A38 Ship (A38 Hajo)
We are fine with party boats just so long as they stayed moored all night (essential after a few shots of Unicum). Luckily, the A38 does just that, being an old stone-carrying ship in its previous incarnation. Having been dragged all the way from the Ukraine, its new owners set about giving it a full refit before opening for business in 2003. The A-38 attracts big name DJs from across Europe, with the fun and games spread over three floors (incorporating a restaurant, roof terrace, lounge and club). Those in the know rate it highly. Open: 11am-midnight Mon-Sat. When club nights are advertised in advance 4pm-4am.
District XI. Pázmány Péter sétány (at the Buda side of Petőfi Bridge).
Website: www.a38.hu
Ba Bar Lounge Café
Located just a short walk away from Keleti railway/metro station, the Ba Bar Lounge is a modern, attractively decorated bar cum restaurant, with small dance-floor attached. In keeping with its upscale aspirations, service and attention to detail are both good, while the comfortable chill out areas and tasteful music are a far cry from some of Budapest's dodgier venues. Nice.
District VII. Huszár utca 7, Open: Sun-Thu 11.30am-2am, Fri-Sat 11.30am-4am.
Website: www.babar.hu
Bahnhof Music Club
With a catchy name and some talented resident DJs (for Budapest at any rate), Bahnhof is one of the better clubs in Budapest. At weekends both dance floors are packed solid. Quite how they attract so many good looking Hungarians into a single place at any one time is beyond us. Chances of pulling=100%. Bahnhof - Budapest Clubs
There are some old style train compartments in the bar that are now used as booths and some of the other seating looks like it was stolen from an old train station waiting room. There are two dance floors that will play markedly different music making it interesting to stroll between them. Drinks are reasonably priced and there is a small cover charge to get in.
District VI. Váci utca 1. Open: 9pm-4am Wed-Sat. Metro: M3 Nyugati pu, Tram 4, 6, behind the Nyugati train station.
Club Colosseum
If you hanker for a night out in Budapest's 15th District, then this sport/dance club combo may just be for you! There's a sort of archetypal 70s throwback feel to the place, with techno-house and dance hits blasting away until the early hours. Oh, and one of the chaps spinning those steel wheels is called DJ Dive.
XV. Késmárk utca 32. Open: Sat 9pm-5am, Bus 77 and 177
Website: www.colosseum.hu
E-Klub
Located next to the Planetarium in the Népliget, E-Klub is as hedonistic as they come (in a not too subtle way either). And, with the likes of Ganxsta Zolee playing here - he's famous in Hungary - you know this place is popular. Strictly over 18s - and that's just for those visiting their website.
District X. Népligeti út 2. : Fri 9pm-5am, Sat 10pm-5am,
Website: www.e-klub.hu
Fat Mo's Music Club
A music venue, bar and restaurant rolled into one, the club stages regular DJ sets, along with jazz, soul and blues nights. Seemingly around forever, the club has still managed to retain its popularity, both with locals and expats alike.
Located in the heart of Budapest’s most “touristy” section next to Vaci utca, this well-known place is frequented by expats and tourists on a regular basis. Live music every evening and excellent dining.
District V. Nyári Pál u. 11. Open: Mon/Tue noon- 2am, Wed noon–3am, Thu/Fri noon–4am, Sat 6pm–4am, Sun 6pm–2am
Website: www.fatmo.hu
Kaméleon Club
Looking a bit like Tony Montana's boudoir, the Kaméleon Club is actually located on the 4th floor of the Mammut II shopping mall. Lots of Latin nights and a pleasant restaurant and bar area. Proclaims itself a techno/trance free zone.
District II. Lövőház u 1-5, Tram 4, 6 to Széna tér,
Website: www.kameleonmulato.hu
VI. Nagymező utca 25. Open: 10pm-6am daily, Metro: M1 Oktogon
School Club (Közgáz Pinceklub
Student disco located in the bowels of the city's Economics University. Disco oriented grooves and a weekly karaoke are supplemented by cheap beer and no-nonsense food. Bouncers have a reputation for being real bruisers, so keep out of trouble.
District IX. Fővám tér 8. Open: Mon-Sat 8pm-5am, Metro: M3 Kálvin tér, Tram 2, 47, 49,
Website: www.schoolclub.hu
Süss Fel Nap
Laid back and wholly unpretentious, Süss Fel Nap is the sort of club where you can simply be yourself, hang out with friends and have a great time. The atmosphere is infectiously cheerful, drinks are cheap and grooves don't let up before closing time. Recommended.
District V. Honvéd utca 40. : Open 5pm-3am daily, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu, Tram 4, 6
Website: www.sussfelnap.hu
Old Man’s Music Pub
Live music, bar, restaurant, disco!
Old Mans music pub in Budapest is one of the places that is full of expats. You enter a small door and would not guess the size of Old Mans because it is very large. Entirely in the cellar of a normal living house Old Man’s music Pub gives you everything from food, drinks and a dance floor.
In the afternoon or evening you can have a dinner with some beer. Old Man’s offers a big variety of food like pasta, pizza, salads, meat dishes, desserts and much more, but Old Man’s is more known as a live music and party pub than a gourmet place.
Later at night the Pub gets very crowded every day. If you don’t know where to go on a Tuesday evening because no club is open you always can jump into Old Man’s. It is free and always full with expats and many girls, some professional, some not.
Jam Pub Budapest
Located in the cellar of the popular Mammut Shopping Center, the entrance is located between the two Mammut buildings. Men normally pay a small cover fee while the girls get in free of charge.
Lövőház utca 1
1024 II. kerület, Budapest, Hungary
Citadella Dance Club - Budapest
From the top of Budapest's beautiful Gellért Hill you can gaze at the city's landscape through large windows while cutting a rug on the dance floor. Be warned that drinks are expensive, and so are the taxis waiting outside to take you back down the hill. Unless you traipse back down to the tram/bus stops in front of the Gellért Hotel, public transportation is not available from here in the late-night hours.
Naturally there is a cover charge for a place like this but the view from one of the rooms in this large club make up for it.
At the Citadella sétány in the XI district.
Club Seven - Budapest
In Club Seven in Budapest you can be sure to celebrate long and hot parties. The audience is mixed from young to mid-age but the average is around 25.
If you haven’t been there for dinner or come early enough you’ll have to pay a cover to get in, if you’re a guy that is – girls get in for free. The place gets packed with people on a busy night so not a good choice for those that are claustrophobic. On the mid to lower end of the upscale clubs in Budapest, drawing a more ‘sophisticated’ crowd that dress to impress.
On Akácfa u.7
Dokk Beach - Budapest
Like their club this outdoor venue is upscale and the place where the young and beautiful, who have money to spend, mingle. This beach house atmosphere located on an island in the Danube almost makes you forget you’re in Budapest.
On Hajógyári sziget in the III district.
Dokk Club - Budapest Clubs
An old converted warehouse, the ceilings are high and the dance floor is wide. There is a large variety of drinks to choose from that don’t come cheap. Dress the part and bring plenty of money and you’ll have a good time.
On Hajógyári sziget 122, III district
Iguana bar & Grill - Budapest
Margaritas by the glass or pitcher are a house specialty and there is outdoor seating available in the summer. If you’re going for dinner and drinks or just drinks it might be worth making reservations as this place fills up quick.
Address: 1054 Budapest, Zoltán utca 16.
Metro stop: Parlament (red metro)
Közgáz Pinceklub - Budapest
With two dance floors, one larger and one smaller, the real draw to this place is the cheap drinks. Be prepared to pay a cover charge. Not only do the students, but young people from around the city meet here on Fri, Sat from 19 clock,
District IX., O F vám tér 8, Tram 2, 47, 49
Oscar's - Budapest
The prices for beer, wine and cocktails in bar Oscar are good and fair. The bar is decorated in Hollywood style as the name tells you already. The bar is from one end to the other and you never stand in line. Maybe you have to wait for your beer, but never waiting behind somebody in Oscar’s.
Adress: Ostrom Utca 14
Near Moskva ter, Budapest.
Rio - Budapest Clubs
This place is a bit ‘up-scale ‘and the drinks are a bit pricey, and there isn’t a lot of room. There’s a dance floor that grows the later the night gets and DJ who usually takes requests.
In the XI district near the Petőfi bridge.
The Petõfi Csarnok
Petőfi Csarnok in Budapest is in the grean lunge of Budapest, the city park. The venue hosts more than 600 events per year ranging from Rock concerts, exhibitions, markets to fan club events. In Petőfi Csarnok you find 1.100 seated places and additional 2.500 places in the standing area. The outdoor part has another 2.500 seats plus 6.000 standing places. For events or concerts Petőfi Csarnok offers professional sound and light systems and security.
The táncház evenings give you the opportunity to learn folk dancing. Ask about the Sirtos Greek dancing on Sunday evening, as this attracts lots of young people who form massive circles and dance to the lively Greek folk music. The Petõfi Csarnok produces a monthly programme available at the information counter. You can reach the Petõfi Csarnok easily on trolley bus No 72 or 74 or take the metro to Széchenyi Fürdõ.
Salsa Clubs and bars
Trocadero Café
Latin dance lessons every Saturday before the party. A simple, lovely club.
Address: Szt. István krt. 15., V. district, M3 metro, trams 4-6 Nyugati tér station Tel: (+36 1) 311 4691
Open: Thu-Sat: 21.00-05.00
Portside de Cuba
Address: Dohány utca 7., VII. district M2 Astoria station
Tel: (+36 1) 351 8406
Open: Wed and Fri: 22.00-04-00
Palacio de la Salsa
Address: Aranytíz Ifjúági Központ, Arany János u. 10. V. district, M3 metro Arany János u. station
Tel: (+36 20) 324-0119
Open: Sat: 21.30-03.30 free salsa lesson from 21.31-22.30
Alcatraz Club & Restaurant
Address: Nyár utca 1., VII. district from Blaha L. tér towards Astoria the 3rd street on your right
Reservation: (+36 1) 478 6010
Open: Mon-Wed: 16.00-02-00, Thur-Sat: 16.00-04.00, Sun: Closed
Barokko Club & Lounge
Address: Liszt Ferenc tér 5., VI. district, trams 4-6, M1 metro Oktogon station
Tel: (+36 1) 322 0700, (+36) 20 921 0094
Open: Wed-Sat: 12.00-03.00, Sun-Tue: 12.00-02.00
New Orleans Music Club & Restaurant
Taste South-American cuisine while listening to live music. Their Draught Budweiser is really tempting.
Address: Lovag utca 5. VI. district, M3 Nyugati tér station
Tel: (+36) 20 451 7525
Open: 18.00-02.00 every day
Address: Goldmann György tér IX. district, trams 4-6, Petőfi Bridge Buda end, opposite Zöld Pardon Tel: (+36) 30 297 2158
Open: April-September
Mokka Cukka
great place in natural settings
Address: Hajógyári Sziget in Óbuda, K Bridge (venue of the Sziget Festival), take the suburban railway (HÉV) from Batthyány tér to Szentendre, get off at Filatorigát stop
Tel: (+36 1) 453 2120
Open: Mon-Sun: 12.00-05.00
Rock Clubs in Budapest
Rocktogon
Address: Mozsár utca 9., VI. district, trams 4-6, M1 metro Oktogon station
Tel:(+36) 30 459 0327 Reservation: (+36) 70 294 4136
Open: Wed-Sat 19.00-until dawn, Concerts: 20.00-22.30, afterwards disco
Wigwam Rock Club
The most prestigious rock club in the country. It's a bit far from the city centre.
Address: Fehérvári út 202., XI. district tram 49.
Tel: (+36 1) 208 5569
Open: 20.00-05.00, rock party until dawn after concerts every weekend
