Cocktail barVintage bar and bistro$$$lipotvarosMon-Sat 18:00-00:00
Csendes Létterem on Ferenczy István utca near Astoria is a vintage-junk-shop bar pouring house cocktails and Hungarian beer in a flea-market room.
Signature drink: House cocktails and Hungarian beer
Food: Burgers, bistro plates
Order: The signature whisky sour with a side.
Tip: Daily 10:00-24:00; the back room is the loudest, front room the quietest.
Cocktail barRuin bar garden$$$erzsebetvarosWed-Sat 18:00-06:00
Doboz on Klauzal utca is a Jewish Quarter ruin garden with a 320-year-old tree and a red box-shaped centerpiece, opened in 2011 as the polished end.
Signature drink: Cocktails, beer and pálinka
Food: Bar snacks and bistro plates
Order: A Hungarian craft beer in the courtyard under the floodlit old tree.
Tip: Wed to Sat 18:00-06:00; the upper dance floor is the club end, the courtyard is calmer.
Cocktail barAsian-inspired cocktail bar$$$terezvarosWed-Mon 18:00-00:00
Tuk Tuk on Paulay Ede in the Casati boutique hotel is a tiny dark Terezvaros cocktail bar with purple walls, red silk curtains and Asian-spiced cocktails.
Signature drink: Cocktails with Asian spices and herbs
Food: Bar snacks
Order: The signature spice-and-ginger highball from the bartender's list.
Tip: Reservations advised, the room is intimate; phone the bar to hold seats on weekend nights.
Cocktail barBar and gallery$$$ujbudaSun-Wed 12:00-23:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-00:00
Szatyor on Bartok Bela ut in Ujbuda is an art-bar with rotating local exhibitions, Hungarian wine and a small Mediterranean food menu shared with Hadik next.
Signature drink: Hungarian wine and cocktails
Food: Hungarian and Mediterranean small plates
Order: A glass of Hungarian dry Furmint with the mixed small-plate selection.
Tip: Daily 11:00-24:00; the gallery rotates new local artists monthly.
Cocktail barRuin bar$$$erzsebetvarosMon-Sun 12:00-04:00
Szimpla Kert on Kazinczy in the Jewish Quarter is Budapest's original ruin bar, opened in 2002 and at this address since 2004 in an old stove factory.
Signature drink: Pálinka and Hungarian beer
Food: Bar food, street food in inner courtyard
Order: A glass of pálinka with a Dreher beer on the side.
Tip: No reservations, first-come; entry is free, the Sunday farmers' market runs 09:00-14:00.
Cocktail barRuin bar complex$$$erzsebetvarosMon-Sun 18:00-06:00
Instant-Fogas on Akacfa utca is a seven-room ruin-bar megaplex with 18 bars and 1200 square metres of dance floor across courtyards in the Jewish Quarter.
Signature drink: Cocktails, beer, pálinka
Food: Limited street food
Order: A pálinka shot at the front bar, then move into the back courtyards.
Tip: Daily 18:00-06:00, free entry; the back rooms each have a different soundtrack.