Szimpla Kert
Szimpla Kert
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 AM
Monday
3:00 PM - 4:00 AM
Tuesday
3:00 PM - 4:00 AM
Wednesday
3:00 PM - 4:00 AM
Thursday
3:00 PM - 4:00 AM
Friday
12:00 PM - 4:00 AM
3:00 PM - 4:00 AM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 AM
About
Located on the lively Kazinczy street in the heart of Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, Szimpla Kert is the first and one of the most popular “ruin bars” in the Hungarian capital. Here, you'll find a unique atmosphere with multiple bars scattered over two floors, great Kosher street food, an avant-garde art gallery, and an open-air theater. Drop by in the afternoon to hunt for knickknacks at its flea markets or later in the evening for live music and cocktails. There's also a weekly farmers' market, where you can find local produce like cheese, jam, fruit, and more. Book a pub crawl tour around the city’s ruin bars to dive into this one-of-a-kind Budapest phenomenon. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: District VII / Jewish Quarter
District VII is the very heart of Budapest and houses the city’s Jewish Quarter. Its streets are lively and colorful, its buildings narrate different histories in an assortment of architectural styles, and its cafes and bars are frequented and loved by the enthusiastic crowds. Grand and magnificent, the striking star of the district is the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe and one of the biggest in the world. Distinctly Moorish in style, crowned by the twin onion shaped domes, the Synagogue is the very emblem of District VII and one of the main attractions in the capital.
How to get there
- Astoria • 5 min walk
- Blaha Lujza tér • 7 min walk
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Best nearby
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See what travellers are saying
- Jane GWick, United Kingdom134 contributionsFascinating PlaceMyself and my partner recently visited Szimpla Kert on a city break to Budapest. We had never been in a ruin bar before and I believe this is the most famous and most recommended. It was only a few minutes walk from our hotel. The exterior was quite unassuming looking so I was amazed to see the interior! There are I believe 8 bars, we visited 4 of them. It was amazing just wandering about, looking at all the retro decorations! There was foliage, glitter balls, dolls heads….everything you can imagine! There is also a street food market next door called Karavan, we did have a look round and it looked great too, plenty of choice. I’ve never been anywhere like Szimpla Kert and would definitely recommend a visit if you’re going to Budapest!Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 16 October 2023
- Chillies and clouds674 contributionsDon't miss this outYou simply have to go here if you are into meeting new people and having some nice drinks. It's a bit loose place with seating that looks like it came from someones attic after being steamrolled but I guess that's the point of this subculture place. Watch your step though going around. Lots of sharp corners and slippery steps.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 22 October 2023
- Jennifer DWestern Australia, Australia1,224 contributionsDo not miss !Quirky and eccentric. Fabulous place for a drink or a meal. Decorated in all manner of things. Was an old abandoned building which now plays host to hundreds that visit each day. On Sundays there is a Farmers Market on the premises .Visited November 2023Travelled soloWritten 7 November 2023
- legend187Colchester, United Kingdom453 contributionsQuirky barA very unusual bar, which we were told about as a recommendation. It is very quirky, almost a, old warehouse that has numerous bars, rooms, seating and food spread throughout. Graffiti all over the walls, music in different areas and a great wine bar which took most of our time. A great place to spend a few hoursVisited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 12 November 2023
- pan40304 contributionsCool, place with nice atmosphere.Great place to chill out, nice atmosphere as everyone seemed very relaxed. The interior was as you would imagine, shabby in a cool sort of way. The drinks were expensive at 5 euros for a small beer and not much choice.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 18 November 2023
- Alan PTruro District, United Kingdom813 contributionsA MUST DO in Budapest!Heard all about the Ruined Bars and their unusual locations and atmosphere and that's exactly what it says on the tins! Very busy, lots of unusual types of bars to choose from, nit very comfortable seating but very conducive to the start of a good evening out. Noisy but safe, - but be warned there are better loo's around than here!!Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 21 November 2023
- Neil KLiverpool, United Kingdom829,161 contributionsPackedThere are still some really good ruin pubs in Budapest, the best in my opinion is Szimpla Kert. A huge series of bars in a huge rambling building, interior is superb, twinkling lights ,all manner of eclectic decor and furnishings, set over two floors ,this bar is a feast for the eyes,its a bar I always look forward to visiting on any holiday to Budapest I take. We were here on a cold Tuesday November night and this bar was packed with a great atmosphere, we got beers from Dreher Brewery, these were served in excellent condition being iced cold and sparkling, we wandered around this sprawling bar sipping our beers and taking in the great bar we were in. A big fan of this famous Hungarian beer, a golden,light and hoppy lager style beer bursting with taste and very easy to drink especially when served freezing cold as in this bar, it was just so good being in such a lovely bar enjoying a quality brew and being in such a lovely city namely Budapest. We really enjoyed our beers in here before we moved on and although our visit was only fleeting as on every other visit to here we had a great time. Szimpla Kert is easy to locate along Kazinczy Utca. Opening hours are; Monday to Sunday, 3pm till 4am. Well worth checking out if you're in the area.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 24 November 2023
- Roam084144595521 contributionAmazing Customer CareGreat service and amazing customer care. We ordered shisha but were not happy with the strength of it. Without complaining we simply brought it back and said we were done, and the man behind the bar asked us about it. After mentioning the weak strength of the Shisha. He offered to increase the strength of it for free until we were satisfied. Highly recommend!! Great care for their customers.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 November 2023
- Elaine GDumfries, United Kingdom26 contributionsLike nowhere I've been beforeThis is a must-see place if visiting Budapest. It is like nowhere I've been before and needs to be seen to be fully appreciated. We visited in the evening and it was very crowded but we were lucky enough to find a table and a couple of seats to enjoy some drinks and do a bit of people watching. The drinks I felt were expensive, although they were very large drinks and I guess a high price is to be expected for somewhere so popular with tourists. A very cool place overall.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 10 December 2023
- bhgrassSkipton, United Kingdom90 contributionsAmazing barAn absolute must see if in Budapest. Not like anywhere else. Recommend getting there early to avoid the queues. Be aware you need to go to different bars in the building depending what you want to drink. For example specific cocktail bar, beer bar, etc but was not an issueVisited December 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 10 December 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
8,544 reviews
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378
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119
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243
Adam
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK222 contributions
Nov 2019
I'll be honest, walking into this bar we weren't too sure about it. It was located on a dark 'dodgy' looking street, with people queuing to be being searched before going in. But we'd heard so much about it that we went in.
It turned out to be lots of bars within a bar. There were so many rooms, each with a different theme. It was very busy and very lively, a really good atmosphere!
The bar served a range of drinks, with local choices too. The bar was more pricey than other places in Budapest, but it worked out similar to the prices of drinks in the UK.
It's very touristy, but there's a nice range of people from all different countries. So we made some new friends in there too!
If you're visiting Budapest this is a place you must go!
It turned out to be lots of bars within a bar. There were so many rooms, each with a different theme. It was very busy and very lively, a really good atmosphere!
The bar served a range of drinks, with local choices too. The bar was more pricey than other places in Budapest, but it worked out similar to the prices of drinks in the UK.
It's very touristy, but there's a nice range of people from all different countries. So we made some new friends in there too!
If you're visiting Budapest this is a place you must go!
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chloé W
Cambridgeshire, UK70 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Such a quirky place! The building is huge with lots of rooms and bars, all playing different music styles. Stays open until 4am. Only negative is how busy it got, meaning that queuing for drinks took a while but would definitely recommend visiting here.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kate b
8 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This is a really cool bar with a great atmosphere! Food, drinks, shisha are all available and many different rooms each with different vibes. Would definitely recommend a visit here. However, the bouncers on the door are extremely rude and unpleasant, and the drinks are more expensive than most other places we visited.
Written 18 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Damien K
Edinburgh, UK4 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Great place to chill out during the day/night with a big gang of friends. Food & drinks are reasonably priced too. Was a little annoyed when we were told that bar at top of stairs has been closed and to purchase our drinks downstairs(where you have to purchase the glasses) only to arrive back to an open bar...they needed to change a keg!!
Musky smell when you walk in the door, but can only imagine the cleaning process for this large area so I expected as much.
This place is always busy so would suggest getting there early on a Friday/Saturday night to avoid queue.
Will be back 👌🏼
Musky smell when you walk in the door, but can only imagine the cleaning process for this large area so I expected as much.
This place is always busy so would suggest getting there early on a Friday/Saturday night to avoid queue.
Will be back 👌🏼
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gargi28
Navi Mumbai, India152 contributions
Dec 2019
No matter how much you read about it or hear about it unless you visit & experience it, you won't understand. Don't expect a neat & clean, beautifully laid out tables, uniformity everywhere. Its chaotic but so much character, be ready to stand or even if you manage to get seats be prepared for a cracked stool or table which is lopsided, sharing tables with total strangers.
Varied choice of drinks, you can get whatever you want. A must visit when in Budapest.
Varied choice of drinks, you can get whatever you want. A must visit when in Budapest.
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Krasuwka
Warsaw, Poland121 contributions
Dec 2019
This place I don't need to present. Everyone who visit Budapest MUST to go to Szimpla and see this place. It's combination of kitsch museum, club, restaurant, vegan market on Sunday so choose your motivation and go there every time you want - always something is waitng for you. Pro tip - go there during a day and visit a shop next to enter this place and buy unique suvenire there.
Written 21 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hans3595
Minneapolis, MN124 contributions
Feb 2020
I'm not a drinker, but I couldn't be in Budapest and skip the ruin bars, so we decided on this one. It's an eclectic weird quirky place. I can imagine it gets very busy in the high season. We sat in a room with people sitting in tubs instead of chairs, and my husband drank a beer. Definitely worth sitting for a while and taking it in.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pink
Doncaster, UK881 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
Visited here twice during our 5 night stay. The first occasion alone on a Sunday evening. The bar was very busy and I felt a little intimidated by the loud groups initially, but after settling with my slightly overpriced drink in the outdoor area I absorbed the atmosphere a little & decided that it'd be better to return with my friend and during daylight hours so that I can appreciate the decor. Unfortunately I needed to visit the loo which was utterly disgusting. Smelly, covered in blood and failing to flush.
On the second occasion it was far better. The bar was were quiet, the decor could be appreciated fully, no queues at the bars, each room could be explored without feeling intimidated & the staff had the time to advise me that the initial drink may seem overpriced, but this is because you pay a deposit for the plastic cup which will be exchanged for a fresh one when you get your next drink. When you take your cup to the bar the last time, request either a token for your next visit or a deposit refund.
I wish that I had been informed of this the previous time! I'm sure that someone else appreciated picking up the cup I'd paid for & left on the table & claiming the deposit as a result.
The bar itself is technically a ruin which has been broken up into a series of themed rooms around a Central internal courtyard & external garden. There are toilets on each of the two floors, but they are pretty grim. Even during the day they smell awful & could be cleaner so do be aware of this beforehand.
It's a mixture of beauty, curiousity & culture here that you'll either love or hate. Top tip: turn left as you leave and a few doors up you'll find a lovely street food market too.
On the second occasion it was far better. The bar was were quiet, the decor could be appreciated fully, no queues at the bars, each room could be explored without feeling intimidated & the staff had the time to advise me that the initial drink may seem overpriced, but this is because you pay a deposit for the plastic cup which will be exchanged for a fresh one when you get your next drink. When you take your cup to the bar the last time, request either a token for your next visit or a deposit refund.
I wish that I had been informed of this the previous time! I'm sure that someone else appreciated picking up the cup I'd paid for & left on the table & claiming the deposit as a result.
The bar itself is technically a ruin which has been broken up into a series of themed rooms around a Central internal courtyard & external garden. There are toilets on each of the two floors, but they are pretty grim. Even during the day they smell awful & could be cleaner so do be aware of this beforehand.
It's a mixture of beauty, curiousity & culture here that you'll either love or hate. Top tip: turn left as you leave and a few doors up you'll find a lovely street food market too.
Written 8 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue S
Kingston, Canada379 contributions
Mar 2020
This huge ruin pub has loads of nooks and crannies filled with Bohemian relics and memorabilia to explore. It was packed and hopping on the Saturday night that we visited and we had a hard time finding a place to sit but not a big deal. I loved the huge plants in some of the rooms-felt a bit like a scene out of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Fun music, fun atmosphere but I did wonder about the safety of the electrical system- looked like a fire hazard waiting to happen!
Written 10 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OllyBobs
Andover, UK14 contributions
Feb 2020
So many little nooks and crannies to explore. We ended up spending a couple of hours here and went back the next night. We got there early (around 7-9) and it wasn’t too crowded but had a great atmosphere. Some bars are a little pricy and the bar stuff don’t all have great attitudes then get really annoyed if you don’t tip them. If you’re paying by card a 10% tip is automatically included, but you can change this to a higher or lower amount. Definitely a great place to spend an hour or two seeing the infamous ruin bar culture.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Calypso A
Paris, France
Hi ! We're a group of 28 people (french summer camp), does the bar take reservations ?
Written 23 June 2024
Hi, are there any particular days where all genders cant go to the Szechenyi Thermal Bath? I read there could be gender specific days
Written 14 April 2023
No gender specific days - it's a free for all and gets very crowded at peak season - we did not enjoy the experience, it was very unhygienic
Written 1 August 2023
What is the best way to plan a big group activity here? Call and make a reservation or just show up and wish there's enough room?
Written 29 March 2022
It is a large space and there was plenty of room when we went. I am not sure if you can book tbh
Written 1 April 2022
Hello i want to know if the bar is opened for new years 2020, if there is something organised for the night meaning there are tickets to be sold ?
Written 31 October 2019
I am not sure but I can almost guarantee they will have a great party. Also check in the square in front of the St Stephen’s Basilica. Lots of concerts and events happen there.
Written 31 October 2019
Yes, at day we enter with a child
Written 12 November 2019
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