'A bar is a place where people meet, share what they have and are grateful because they know they are not alone', says the 1999 American film The Florentine. It is otherwise a forgettable movie experience, but this line is really spot on. It’s true, at a bar or at the smaller format tables in the dim light, we share many secrets with each other, alternating between joy and sorrow as we move from sobriety to a slightly different state of consciousness. There are plenty of chic, cool, mysterious, new-wave, and arty bars in the city, so we’ve put together a selection of our top picks.
1/10
Múzsa
It
would be difficult to give an objective opinion on Múzsa, as
just looking around the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace
would be an all-night activity and aesthetic wander. In 2021, they also won the
top European bar-design award. All
this is topped off with a world-class bar experience, an institution within an
institution that you'll fall in love with the moment you book a seat at the bar
and entrust yourself to their expert staff. There are many stories to tell and
every sip reflects a dedication and a journey to the pinnacle of
professionalism.
Season after season, this elegant bar comes up with fabulous drink creations, with a new-wave look, and a 21st-century twist. Expect to see cotton candy clouds at the edge of your glass. Expect a surprisingly salty flavour to take over an exotic and fruity cocktail. They run amplitudes that are a joy to connect with!
WLB tip: Egyptian Blue, Sunglow cocktails
2/10
Mystery Hotel Budapest - The Great Hall Restaurant & lounge
We have long been fond of the history
and symbolism of the eclectic building on Podmaniczky Street. The history is mysterious and
shrouded in legend, as the palazzo was the headquarters of the Symbolic
Grand Lodge of Hungarian Freemasons in their heyday. Among the members
of the association, which blended the doctrines of metaphysics and the occult
in a unique way, were such great figures as Endre Ady, Pál Ignotus, and
Dezső Kosztolányi. It's been a long road to its transformation into a
5-star hotel in 2019, and The
Great Hall Restaurant & Lounge is a prominent feature of the Mystery Hotel
Budapest.
What's more, you can take a seat at the bar on the fourth floor, right in the secret meeting room, designed in an oriental, Egyptian style. Naturally, they're also a fan of gin and tonic, so they've got 6 of their own creations, with room for classic favourites: they're happy to fix a Negroni or an Espresso Martini. But go for the house signature drinks, which add to the mysterious atmosphere of the Mystery Hotel Budapest. Let's sit back, enjoy your drinks, and think about the enigmatic stories that have been told within the walls of The Great Hall. (x)
WLP tip: Twisted Fate and Cauldron signature cocktails
3/10
LEO Bistro
Can a
cocktail collection be holistic? LEO at Clark Adam Square has managed to put together a
very well-considered, interdisciplinary cocktail menu for this season.
At the heart of the collection are crystals, 7 in total, with 7
different vibrations, properties, colours, and textures. It's indeed
fashionable these days to be interested in crystals and minerals, and to carry
lucky stones in your pocket, but it's a useful pastime and one that simply goes
back to Mother Nature. LEO's beautiful bar invites you to play a
mysterious game, the centre of which is a wooden board with minerals attached
to it. Whether to turn the board over and choose based on ingredients, or let
your intuition guide you blindly, is up to you.
Custom brews and infused drinks are a basic offering, but each of their crystal-tuned drinks comes with an extra. We don't want to spoil all the punchlines, but we need almost all our senses to fully immerse ourselves in LEO's magical crystal collection.
WLB tip: Rely on your sense of touch, any memories you have of the rocks, and your mood! It will hit you anyway!
4/10
Boutiq’Bar
If it
weren't for the Boutiq' Bar on Paulay Ede Street, Zoli Nagy's
passion, and the butler system he introduced, we wouldn't be writing this
selection. They are the alpha and omega. Besides being a cradle for
bartenders and a professional workshop, they do infinitely respectable
hospitality. They focus on those who arrive alone and just fancy a drink at
Boutiq', perhaps toast with someone or to peek into the life of a
bar with a long history. The bar and workshop, which has been around since
2008, was named one of the world's 50 best bars in 2012 and is a landmark
for practically every expert in the local cocktail culture.
You can be sure they're making even the most basic cocktail to top quality, and in the process, they're coming up with groundbreaking ideas that will then spread across the city. That's it! Boutiq has an intimate atmosphere, and reservations are recommended as the sell-out nights start on Thursday. Without them the bar life of Budapest really wouldn't be where it is.
WLB tip: Stay tuned, Boutiq’ is a legend. And, if we've already tasted the classics and current favourite creations, head to PPC (Pink Pony Club) on Friday and Saturday.
5/10
ÉTOILE Champagne Bar
Elegance
and bubbles in one of Budapest's most magnificent buildings. The ÉTOILE Champagne Bar has
many unique features that make it a must-discover for fans of the genre. There
are quite a few bubbly bars in the city, but this is the only one dedicated
to champagne. There's a wide selection of vintage batches and beautiful
magnums, and you can taste a number of champagne house specialities that are
rare in Budapest.
Csaba Virágh, sommelier and member of the jury of the Hungarian Sommelier Championship, is happy to guide you through the world of noble wines: they have a tasting bar, a selection of 6 lots. They will be pouring a minimum of 20 champagnes. Of course, ÉTOILE has its own playground: they also mix champagne-based cocktails, paying attention to all the important characteristics of this fragile drink. The Párisi Courtyard is a gift in itself, and the champagne bar adds to its elegance. (x)
WLB tip: Poppy Bon Bon, Pas-Sage cocktails
6/10
KAA
Next
to the Twentysix, the KAA has been
welcoming guests since October 2022, and it’s every bit as photogenic and
atmospheric as the big sister. The only difference is that it delivers night-time
jungle vibes and lights. Don't be alarmed, the only danger is that you
won't be able to choose from the rich drinks menu and that after 2-3 cocktails
the mysterious lights on the side can be dizzying. According to our experience
so far, we prefer to spend time at the bar: from there you can follow the
drink preparation method and the guys are quite communicative, they are happy
to tell you about KAA's cocktails and ingredients.
They make their classics in the style of living legend cocktail magician Charles Schumann, as precisely as possible. KAA's own drinks, on the other hand, are sometimes outrageous and feature some show elements. If you'd prefer to chat over a drink created especially for you, you should pick the 'three wishes': they'll personalise the cocktail and let your own story and tastes decide which way it goes.
WLB tip: Hemingway Daiquiri, En Fumo
7/10
Black Swan LAB
We
first entered Swan in 2017, and since then we've only sat at the bar,
missing out on waiting and eating at the table. The most striking feature of
the Klauzál Street Art Deco bar is the ceiling-to-ceiling ‘liquor
library' itself, complete with a movable ladder. There is something old-fashioned
and elegant about it. Whether you're in London or New York, this format
would be a hit in any metropolis. They follow the trends and, in keeping with
current spirit fashions, they always stock the most exciting of a range of
drinks, but they wouldn't let go of the basic favourites.
You'd think they'd have more tourists due to the location, but they have had an international clientele since their opening, with many seeking this kind of Art Deco modern hedonistic milieu. Myterious lights, exemplary service, professional drinks, what more could you ask for?
WLB tip: Valkyrie punch, Lychee Tomato
8/10
Hotsy Totsy Budapest
In
2017, Hotsy Totsy appeared on Síp Street in Budapest, taking its name
from a literally snappy urban legend. In New York in the 1920s, a hot-blooded
dancer named Totsy was a public favourite, but once an inappropriate guest
spanked her on the bottom and Totsy rewarded the intrusive gesture with a big
slap on the face. This fire inspired the bar and it stays with it all the way:
this spot is sexy, yet it doesn't lose its professional character. With
their exciting events and guest bartenders, they're always upgrading the
atmosphere and offerings. Their seasonally changing drink menu always has
something unforgettable to surprise you with.
Back in the days when not every second Budapest outlet offered a haircut and some beard trimming, you could enter the 'speakeasy' barber shop from the bar itself. And now, from Thursday to Saturday, you can be a guest at Hudson by stepping through the red curtain.
WLB tip: head to Hudson for a taste of the classics!
9/10
The Duchess
Another unforgettable venue where Budapest's past and
present meet in an exciting synergy. The rooftop bar of the Matild Palace is accessible by lift, and a fun fact is that the
city's first such structure debuted here in the last century. A meeting
place for decadent secret societies, today's The Duchess is both in keeping with the style of the hotel and stands out with its princessy
boudoir atmosphere.
You can enjoy the panoramic views above in all four seasons, practically 'hovering' over the Elizabeth Bridge, but we prefer the cocktail hour during the summer sunset at leisure and up to the stars. Aside from the fact that the cocktail menu changes seasonally and they always come up with something gently elegant or unusually cheeky, and whether they mix a drink for the sunset or your current mood, it's a treat.
WLB tip: Her Majesty, Down Under
10/10
IKON Piano Bar & Bistro
You can't say that Budapest's piano bars are
overlapping, so IKON was a refreshing addition to this scene in 2022. The bar awaits us in a basement on the Pest side with a friendly atmosphere, kind staff, old tunes, and new songs from pianist
Norbert Gazsi, from early evening until late at night. If you secure a seat
close to the stage, be sure to book a table, as there's a lot of interest in
this much-needed genre. We've missed this kind of live music and sophisticated form of entertainment in the area!
The drinks assortment is complemented by cocktails, so feel free to experiment. Champagne is not the only appropriate choice to go with the evergreen songs of Hungarian icons Katalin Karády or Rezső Seress! Sitting back in the comfortable, velvety seating of IKON, time passes very quickly, and after a drink or two, we can easily find ourselves on the dance floor.
WLB tip: Aviation, Mudslide
