1/10
Akvárium Klub
The number one live venue in town swings it at
Christmas, too. Closed on Christmas Eve, Akvárium jumps back into action on Saturday,
25 December when the Deadcode team brings in Romania’s most popular DJ duo,
Praslesht.
This is followed on Boxing Day by the ethnic sounds of Parno Grasz,
playing their big Christmas concert.
2/10
Barba Negra
Guitars get a little rest on Christmas Eve before
this rock barn in south Buda clangs
into gear on 25 and 26 December. American metallists Death and their Canadian
counterparts Gorguts provide the sounds on Christmas Day,
while Hungarians Lord do the honours on the 26th.
3/10
Edith
The
successor to legendary nightspot Piaf, Edith carries on its fine tradition of decadence in red and black. For those after a
little underground electronica over the holidays, Edith stages its monthly club
party from 10pm on 25 December when Peter Helecz joins regulars Andras Bader
and Zvezda Beta for a Christmas edition of a.b.solute.
Work off all that bejgli cake with four-to-the-floor beats.
4/10
Fogas Ház x Instant
All hail the Fogas Ház x Instant, one of the biggest party spots in
Budapest’s bar quarter, for staying open on Christmas Eve! There’s even free
entry for Night of the Motherless on 24 December… The venue then lies low on 25 and 26 December before its New
Year’s Eve party.
5/10
Gin Corner Bar
The newest
locale in Budapest has just opened on Erzsébet tér,
in the building facing József Attila út. As its name suggests, G&Ts are the
drink here. More than 70 types of gin are available, from handcrafted specialities
to well-known domestic and foreign classics, drinks livened up with exotic
spices, dried fruit and flowers. To be understand which gin is which and what’s
worth combining with which to make it extra delicious, members of the bar’s expert
team will help you find your way. The atmosphere of the bar is stimulated by its
mystical industrial interior, but other extravagant accessories can also be
found if you scan closely enough. Closed on Christmas Eve, the Gin Corner Bar throws
open its doors from 5pm on 25 and 26 December, to welcome everyone with lots of love
and lashings of gin. (x)
6/10
Gödör
Underground
club Gödör opens for one day only over Christmas on 26 December. Gödör Christmas comprises acoustic performances by David Yengibarian and the Vörösfenyő trio.
7/10
Központ Budapest
In the bar
hub around Madách tér, Központ Budapest only opens
on one of the three days of Christmas, on Sunday, 26 December. Karácsonyi ropi (‘Christmas party’) entails the full gamut of
rock music, from garage to stadium varieties.
8/10
Mazel Tov
This locale
on Akácfa utca is not only a reliable option for nightlife all
year round, but has long been the place to go over Christmas. You can even enter this
cosy garden bar on 24 December, but only until 6pm, when they close the garden
gate. On Christmas Day and 26 December, however, they fully reopen from noon to
midnight, a Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean atmosphere bursting into life
under the arbour, everyone with a glass of Tubi in hand. On 25 December, Daniel
De La Torre mans the DJ decks, spinning hot cumbia and other Latin music, true
to his Mexican roots. The kitchen offers an à la carte menu put together by Hanukkah
Christmas chefs, and the bar offers a festive selection of bubbles for those after
a little sophistication with their entertainment. (x)
9/10
Ötkert
Ötkert will
not forgo the party over Christmas either. The new party series here, 90s’
Kids Party,
makes its debut on 25 December, where singles and can be paired with other singles
as 90s’ music plays – that’s the goal, in any case – while everyone else goes
for it. On 26 December, Hunt Me awaits would-be conquerors.
10/10
Turbina
The new nightspot and cultural hub in District
VIII, Turbina only opens on Sunday, 26 December, but will be offering two parties for techno
heads. The small hall will host a Christmas bash as part of the Tripolar party
series from 4pm
to 10pm, where techno meets psychedelia. From 8pm, two major live acts take the main stage: electro
musician James Holden and Wacław Zimpel, the grandmaster of the alternative clarinet.
Free jazz and trance duly dovetail.
