When the sun sets over Budapest (or just before), it’s time for a drink. Grab a cocktail in one of these bars and enjoy the vibe.
Budapest is famous for its nightlife, but you don’t have to limit yourself to the gritty ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter to make the most of it. If your poison of choice is something more sophisticated and elegant, whether you’re in the mood for a classic or bespoke cocktail, these cocktail bars will scratch that itch.
Boutiq’Bar is not just one of the best cocktail bars in Budapest but has made it onto the World’s 50 Best Cocktail Bars list on several occasions. Tucked in the backstreets of downtown Budapest, this intimate, minimalist bar with crimson walls, dim mood lighting, and fully stacked liquor shelves was one of the first pioneers in Budapest’s craft cocktail scene. Owner Zoltán Nagy wanted to create a space where theatrical drinks could be served with precision–every bartender must undergo a rigorous training process before they can even pour you a Manhattan behind the bar. You can get any cocktail you dream of, from the classics to locally crafted specials, or even have them make something just for you.
Hidden on the rooftop of the Matild Palace Hotel, The Duchess is a secret cocktail bar with a special entrance. Look for the key symbol at one of the hotel side entrances, and the doorman will send you in a lift up to the roof. When you step out, you’ll be greeted by a surreal wonderland with statues of giraffes and the signature Liquor Library that opens up in front of you. But for the best seat in the house, request a table outside, where you can sip one of their uniquely crafted drinks and watch the sunset over the Buda Hills and the surrounding intricately-topped rooftops.
You’ll only find the Black Swan if you know where to look. On one side street in the Jewish Quarter, you’ll spot a door set into a firewall with no name, with a simple illustration of a swan above the door. Enter, and a cozy, atmospheric bar will welcome you with a collection of spectacular cocktails, from those served with dry ice to those resembling alchemical concoctions. This bar resembles an apothecary of drinks, where bartenders have to use a sliding ladder to reach some of the more obscure bottles in their collection. If you’re looking for an exclusive experience, this bar also has private rooms you can book.
There are no menus in this small, minimalist-industrial chic cocktail bar. Instead, you’ll tell the bartender what liquor base you’d like and your flavour profile. You can ask them to surprise you or get specific. With your instructions, the resident mixologists will put something together just for you. The vibe in this bar is very understated and unpretentious, you won’t find bartenders in the usual uniform here, and you don’t have to dress up for the nines just to get in. However, if you’re in the mood for some adventurous drinks on a night out, this is a great place–as indicated by the name–to warm up.
Múzsa resides in the stunning art nouveau atrium on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, drawing influences from its fin de siécle surroundings. It’s easy to see why Múzsa won the top European bar-design award in 2021. But this bar is more than looks, as the drinks are spectacularly creative, blending contrasting flavors and curious techniques, where drinks are served up theatrically, sometimes even arriving with a cloud clinging to the top of your cocktail glass. The signature drinks on the menu fall into a spectrum of nine colors and are divided into three eras: the Chromatic Dawn, the Golden Age, and Luminous Horizons, where each cocktail tells a story. You’ll surely get an experience with each drink in this luxury hotel bar.
Hotsy Totsy lives in a basement below the party district in the Jewish Quarter in its own subterranean world of vaulted brick walls, low golden lighting, and a cozy vibe. There is no menu here, so instead, you either name a cocktail you love – the bartenders here know their stuff – or ask them to prepare something bespoke for you. The best thing is that Hotsy Totsy is cheaper than other luxury bars, but the drinks here are excellent. The vibe is friendly, so don’t be shy about telling your bartender what you want from your drink, and all you need to do is sit back and relax in a leather booth and enjoy.
