Budapest night life
Sophisticated designer clubs with star DJs, R'N'B, house, trance,
drag queen shows,
Latin
music, live concerts, jazz, striptease, rock, pop and good old disco –
there is no shortage of night parties in Budapest.
To choose the right party you may check free local pastime magazines,
such as Pestiest, Exit and Flyerz, you find in popular restaurants, bars
and cafes. Though these are in Hungarian, there are some international
words that ring a bell – sex, rock’n’roll, DJ, party…
Many guide books on Budapest give the impression that, before the political changes of 1989, there was little in the way of nightlife. Although it's fair to say that back then most venues (especially those in university halls) were a throw back to the days of cheesy 70s disco, glitter balls and alarmingly wide trousers, locals have always found places in which to party until the early hours.
A38 Ship (A38 Hajo)
XI. Pázmány Péter sétány (at the Buda side of
Petőfi Bridge), Tel: 464 3940, Website:
www.a38.hu, Open:
11am-midnight Mon-Sat. When club nights are advertised in advance
4pm-4am.
We're 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.
Ba Bar Lounge Café
VII. Huszár utca 7, Website: www.babar.hu,
Open: Sun-Thu 11.30am-2am, Fri-Sat 1130am-4am, Metro: Keleti pu.
Located just a short walk away from Keleti railway/metro station, the Ba
Bar Lounge is an 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 comfy chill out
areas and tasteful music are a far cry from some of Budapest's dodgier
venues. Nice.
Bahnhof Music Club
VI. Váci utca 1, Tel: 302 4751, E-mail: bahnhof@bahnhofmusic.hu, Open: 9pm-4am Wed-Sat, Metro: M3 Nyugati pu, Tram 4, 6With 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%.
Cha-Cha-Cha Underground Café
IX. (located in Kálvin tér metro station), Tel:
215-0545, Website:
www.chachacha.hu, Metro: M3 Kálvin tér
Looking like a set from Carlito's Way, the retro chic of Cha-Cha-Cha
makes it great venue for both daytime drinks and a good boogie at night. Sure,
it's located in a grotty subway just across from Kálvin tér metro, but
don't let that stop you from checking out this likeable haunt on a party
night.
Club Colosseum
XV. Késmárk utca 32, Website:
www.colosseum.hu, E-mail:
club@colosseum.hu, Open: Sat 9pm-5am (with extra parties some
Fridays), Bus 77 and 177
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...
E-Klub
X. Népligeti
út 2. Tel: 263 1614,
Website: www.e-klub.hu,
E-mail:
office@e-klub.hu, Open: Fri 9pm-5am,
Sat 10pm-5am, Metro: M3 Népliget
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!!
Fat Mo's Music Club
V. Nyári Pál u. 11. Tel: 267 3199, Fax: 328 0706,
Website: www.fatmo.hu,
Open: Mon/Tue noon- 2am, Wed noon–3am, Thu/Fri noon–4am, Sat 6pm–4am,
Sun 6pm–2am, Metro: M3 Kálvin tér/M3 Ferenciek tere
A music venue, bar and restaurant rolled into one, Fat Mo's is included
here (rather than on our bar/pub pages) as 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.
Kaméleon Club
II. Lövőház u 1-5, Tel: 345 8358, Fax: 345 8547,
Website:
www.kameleonmulato.hu, E-mail:
reservation@kameleonmulato.hu, Tram 4, 6 to Széna tér,
Looking a bit TOO much 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 (making us even more certain he chose the furnishings)
while there's a pleasant enough restaurant and bar area. Proclaims
itself a techno/trance free zone!
Piaf
VI. Nagymező utca 25, Tel: 312 3823, Open: 10pm-6am
daily, Metro: M1 Oktogon
Anyone with vaguely Bohemian leanings seems to wind up at Piaf, a
stylish and sophisticated night-club, named of course, after the famous
French Diva. Red velvet furnishings abound, while the music upstairs (which
is often provided by a resident pianist) has a distinctly jazzy feel.
The basement bar is an altogether different proposition though, with all
sorts of weird and wonderful characters cutting shapes on Piaf's lively
dance-floor.
School Club (Közgáz Pinceklub)
IX. Fővám tér 8, Tel: 215 4359, Website:
www.schoolclub.hu,
Open: Mon-Sat 8pm-5am, Metro:
M3 Kálvin tér, Tram 2, 47, 49,
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!
Süss Fel Nap
V. Honvéd utca 40, Tel: 302 3799, Website:
www.sussfelnap.hu,
Open: 5pm-3am daily, Metro:
M3 Nyugati pu, Tram 4, 6
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.