélypont
It's time to go underground - to a basement, that is. Mélypont’s retro interior and old school vibe make you feel like drinking shots of Jägermeister in a decade-old Hungarian living room. It is somewhat odd that so many people frequent Mélypont when they are done with their daily dose of knowledge, because the place often smells funny, the music is weird, and the waiters are not as polite as P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves. In case you’re not the expert of first dates, Mélypont’s board games and cards will come in handy in breaking the awkward silence.
Address: 1053 Budapest, Magyar utca 23.
5/8
Ibolya Espresso
If you’re an arts and humanities student, and you haven’t been to , you’re not doing it right, little fella. Getting wasted at is a ritual for all well-behaved freshman, so the chance of bumping into familiar faces is as great as
' target='_blank'>a championship-saving three pointer in the waning seconds of an NBA Finals game. Despite the fact that Ibolya has been up and running since 1968, it is not wholly soaked in the often-pretentious retro vibe. All in all, it’s the perfect place for literature and history students to have their first beer-as-a-meal lunch.
Address: 1053 Budapest, Ferenciek tere 5.
6/8
Grinzingi borozó
Located only a block away from Ferenciek tere, 100-year-old Grinzingi borozó provides an authentic Austrian atmosphere in downtown Budapest. That sounded like a sentence from the first essay of a marketing major, but in this case, it equals to the truth. Wine-sippers of all ages sitting around wooden tables, fair prices, delicious dishes – that is the gist of Grinzingi (which, by the way, is not a Mayan goddess feasting on the souls of kittens and newborns). Unfortunately, there’s no service in the basement, and it’s as hard to get a seat upstairs as if Grinzingi were a high-end New York restaurant, but keep trying, and you’ll succeed.
Address: 1056 Budapest, Veres Pálné utca 10.
7/8
Kelta Pub
Kelta is an authentic Hungarian pub characterized by pieces of furniture fitted for rhinos, traditional pogácsa, special offers, and a friendly staff. Compared to the other places we’ve analyzed, it’s not cheap at all, but it’s one of the more wallet-friendly options this elegant neighbourhood has to offer.
Address: 1053 Budapest, Károlyi Mihály utca 7.
8/8
Krúdy söröző
The distance between Krúdy and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities is not an ultra marathon, but most students skip out on the option of migrating here for a couple of beers. Nevertheless, Krúdy is one of the more popular cheap beer-gulping spots along Nagykörút (Grand Boulevard), mostly on account of the karaoke machine. Let us not talk about the interior, and rather drink it up and
sing a bittersweet song about being young.
Address: 1085 Budapest, József körút 47.
