Nightlife in Budapest
The best-known night out in Budapest is in District VII: the abandoned buildings and courtyards of the Jewish Quarter were turned into ruin bars, and Szimpla Kert is open until 4am daily; from 9 on Sundays.
- Area
- District VII (Erzsébetváros)
- Szimpla Kert
- until 4am daily
- Instant-Fogas
- daily 18:00–06:00
The best-known night out in Budapest is in District VII, Erzsébetváros, the former Jewish Quarter around the Dohány Street Synagogue. After 2002 its abandoned buildings and courtyards were turned into ruin bars, and Szimpla Kert was the first. Two addresses carry this page: Szimpla Kert, open until 4am daily; from 9 on Sundays, and Instant-Fogas, a complex on Akácfa utca, open daily 18:00–06:00.
Szimpla Kert — the first ruin bar
Szimpla Kert occupies the rooms and courtyard of a formerly abandoned building, and entry is free. It is open until 4am daily; from 9 on Sundays, which makes it the easiest choice for a night that starts late or runs to the end. A half-litre of beer is €6.07–6.90 (2,200–2,500 HUF), a cocktail €11.04–15.18 (4,000–5,500 HUF).
Instant-Fogas — one building, many bars
Instant-Fogas Ház on Akácfa utca (nos. 49–51) is the other way to go out in the same quarter: instead of one bar, one complex holds several bars and dance floors. It is open daily 18:00–06:00, so it does not begin before evening, and entry is free; only big events charge about €2.76–5.52 (1,000–2,000 HUF), for big events after 11pm.
Choosing between the two
If you want one place for the whole night, take Szimpla Kert: one bar, one set of drink prices. If you want to change room and music, take Instant-Fogas, with several bars and dance floors under one roof, but only from the evening. Both are in the same quarter, so one night can take in both.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Do you pay to get into Szimpla Kert?
No. Entry is free; you pay only for drinks, beer €6.07–6.90 (2,200–2,500 HUF), cocktail €11.04–15.18 (4,000–5,500 HUF).
How late is Szimpla Kert open?
until 4am daily; from 9 on Sundays. It is shut 23–26 and 31 December.
What are Instant-Fogas's hours?
daily 18:00–06:00; entry is free, except for big events (about €2.76–5.52 (1,000–2,000 HUF), for big events after 11pm).
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