If you like nights out to be full of reverberating beats and high-voltage fun, you’re in luck here in Budapest, as only Berlin might have a more diverse selection of electronic-music hotspots. But which clubs host the best party series, and blast exactly the type of music that you like? We’ve collected the city’s top clubs for dancing into the hours of darkness as dope DJs work the turntables, from underground techno caverns to luxurious electronica extravaganzas.
1/11
VOLT Music Bar
Volt Music Bar is an exclusive cocktail bar and music club, located in the famous Akvárium Club. In this cutting-edge nightspot, everything is unique, from the drink menu to the Martin Audio sound system, which you can enjoy without a decibel cap. It can host 200 partygoers, and employs some of the best Hungarian bartenders: it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that some of the best cocktails we ever had were served at Volt Music Bar. In terms of music, be prepared for anything that can blast your head off, from hip-hop and trap to tribal house and hard-hitting techno.
2/11
Tütü (Closed)
Tütü opened in place of the former trafiq, near the hustle and bustle of District V’s Zrínyi Street. This unconventional and open-minded downtown club is an important spot for Budapest’s LGBTQ community, and for everyone who would like to dance away everyday stress in a fabulous environment. Tütü’s atmosphere and interior design are closely related to the world of ballet, with boudoir-style elements. The place is under the same management as KIOSK, which guarantees quality.
3/11
Told
Toldi is a city-center cinema that is also a popular nighttime meeting place for urban figures, hipsters, electronic beasts, artists, and others, so it isn’t a surprise that there’s a lot going on long after the screenings end. What are we talking about? Parties, of course! From hormonehouse to trap, synth and italo disco, you’ll surely find something to your liking. The club is also hosts urban party series like NIGHTDRIVE, Street Dreams, Pure Lust, or Monday Session, so there’s a lot of different programs to choose from. The sound system is quite decent, but the place gets crowded easily – so make sure you arrive on time or even earlier.
4/11
Tesla Budapest (Closed)
A building behind the Museum of Electrical Engineering has tranformed into a real party palace called Tesla. It stands out in Budapest’s party quarter with its premium-quality Void sound system, tasty cocktails, heated smoking area, and eye-candy interior design. The place has its own party series, like Friday Lust, which is about easygoing, dance-oriented house hits, as well as the pumping MELT parties. Tesla is not about delving into uncharted (musical) territories, but about shaking your hips to tried-and-true electronic cuts. If you want to party like a sir/lady, this is your place!
5/11
Lärm
Imagine the blackest club in Budapest, where Martin audio equipment pushes the envelope of a no-decibel-cap policy. That’s Lärm. This place isn’t about trendy interior design, colorful cocktails, or music for the masses, but about the most talented DJs and underground electronic music, whether it’s labeled techno, house, disco, or footwork. Clearly this place is not for everyone (and that’s not a bad thing – it has a maximum capacity of 250), but if you are looking for a truly underground underground venue in the heart of Budapest, this is it.
6/11
Fogashá
Fogasház functions both as a ruin pub and a club: they have budget-friendly drinks and cocktails to quench your thirst, and a big dance floor and well-known local DJs to cure your boogie fever. They also prepare tasty burgers and pizza slices, so if you are running low on energy, they provide the answer. The place also functions as a hub for arts events, and as a gathering place for contemporary visionaries, so you can run into exhibitions alongside the biggest Hungarian musical talents here. What’s more, Budapest’s famous Kimitrak parties also take place here
7/11
Corvin Club (Bezárt)
Corvin Club is located on the top floor of a battered department store, Corvin Áruház, which is situated right in the middle of the easily accessible Blaha Lujza Square. During summertime, Corvin Club is famous for its huge rooftop terrace, but this is a frequented party venue all year long, and the underground atmosphere of its interior makes it attractive for top Hungarian and European electronica icons, as well as their fans. A major artist appears on the repertoire every single week, so climbing the mountain of stairs is more than worth the effort. Live it up with world-class DJs, teenagers, students, musicians, and artists!
8/11
BRKLYN
Buzzing scenes of New York mingle with a touch of Budapest at BRKLYN, a place on bustling Kazinczy Street where well-known Hungarian musicians play live music or spin the hottest records until everyone collapses from exhaustion. Amid the sleek industrial settings, besides the perfectly mixed cocktail concoctions and high-spirited tipples, guests can enjoy a selection of aromatic American meals, like the juicy rib-eye steak, the hefty BRKLYN burger, or the creamy New York cheesecake. These grant you enough energy to rock the dance floor until dawn.
9/11
AETHER
AETHER is an underground techno club in the heart of Budapest, not far from Courtyard. It can host 300 people, and is equipped with a Funktion One sound system and a special visual system, which guarantees that no matter where you turn, you’ll be surrounded by lasers, bouncing lights, and surreal images. So, unique visuals and proper sound – check, check. The founders are well-known figures in the Hungarian electronic-music scene, which guarantees that the lineup is outstanding too, with both local and international DJs. According to rumors, the club only functions until the first days of spring-summer, so be sure to visit it while you can.
10/11
4BRO Downtown
This nightclub, previously known as 4BRO, used to lure people in from Csörsz Street with its strong cocktails and rhythms that made everyone dance. But they closed their headquarters in Buda and reopened where kolor used to be – at . The new club has a spacious and cozy guest area, and a minimal food menu – compensated by a much more serious cocktail menu and electronica programs. The latter retains the previous athletic vibe, as they hope that 4BRO will become the future meeting place of snowboarder/wake boarder/skater/surfer buddies.
11/11
Honorable mentions
is a complex cultural community space that regularly hosts electronic-music-themed nights – but it would be an overstatement to call it a club. is an outstanding venue in every sense, but since it’s usually rented by party organizers and doesn’t have a regular program, it’s an unpredictable party venue. – the cultural center, restaurant, and concert venue floating on the Danube – often hosts parties or electronic acts, but not often enough... but still, if there’s something on (check the A38 Night/Life page), you should go for it, at least to try out how it feels to ride the waves while going crazy at an electrohead gathering. PRLMNT, with its premium sound system, special visual effects, and retractable ceiling, is also a good option in terms of nighttime meeting places.
