With pubs and bars now welcoming customers without Immunity Certificates, it’s high time we did a round-up of the best new places to have opened for summer in Budapest. Here are our six favourites, with a few more bound to come into play before autumn is upon us.
1/6
Dürer Kert
Moving over from Pest to set up at Buda’s new leisure hub of BudaPart around
Kopaszi-gát near the Danube, the new Dürer Kert comprises a huge garden full of
hidden nooks and crannies. In the middle, a large grassy space contains tables,
chairs and a huge projector screen, ringed by food and drink outlets. Alongside
the standard beers and bar snacks, there are spritzers in all sizes, including retro
favourite VBK, red wine and cola. A stand-alone building will stage live gigs by summer’s
end. It’s the kind of place where you can throw off your shoes and party under
the stars. More details.
2/6
Gaby’s
LA expat Bryan Wilson named his new bar after his dog, throwing a
successful opening party in this trendy part of Újlipótváros. Those who don’t
get a table are happy to stand outside with a drink, enjoying
the sunshine and
the view of the
Danube. Inside,
big windows bathe the interior with light, and eclectic lounge chairs create niche spaces to
relax with friends. At the bar, darling brass stools line a mahogany-red
countertop, and a small reception area near the entrance
showcases spirits and wines. Live music is set up on a small elevated
stage at the rear. An upstairs remains
unfinished, except for the bathrooms. More details.
3/6
Jenő BÁR
A classic bohemian hangout filled with flea-market finds, Jenő was opened by
three old friends on Zichy Jenő utca – online marketing expert Zsolt had already
gone into business with Olivér, bringing bubble football to Hungary. There has
been a pub here for the past 25 years, first Bastille and then a sports bar. A decorative
element by the entrance refers to all the earlier iterations. They’re never going
to be a bistro, but they do serve snacky kenyérlángos, a kind of flatbread. Created
with oregano-spiced onion dough, it comes with dips (aubergine, mushrooms, red
lentils) and homemade sausage. There’s also craft beer from Szent András on tap
and the house wine is from Pátzay in Badacsony. More details.
4/6
MONYO Land (Closed)
Lovers of cult craft
brewers MONYO have something new to celebrate: the opening of MONYO Land. Described
as a Beer Disneyland, this new open-air outdoor entertainment venue lays on
concerts, brewery tours, good food – and lots and lots of beer. It’s unsurprisingly
popular, judging from the Grand Opening Party. MONYO Land is located in distant Kőbánya, easily
accessible by 98 bus from Kőbánya-Kispest, five stops to Hangár utca.
Eventually, MONYO will have its own party bus departing from Blaha
Lujza tér. Concerts will be held most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Upcoming acts include Middlemist Red, Fran Palermo, Bëlga and the
Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra. More details.
5/6
Nico Bar
On the
banks of the Danube in Buda, between the French Institute and Batthyány tér,
the Nico Bar is unsurprisingly elegant, adding a little colour to
the calm milieu here. A basement bar with a terrace, it offers views across to Parliament
outside, and pleasant cool within, along with a bar counter of bright gold and
coloured lights. All is offset by snow-white walls and bare-brick vaulting, stylish
yet restrained. It also suits the scheduled entertainment, DJs spinning electronica
as background to conspiratorial conversation. It’s a notch above average,
price-wise, but you’re in a prime location on the Buda side of town. Nico
herself evokes decorative inspiration rather than any specific Velvets theme or
music. More details.
6/6
Zsiráf Buda
Just opened at Széllkapu Park by the Millenáris, Zsiráf
Buda proves that you don't have to be in Pest to have a good time – although
the original Zsiráf by Nyugati station is always lively. A
big screen has been set up for major sports events, sunsets are
spectacular and a DJ spins at weekends. Make sure you
have enough money with you (cash or cards), as you’ll be paying an 800-forint
deposit for a wine glass, a round of drinks a pricy proposition once the spritzers
start to flow. There’s no food and, currently, no WiFi, although they’re
working on it. This might be just the place to try BudaPrés, a cider made with
local apples and dangerously strong. More details.
