10 of our favourite cocktail bars in Budapest in 2023

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'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!