When it comes to choosing the location of their apartments, university students tend to prefer flats situated in the vicinity of Budapest’s bar-heavy areas. Besides the location of the place they reside, the most significant factor that plays into their choice of a party venue is the university they attend. To enlighten you about the places you should check out, we’ve collected the best students spots of Budapest, university by university.
1/18
ELTE
ELTE (Eötvös Loránd University), unlike major universities in Western Europe and in the US, which usually prefer all-in-one campuses, has its faculties spread all over Budapest. These faculties are sprinkled with one-of-a-kind characteristics, stereotypes, and, last not least, typical party spots, cafés, and pubs flooded with the students of the given faculty.The subject and the results of their studies might differ, and the faculty-patriots might hiss at each other like cats fighting over a ball of wool, but when darkness falls, all of ELTE’s citizens have one goal in common: to live it up like Keith Richards.
2/18
Csendes
The pieces of contemporary art and the second-hand treasures covering the walls and the ceiling at Csendes are reminiscent of the wickedly varied collection of a stand at Ecseri Piac (Ecseri Marketplace), and attract hipsters and ELTE students like spinach attracts Popeye. Head over to Csendes after (or instead of) a tiring lecture, and sip a glass of wine or some steaming tea from a huge, dotted cup while sitting beneath century-old chandeliers!
3/18
Mélypont Presszó
Mélypont is situated a David Hasselhoff chest hair away from Károlyi-kert (Károlyi Garden), a hint of nature in downtown Budapest. Mélypont would translate to something like rock bottom, but don’t you worry none, this cheap cellar pub won’t bring you down like a stuck elevator. The crowd consists of natural born intellectuals, the interior is pillared by the vibe of a 70s underground nook, the price range is student-friendly, and pub games can also be played on-site. All in all, Mélypont is a great place to kick off your venture at.
4/18
Könyvtár Klub
Könyvtár Klub is situated in Trefortkert, on the territory of the Faculty of Humanities, only a few steps away from Astoria. Until 4 PM, during which period alcoholic drinks are bannedlike if it was 1930 and Chicago (without Al Capone), it functions as a coffee house. After 4 PM, when beers and shots begin to flow, it turns into a vibrant pub. Könyvtár Klub often hosts concerts during the evenings, with a style-repertoire ranging from alternative to rock, jazz, blues, and jam.
5/18
Garzon
Garzon,located in Wesselényi utca, a snail’s yearly distance-dose away from PPK’s campus, is characterized by a retro interior made up of prehistoric pieces of furniture and puffy couches. During the day, PPK’s coffee-addict students, laptop-maniac twentysomethings, and once-in-a-blue-moon guests frequent Garzon. At night, it comes to life like Frankenstein after a thunderstorm, though we recommend the place for lazing around with a cup of tasty caffeine between two classes.
6/18
Wichmann's Pub (ceased)
Wichmann, owned by Tamás Wichmann, a 9-time canoe world champ, Olympic silver and bronze medallist, is definitely the cheapest pub in the neighbourhood. The interior is as simple as it gets, and harmonizes with the aim of the pub: sit down, order a few rounds, and enjoy being in good company. Don’t miss out on the homemade pálinkas and the sandwiches filled with chunky slices of fried meat!
7/18
Mika Tivadar Mulató és Kert (Closed)
Mika Tivadar Mulató (Mika Tivadar Pub), situated in ruin pub-filled Kazinczy utca (Kazinczy Street), was named after Tivadar Mika, an iron and copperware factory owner of the 1900s. Mika’s former factory now houses one of the best new-wave party venues in the city, a den ofbohemian evenings, delicious drinks, arts, and culture. Blue and gold walls, huge mirrors, and crystal chandeliers characterizethe trendy, yet homely interior, while the nightly repertoire is made up of literary gatherings, stand-up comedies, concerts, and many more.
8/18
Táskarádió Eszpresszó
Táskarádió revives the atmosphere of the sixties with its fine-tuned interior consisting of toys, photos, and pieces of furniture from the sweetest of all decades. After the Moon rises, you can bump into jazz concerts and retro parties, moreover, dishes fitted for a memorable lunch are also available, but we mostly recommend Táskarádió for breakfasts, midday coffees, and some afternoon studying.
Táskarádió (closed)
Address: 1053 Budapest, 8 Papnövelde Street
9/18
Vaskapu Taverna
Vaskapu Taverna (Vaskapu Tavern, vaskapu means iron gate) is arguably the best pub of the 8th district. Despite not being so close to ÁJK’s campus as Táskarádió, it’s not going to take the Sun’s lifetime to get to Vaskapu’s unmistakable iron gate. The interior is made up of brick walls, candles, and shadowy nooks fitted for a date. Due to the friendly prices and the youthful vibe, it’s extremely popular among students to the extent that reserving a table is highly recommended.
10/18
Holdudvar
We’re drifting further and further from ÁJK’s downtown location. Holdudvar, where the majority of ÁJK-related parties are held, is situated on Margitsziget (Margaret Island). During the summer months, it provides tree-sheltered, romantic surroundings and an ambient atmosphere. It has a big terrace, and, making autumn and winter ventures a reality, vast interior spaces. Old school songs characterize the music repertoire, and retro parties appear on the scene as often as Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back. All in all, Holdudvar has many sides to it, so we guarantee that you won’t be bored.
UPDATE: Closed
11/18
Italcsarnok
Situated on Budafoki út (Budafoki Road), Italcsarnok (which literally means booze hall), a.k.a. Icsa, is one of the favourite spots of both BME (University of Technology and Economics) and TÁTK students. Besides the vintage mosaic tiles and the old school pieces of furniture, prices are also attractive for youngsters, who swarm the place after lectures and exams to throw in a few beers.
12/18
Kamra Campus
Kamra Campus, characterized by a living room-like interior, is perfect for lazing around between classes, for a chat over a coffee, or for a good old-fashioned exam-forgetting venture. The booze is rather cheap, the foosball table is always ready to play, and the afternoons tend to be calm, so you can even drop by with your laptop to prepare for your classes.
13/18
A38
A38 is included on our list mainly because of its location, it is as close to TÁTK’s campus as Jimmy Hendrix’s solos were to perfection. Themost famous renovated Ukrainian stone-carrier ship in the world is floating on the Danube adjacent to the Buda side of Petőfi Bridge. A38 houses unforgettable concerts of various styles – pop, rock, alternative, jazz, electro, progressive – both on the top-floor terrace and inside the ship’s belly, attracting a colorful crowd of party people.
14/18
Popcorner Pub
Popcorner Club might seem like a dime-a-dozen cellar spot, and you can easily pass it by like the love of your life in a grocery store. Although you probably won’t marry Popcorner, giving it a try for an afternoon coffee won’t do you any harm. The walls are plastered with comic strips, there’s a poker table, Wi-Fi connection, a foosball table, a darts board, silent nooks for intimate conversations, board games, and whatever you order comes with free popcorn.
15/18
Martos Csocsó Klub
Martos Csocsó Klub (Martos Foosball Club), housed by the basement of Martos Flóra Dormitory, is extremely popular among BME students. Six foosball tables keep your wrists fit for taking notes, and two projectors are constantly showing football game broadcasts. Cheap drinks, concerts, and DJs establish the foundations of wild parties almost every night.
16/18
Drönk
Drönk, housed by the cellar of Vásárhelyi Pál Dormitory, is the most popular university pub and party spot among BME students. The least bit surprisingly, they always find a reason to send down a few beers, such as the first andthelast day of school, a failed or a passed exam, a Friday night,a Monday rain, a Tuesday snow,and so forth. If you drop by for a drink, you will surely end up staying until closing time.
17/18
Corvinus Café
Corvinus Café is a fresh university pub housed by a cellar right next to Corvinus University's building. Throbbing house music all day long, cheap cocktails, and tasty sandwiches - this is the gist of Corvinus Café. It's open till late night, which makes it an ideal place both for a beer after classes and for a few warm-up shots before a party.
18/18
Morrison’s Közgáz
Morrison’s Közgáz (a.k.a. Club Like, which name is well worthy of a yellow card), situated in the cellar of Corvinus University, might not be the most sophisticated party place in the city, but it serves the goal it’s supposed to serve. Cheap drinks quench your thirst, thematic dance floors cure your boogie fever, there’s a karaoke room, a lounge fitted for chilling like an NBA star in the offseason, different booze discounts every day – what else could you wish for during an all-nighter?
