Outdoor Bars and Cafés

Open Air Bars in Budapest

by Lucas Aresin

​You don't need scorching heat to enjoy outdoor bars and cafés. All you need is a slight breeze and clear skies, and then there's nothing stopping you from enjoying beer & barbecue while the sun slowly sets behind the buildings of the capital. So if you love the fresh air, check out our list of outdoor bars and cafés to get the most out of this summer! Make sure to check out our Beach Bars list as well!

Pagony (closed in 2022)

Pagony almost made it into our list of pools and baths, but then I decided against it because of one important distinction: there's no water in the pools. Instead, you find chairs and seats. We love this quirky idea of making more room for the hungry and weary, and if you're one of them, have a seat in the basin and enjoy a juicy burger, barbecued delights, and their very solid selection of different beers and wines. Don't worry, you won't only see blue tiles, but instead enjoy the very nice view Pagony has to offer: Beyond the open yard you can see the liberation monument towering on top of Gellért Hill, and Gellért Bath near it. Pagony is a popular venue for many residents and tourists, and we fully understand that!

Rombusz Terrace  (closed)

​Rombusz Terrace is a friendly hangout for late afternoons. They describe themselves as a pleasant, bike-friendly, dog-friendly environment to have drinks, grilled food, play table tennis, and darts, and that's pretty accurate. Sunshades protect you against the noon heat, and if you need to cool down, have a look at the beer menu. Rombusz Terrace offers a nice selection of beers, including a few Czech beers as well, and the hamburgers are impressively tall. It's a cozy hangout location with a creative mindset and a diverse program.

Grandio

Another ruin pub? Yes, but this one is also a playground for adults! First of all, lots of leafy trees make you quickly forget that you're actually on Nagy Diófa street. Secondly, they have hammocks. Need I say more? Thirdly, there's occasional drinking games, costume nights, karaoke nights, and the graffiti-covered Grandio party hostel on the upper floor that deserves the name and makes you feel like you're back in your old dormitory. Maybe don't bring the kids upstairs, though. Honestly.

Kertem

Do you miss garden parties? You know, those fantastic evenings with friends on the grass, under the trees, with crickets buzzing in the distance and the warm summer sun slowly setting? ​Kertem is a bit like that. Beer garden, concert venue, neighbor garden party? It's somewhere in between. It's located in Kőbánya, so it might be a bit off the beaten path, but it's worth the way. Food-wise, you should really be into Balkan burgers, because that's what you'll get – but they are very tasty.

Kőleves Kert

Another type of playground, but this time for the kids, is Kőleves Kert. Yes, we've seen a lot of burger-heavy places, so let's be a little more creative with this one. The name of the place (Stone soup garden) is derived from a Hungarian folk tale, and the food is international. Avocado salad, vegetarian tapas with a Hungarian twist, roast duck breast, or Jewish baked beans with mustard sauce and sweet potatoes – it's all about diversity. The menu forgoes pork and even lists a large number of allergens, so you're always safe. Visually, the place is friendly and playful. While it is a ruin bar, the chairs are painted in all the colors of the rainbow and more, and there are more hammocks and swings. It's great for romantics, couples, students, and everyone else.

A38

A38 is a Ukrainian stone-carrier ship converted into a restaurant and a concert venue, floating on the river Danube. Time and time again, notable artists have visited / visit this party boat to perform here, and in between the hungry visitor can appreciate the panoramic shore of the Danube, with a view on the Palace of Arts and the National Theatre.
And let's not forget, it is a party boat: The drink menu is huge and will satisfy everyone, from wine connoisseurs to liquor enthusiasts. Then they have famous Hungarian Palinka in all shapes and sizes, as well as non-alcoholic refreshers.

Stay tuned for updates on:
A Majomhoz at Városmajor
Kobuci in Óbuda
Mad Garden in Óbuda