Best Party Hostels
10 February 2026 · 7 min read
Szimpla Kert, Instant-Fogas, and 10 more ruin bars you can walk between in one evening. The complete map of Budapest's VII District bar scene.
What Are Ruin Bars?
Ruin bars are exactly what they sound like: bars built inside the ruins of abandoned buildings in Budapest's old Jewish Quarter (VII District). After the fall of communism in 1989, the district was full of empty buildings slated for demolition. In 2002, a group of young Hungarians opened Szimpla Kert in one of these spaces, filling it with mismatched furniture, bathtubs converted into seating, and cheap beer on tap.
The idea caught on. By 2010, the VII District had a dozen ruin bars. Today there are more than 20, ranging from the original Szimpla Kert (now a tourist institution) to tiny speakeasy-style bars hidden behind unmarked doors. The best part: they are all within a 10-minute walk of each other, making the whole district a natural pub crawl.
Ruin bars are not dive bars. They are curated chaos: graffiti-covered walls, art installations, garden courtyards, and rooftop terraces. Prices are backpacker-friendly: 600-900 HUF ($1.60-2.50) for a half-litre of Hungarian beer, 1,200-2,000 HUF ($3.30-5.50) for cocktails.
The Walking Route: 5 Essential Stops
Start at Szimpla Kert (Kazinczy utca 14) at 7-8pm. It is the original and the largest, spread across multiple rooms on two floors with an outdoor courtyard. Come early to appreciate the decor before it gets packed. On Sundays, the courtyard hosts a farmers' market from 9am to 2pm.
Walk 2 minutes to Instant-Fogas (Akacfa utca 49-51), the mega ruin bar that merged two former venues into a labyrinth of 7 rooms across 2 buildings. Each room has a different music style and vibe. The Garden of Joy out the back is the best outdoor space in the district. This is where the night usually peaks at 12-2am.
Next stop: Elloato Kert (Kazinczy utca 48), directly opposite Szimpla. A smaller, open-air courtyard bar with better music than the bigger venues. Good for conversation earlier in the evening, dancing later. Then: Mazel Tov (Akacfa utca 47), a restaurant-bar in a converted courtyard with fairy lights, Mediterranean food, and a more relaxed atmosphere. Finish at Csendes Vintage Bar (Ferenczy Istvan utca 5), a short walk south, for craft cocktails in a two-story space wallpapered with vintage magazine pages.
Hidden Gems Beyond the Main Circuit
Anker't (Anker koz 1-3) is a multi-level complex with a cinema, food trucks, and live music that most tourists miss. It is slightly off the main ruin bar strip, which keeps the crowd more local. Doboz (Klauzal utca 10) occupies a former tenement building with an industrial-chic interior and a mezzanine balcony overlooking the dance floor.
For a complete change of pace, try Telep (Madach Imre ut 8), an art gallery by day that transforms into an intimate bar with DJ sets on weekends. Or Lumen (Mikszath Kalman ter 2), a café-bar with live music events in a converted apartment building just south of the VII District.
The newest additions to the scene change regularly. Ask your hostel staff what opened recently. Budapest's bar scene evolves fast, and the best new spots rarely appear in guidebooks for 6-12 months after opening.
Practical Tips for a Ruin Bar Night Out
Budget 5,000-10,000 HUF ($14-28) for a full evening of drinks across 3-4 bars. Cash is still preferred at some smaller bars, but card payments are accepted at all the major venues. ATMs are plentiful in the VII District. Tip 10% at table service, nothing at the bar.
Timing matters. Arrive at Szimpla before 9pm or you will queue. Instant-Fogas gets going around 11pm. The district peaks at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Weeknight ruin bars are equally enjoyable with smaller crowds and shorter waits at the bar.
Budapest trams run until 11pm; after that, night buses cover the main routes. Tram 4/6 along the Grand Boulevard is the most useful. Uber does not operate in Budapest; use Bolt instead ($3-5 for a ride within the centre). Most party hostels in the VII District (Carpe Noctem, Grandio, Maverick) are within walking distance of every ruin bar on this list.
