There are several Irish pubs in Budapest if you fancy a pub crawl one night, or just to relax in their beer garden with a pint of Guinness! These are the places to head to if you want to catch up on the latest sports on the big screen. You’ll find both touristy pubs and pubs with a more local vibe.
Here are the spots that made our list:
Szimpla Kert: A cool and trendy ruin bar based in the centre of Budapest, Szimpla Kert is an ideal locale to hang out and enjoy a snack during the day or to party and socialise with a few drinks in the evening. This bar is mostly frequented by foreign visitors and attracts a wide variety of clientele who use Szimpla Kert for a place to meet friends, eat dinner or lunch, or attend one of its many events such as concerts, parties, exhibitions and farmers markets.
Address: Budapest, Kazinczy u. 14, 1075
Website | Facebook | Map
Kuplung: A temple of alternative culture in Budapest which functions as a concert venue, exhibition space and creative workshop, this bar is a favourite underground location which delivers a wide range of events to visitors from all walks of life. As well as an indoor dancefloor and a bar serving creative cocktails, Kuplung also has an outdoor lantern-lit seating/smoking area that sets a chilled scene away from the lively party areas.
Address: Budapest, Király u. 46, 1061
Facebook | Map
For Sale Pub: With post-it note messages stuck on every wall by travellers and an abundance of monkey nuts at every table, eating and drinking at the For Sale Pub is an extremely unique experience. The culturally diverse themed décor sets the tone for the overall vibe in the bar and provides a laid-back environment where guests receive huge portions of food including goulash, shrimps, steak, as well as vegan options.
Address: Budapest, 2, Vámház krt., 1053
Facebook | Map
Kandalló Kézműves Pub: Burger is the word at Kandalló Kézműves Pub. This cosy venue is renowned for its famous burgers and Hungarian side-dishes that are a favourite with locals and tourists alike, and they provide a good range of bottled beer and syrupy cocktails to wash it down. This small, homey pub is also dog-friendly.
Address: Budapest, Kertész u. 33, 1073
Website | Facebook | Map
UdvarRom: This spacious pub is ideal for watching big sporting events on their TVs and projectors with a group of friends in a very social and relaxed environment. In addition, UdvarRom has several pub games such as darts, pinball, pool, guitar hero and more, and can be a good location for hanging out, day or night.
Address: Budapest, Klauzál u. 21, 1072
Website | Facebook | Map
Lámpás Student Pub: Always lively and buzzing with visitors, Lámpás Student Pub is a favourite venue of many for its live music and niche concerts all year-round. Open mic and open jam sessions are put on every week in this small yet fun student bar.
Address: Budapest, Dob u. 15, 1074
Website | Facebook | Map
Anderson Bar: A cool basement bar that is always popular with students, Anderson Bar is a lively pub that provides a neat way to jump-start your evening with a unique set of drinks on offer. The range of shots here is vast, and they can be consumed in a “1/2 metre shot” while a metre of beer can also be purchased.
Address: Budapest, Krúdy Gyula u. 17, 1085
Website | Facebook | Map
Blind Mouse Exchange Tavern: Operating a ‘drink exchange system’ where the names of 9 drinks are displayed on big monitor and notify the fluctuation in their price in accordance with supply and demand, this free-spirited bar is a rarity. Mimicking the real-world stock-exchange, the more punters that purchase a certain drink, the higher the price rises, while drinks that are in less demand fall in price. Several themed nights take place at the Blind Mouse Exchange Tavern and smart dress is always required for entry.
Address: Budapest, Paulay Ede u. 2, 1061
Website | Facebook | Map
Caledonia Skót Pub & Ajándék Üzlet: With good food (including fish and chips) and a huge range of whiskies and beers, this is a buzzing Scottish bar where you’ll find both Britons and tourists of other nationalities. Caledonia Skót Pub & Ajándék Üzlet is a particularly good place to watch football, rugby, and any other live sporting event in a lively but homely atmosphere.
Address: Budapest, Mozsár u. 9, 1066
Website | Facebook | Map
Champs Sport Pub: This is one of the go-to bars for sports fanatics in Budapest. With numerous big-screens showing multiple sporting events all at once in a typical pub atmosphere, Champs Sport Pub is an ideal location to eat, drink beer, and watch sports with like-minded people. Expect lots of cheering sports fans.
Address: Budapest, Dohány u. 20, 1074
Website | Facebook | Map
Pointer Pub & Restaurant – Kecskeméti u.: With traditional English pub food and drink served throughout the day, this English-themed bar serves as a good meeting point for expats who relax to lounge music or gather around the venue’s TVs. The inside space has a warm, pleasant pub atmosphere while the outdoor seating area is perfect in the Hungarian summer.
Address: Budapest, Kecskeméti u. 15, 1053
Website | Facebook | Map
B. City Pub: With old-fashioned décor and movie icons from the sixties and seventies strewn upon the walls, this 24-hour bar is an ideal spot for a get-together or small celebration. If the movie star-themed beer quizzes and foosball don’t take your fancy, you can always grab a snack from the bar and watch classics on VH1 which plays on the big-screen TVs all throughout the night.
Address: Budapest, Zichy Jenő u. 32
Website | Facebook | Map
Captain Cook Pub: This boat-shaped bar with Captain Cook-style ship décor provides a lively but family-orientated atmosphere that serves classic Hungarian dishes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and speciality coffees. Aside from the ship-themed interior, there lies an outdoor seating area where guests can sit and enjoy a cocktail from the reasonable selection available at the bar.
Address: Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 19/a, 1065
Website | Map
ParaNoir Pub: Rock music and lots of cold beer – this horror-themed rock and metal bar serves as an ideal meeting place for mostly local alternative clientele in a relaxed and fun environment. This place holds lots of horror-themed quiz nights and parties based on popular movies and conjures a spooky atmosphere in the process.
Address: Budapest, Hársfa u. 41, 1074
Website | Facebook | Map
Celtic Pub: An authentic dark pub vibe that provides a relaxed and chilled atmosphere, Celtic Pub is a hidden gem located in the city centre. This bar serves a wide range of beers including Hungarian specialities such as the famous poppy seed palinka as well as a few freshly-made tasty snacks and sandwiches.
Address: Budapest, Ferenciek tere 5, 1053
Website | Map
Pointer Pub – Margit krt.: With a laid-back atmosphere and a nice range of craft beer, this place is good meet-up spot for locals and tourists to eat and drink in a chilled environment. Sports events such as soccer, rugby and tennis are frequently shown in the large TV screens dotted throughout the venue.
Address: Budapest, Margit krt. 56, 1027
Website | Facebook | Map
Polo Pub Angol Söröző: With a resemblance to a pub in London, this bar located in the centre of Budapest provides a cosy atmosphere to enjoy a pub lunch, dinner, or to appreciate live music in the evening time. Polo Pub Angol Söröző serves several beers that will be familiar to most visitors and its focus in the food department is on traditional Hungarian dishes.
Address: Budapest, Batthyány u. 4, 1015
Website | Facebook | Map
Helvécia pub: Authentic and simple, this small bar just off the main street is an ideal locale to meet friends for a quiet drink or play pub games such as billiards, pool, darts or table-soccer. There is plenty of seating go around here, making it a nice spot to watch the many sporting events that are shown on the big-screen TVs.
Address: Budapest, Eötvös u. 23b, 1067
Facebook | Map
Bak Egér Borozó: An authentic local hangout set aside from the tourist spots in Budapest, this little locale provides a sense of nostalgia with its trusty old jukebox playing classics from years gone by and traditional pub games that serve locals here on a regular basis. Aside from the typical pub activities such as table-football, darts, slot machines and pinball, Bak Egér Borozó regularly shows international sporting events on its TVs.
Address: Budapest, Jókai u. 4, 1066
Website | Facebook | Map
Jazzy Pub: This is a lively joint that caters for over 30s who enjoy listening and dancing to jazz, funk, soul and swing in a fun and intimate environment. In addition to the livelier retro-themed nights, Bak Egér Borozó offers a unique selection of wine at one of its many wine evenings.
Address: Budapest, Liszt Ferenc tér 10, 1061
Website | Facebook | Map
Pajta Pub: A barn-themed watering hole serving mainly local customers, this countryside-themed boozer provides a fun and laid-back atmosphere away from the tourist hotspots in Budapest. This local joint doesn’t play loud music; it is a simple traditional bar that is ideal for socialising or playing the odd game of foosball.
Address: Budapest, Nyár u. 34, 1072
Facebook | Map
Liquid Rock: Drink handmade beers while you rock out to ACDC and Slayer. This rock bar features a rustic design and consists of three separate floors playing classic rock and metal music where you can choose from a huge range of cold beer and evening bar snacks. Liquid Rock is popular among locals.
Address: Budapest, Rákóczi út 10, 1072
Facebook | Map
Cheho: Serving freshly drafted beers in the party district of Budapest, Cheho is your regular downtown bar that is good for a warm-up round or two to start the ball rolling for the night. The space is large, meaning there is always somewhere to sit and the music is at the right level to hold good conversation with friends.
Address: Budapest, Nagymező u. 31, 1065
Website | Facebook | Map
Author
Tal Gur is a world traveler and personal development enthusiast. An adventurer at heart, after trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, Tal spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey continues as a location-independent blogger, lifestyle entrepreneur, and coach. Tal’s published two books: One Year to Freedom, a 1-Year Roadmap to Living Life on Your Own Terms; and, his most recent book and bestseller, The Art of Fully Living – 1 Man, 10 Years, 100 Life Goals Around the World.
