From rooftop to riverside panorama, from cocktails inspired by Game of Thrones and the bridges of Budapest, we immersed ourselves in the Budapest cocktail bar scene, learnt that mixology is truly a form of art, and discovered that cocktails go perfectly well with cupcakes. Now let’s explore the venues one by one, then it’s your turn to take your pick. Just don’t forget to say 'Egészségedre!' (Cheers) in true Hungarian fashion.
Secret garden with a view: Sky Garden Rooftop Terrace
One of the great perks of Budapest is that the city is made up of the hills of Buda and the buzz of Pest. No wonder rooftop bars that offer sunset views over the Buda hills are among the all-time favourites of locals and visitors alike. That’s exactly what awaits in the secret garden of Sky Garden Rooftop Terrace, perched atop the five-star Mystery Hotel Budapest. Even more than that: in the summer months, their rich drinks menu of housesignature cocktails is enhanced with limited-edition drinks and special cocktail presentations. Sitting by elegant Doric columns, we can immerse ourselves in the terrace’s perfect blend of old-world charm and modern chic and marvel at the stunning panorama over Buda Castle. Spirited by such a view, you’ll surely want to try new flavours. We recommend the Game of Thrones-inspired Dracarys, the bar’s most fiery pour made with dragon fruit and crowned by a truly special foam that further highlights its uniqueness. Or take a chance on Sky Garden’s other unique cocktail creation, Lemon A’Lisa. In this refreshing, truly Italian drink, Limoncello meets the mystic of the Mona Lisa and the art of Leonardo Da Vinci, which is a recurring theme at the hotel. With this lemony drink, the bartenders put another creative spin on this theme.
Sky Garden Rooftop Terrace
Address: 1064 Budapest, Podmaniczky u. 45.
Find more info here.
Cocktails on Cloud Nine: Cloud IX Skybar
Speaking of rooftops, we must mention one of Budapest’s newest bars with a panoramic view. Opened in May, Cloud IX Skybar occupies the ninth floor of the TRIBE Budapest Stadium Hotel, which makes us feel like we’re floating above the city. Situated in the 9th district on the 9th floor, the bar truly boasts cloud-nine vibes, which also appear in the exciting interior design as well as the extended drink menu. We can choose from 13 different Gin&Tonic variations, with ingredients like lavender, lemon peel, cardamom, rosemary, bay leaf, apple, pickled cucumber, raspberries, grapes, cinnamon, mint, ginger, or even grapefruit and pink pepper. Cloud IX’s wine menu also offers promising drinks with its sparkling wines and champagnes, and cocktail lovers can try classic flavours as well as TRIBE’s signature cocktails. Sipping Cherry Story (gin, double cherry schnapps, lavender syrup, lemon juice), you can really feel like walking on clouds, marvelling at the sunset. And don’t worry, the bar is not just for hotel guests; everyone who wants to sip delicious cocktails while enjoying a great rooftop view is welcome, including your four-legged friends. Cloud IX is fully accessible, suits 120 people, and can be rented for private events. Who wouldn’t like their very own Cloud Nine?
Cloud IX Skybar
Address: 1097 Budapest, Könyves Kálmán krt. 34.
Find more info here.
Tranquil Oasis by the Danube: Port de Budapest
If you’d like to take a closer look at the sights of the Hungarian capital, head down to the Danube and soak up the summer sun while enjoying the mesmerizing riverside views. Located just a stone’s throw away from the Danube, Port de Budapest offers a unique waterfront panorama as a side to your cocktails. Take in the Mediterranean atmosphere of this tranquil oasis halfway between Elizabeth Bridge and Liberty Bridge, right across the Gellért Hill while you choose your drink from their colourful cocktail menu. Taking your pick here is not an easy feat: together with Gin&Tonic variations, the venue lists more than 30 different signature cocktails. To inspire guests to try something new, they spice up the big classics to create something fresh and exciting. Upon request, they can fix the classics, too, but trust us, you cannot go wrong with their innovative creations. Our favourites are the bridge-inspired cocktails, Lisa and Liberty. Lisa is a light, elegant, pastel-coloured, perfume-scented cocktail made with lychee, pear, pineapple and cranberry juice, Szechuan pepper, and Bobby's gin. Liberty, on the other hand, is an unbridled, characterful Espresso Negroni variant, in which they stirred up the original proportions and spiced it up with chocolate for a much more intense taste experience.
Port de Budapest
Address: 1056 Budapest, Belgrád rakpart 23.
Find more info here.
Cocktails in the heart of Budapest: Gozsdu-udvar
No Budapest cocktail bar collection can be complete without mentioning Gozsdu-udvar (Gozsdu Courtyard), the city’s favourite passageway in the 7th district. Gozsdu is a constantly bustling hive of bars and restaurants that is made up of seven buildings and six interconnecting courtyards and links the buzzing Király utca with Dob utca. The venue has many faces: at weekends, a flea market sets up, in winter a Christmas market, and at night, it becomes the beating heart of the party district. On your cocktail stroll, we recommend stopping by the Spritz Bar for a delicious Aperol-based cocktail or two. As the venue opens in the afternoon, you can pop in for a drink midway through your sightseeing tour, prepare for an evening party, or enjoy the bar's cocktail selection until dawn. Toast with a classic Aperol Spritz or try special variations, like the elderberry-flavoured Aperol Fashion, the citrusy Aperol Sour, or the season’s favourite, the Pornstar Spritz, infused with vodka, passion fruit, vanilla syrup, fresh lime juice, and prosecco. Alternatively, bartenders can happily mix you a French75 or Espresso Martini. And if we’re already in Gozsdu, Jardín Cocktail Bar and Vicky Barcelona are also worth trying. They bring the vibes of a heated Spanish night to Budapest, and their rich drinks menu includes many variations from old-fashioned cocktails to more tropical flavours, which are best served with tapas.
Gozsdu udvar
Address: 1075 Budapest, Gozsdu Udvar
Find more info here.
Ruin pub 2.0: Spíler Original
In the past few decades, the term ruin pub got woven into the nightlife of downtown Budapest, but not many venues can claim to be a ruin pub 2.0, like Spíler Original. Nestled in the heart of the city in Gozsdu-udvar, Spíler is bustling with innovation and brings a truly unique colour to the Budapest bar palette. Anyone who comes here can embark on a special gastronomic journey: Spíler is vibrant, with pulsating music and the inimitable milieu of heated summer nights that create a memorable experience any day of the week. Inside, guests can enjoy a drink or meal in the bar, courtyard, or restaurant decorated with street art elements. Spíler is a bistro and a modern pub in one with this duality also reflected in the gourmet food and top-notch drink selection. We can munch on quality street food, like hamburgers and kenyérlángos (traditional savoury flatbread), or taste classic Hungarian dishes, which are accompanied by Hungarian craft beers and selected wines. Spíler's finest cocktails are mixed right at the huge bar counter and come just as different from the classic flavours as one can expect from such a colourful place. In addition to Spíler Spritz (gimme, peach liqueur, orange bitters, basil, soda) and Aperol Touch (Aperol, prosecco, orange juice, passion fruit), we can also sip expertly crafted drinks named Wonka, Powerpuff Girls, or Threesome. But Spíler is more than just cocktails: you can toast with a loved one surrounded by the sparkle of the evening lights, or chat with friends among clinking glasses – all while taking in the buzzing nightlife of Budapest.
Spíler Original
Address: 1075 Budapest, Király utca 13.
Find more info here.
Cocktails with cupcakes: Cupcake Cakeshop
It might be surprising to see a cake shop included in a collection of cocktail recommendations, but we can safely say that Cupcake Cakeshop has a well-deserved place on this list of the coolest cocktail bars in Budapest. Situated on Buda side, near Batthyány tér, the craft confectionery gives out cosy and inviting vibes with the focus on the counter full of the most delicious little cakes, including flavours like salted caramel, strawberry white chocolate or lime-raspberry. During summertime, their Anglo-Saxon-style little cakes (which, by the way, are a whole different world from muffins) are best complemented by a cold drink. You can order the season’s most popular alcoholic drinks, like Aperol Spritz, Limoncello Spritz, or Gin&Tonic, and you can be sure they bring the same sophistication and inventiveness to their drinks as they do to their cakes. At a place where pastry making is an art form, that’s surely a great sign. And if you’d like to enjoy the sweet taste of Cupcake for longer, you can also try the venue’s own range of special bottled drinks, which you can take with you as a gift.
Cupcake Cakeshop
Address: 1011 Budapest, Iskola u. 34.
Find more info here.
(Cover photo: Port de Budapest)
