If you visit Budapest, it’s important to go to at least one of its famous ruin bars. Nightlife and culture in the city are closely linked with these special and unusual places. In this guide, you’ll find out about ruin bars and what makes their menus special, so you don’t miss a memorable night in Budapest.

How can you describe Ruin Bars?

The first ruin bars appeared in Budapest at the start of the 2000s. Crews use the city’s older abandoned homes, courtyards and factories for their work. Rather than demolishing these old buildings, creative people have revived them as unique bars and entertainment sites highly valued by the city.

Each ruin bar is different in its style, mood and character. Their decoration often reflects what’s trending, made up of vintage furniture, creative art and unusual items. Consequently, the area turns into an attractive and dynamic place where people from nearby and visiting other parts of the world can be found.

An idea to liven up abandoned neighborhoods has grown into one of the biggest nightlife events in Europe. A lot of ruin bars exist in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, mainly in District VII, where there were rundown buildings before the war. Currently, the city is known for its youth scene, music and great foods.

Going through the Ruin Bar menu

The variety and interest of their food are one of the things that make ruin bars popular. These restaurants usually have something for everyone, serving from native Hungarian meals to world recipes and drinks.

Traditional Hungarian Food

There are always traditional Hungarian dishes included in the menus at ruin bars. Besides tasting great, these dishes allow visitors to sample real Hungarian food. Popular delicious meals can be found in the form of:

• Goulash: Followed by fleshy beef or pork in a hearty stew which is normally accompanied by fresh bread. Occasionally turned into soup, this dish depends on paprika and follows recipes from Hungarian cuisine.
• Lángos: A fried flatbread spread with topping, whether sweet or savory such as garlic, sour cream or cheese. There are also pizza slices with ham, sausage or Nutella added for a bit of sweetness.
• Kürtőskalács is a tasty, spiraled bread with a sugar coating and usually bears a cinnamon taste. Sometimes you’ll find it sold by street vendors near ruin bars and it’s great for dessert or a snack.

Modern ruin bars like to fuse typical flavors with trends from around the world or basic street cuisine.

Don’t let the chance go to miss out on Hungarian dishes in the exciting setting of a ruin bar.

International Cuisine

Even if you don’t want to eat traditional Hungarian food, you can choose a plate from among the many international options they serve. People with different preferences can try everything from dishes influenced by street foods to meals made by fusing culture. No matter if you’re looking for tacos, sushi or burgers, there’s a ruin bar nearby.

Ruin bars like to feature local food trucks or temporary kitchens on rotation, so what’s on the menu can always be different and exciting. Sometimes you find special vegan burgers, Korean BBQ tacos or mezze with Middle Eastern recipes—all at one place!

What is so great about ruin bars is that their menus please everyone, so they are perfect for groups with a variety of tastes.

Try the Original Cocktails and Drinks

Any trip to a ruin bar would be incomplete if you haven’t tried one of their inventive cocktails or classic drinks from Budapest. Bartenders in these places are known to concoct drinks that go well with the exciting and diverse vibe found at the bars.

Try pálinka which is a traditional fruit brandy or Unicum, a herbal liqueur you will not find elsewhere. Trying these traditional drinks will help you understand Hungary’s style of drinking.

Apart from the usual, ruin bars offer funny-named cocktails that include herbal gin or spiced rum in their recipes. You can easily find many local beers and local brewers make enjoyable IPAs, lagers and stouts.

You can try something different at happy hours or special drink nights at many ruin bars without spending too much money.

Having a Good Time in Ruin Bars Budapest

These tips will help you enjoy ruin bars when you’re in Budapest:

The weekend is when you will notice the busiest and most entertained visitors. If you’d rather enjoy some relaxed time, get to the restaurant ahead of time.

• Pack comfortable shoes because many of these places have many floors and seating inside as well as outside
• Since some ruin bars are cash-only, you should have cash with you.
• Try visiting a few ruin bars to discover each one’s unique feel and food options.
• Ask others in the city or alongside you on your trip for tips on amazing ruin bars.
• Make sure to walk around and discover the one-of-a-kind decorations from one ruin bar to another.

It’s a good idea to see if your ruin bar offers special events like live music, music by DJs, movie showings or art exhibits. A lot of these places mix entertainment with fine drinks and food.

Many visitors flock to Szimpla Kert, Instant-Fogas Complex and Mazel Tov, since each place offers a different nightlife experience. Examples include Szimpla with its unique retro design and stormy decor, while Mazel Tov gives visitors something far more stylish and tasty with a Mediterranean menu.

Conclusion

Enjoying an eclectic lineup of food, drinks and great atmosphere is possible at every ruin bar in Budapest for any ready tourist. These transformed buildings have added greatly to the cultural life of Budapest and draw people from the city and beyond.

Anyone will find something they enjoy, be it Hungarian, international cuisine or experimental cocktails. Hopping from one ruin bar to another lets you experience new settings and the cool menus.