Stag-Do City Guides: Budapest
On the surface Budapest may appear to be a genteel gem of a city with its graceful Habsburg architecture and well-known spa scene but scratch the surface and you’ll find Eastern Europe’s most decadent and debauched nightlife waiting to entice you in. Nightclubs and bars are incredibly cheap and there’s enough going on to keep you up for days on end, with numerous clubs open long past sunrise and a culture that sees beer as its lifeforce. A word of warning though: Budapest is known for having a darker side and there are unscrupulous taxi drivers and dodgy strip clubs lurking in the shadows to rip you off, or worse. Just keep your wits about you, stick together and visit only the recommended strip clubs and you’ll be fine – hangovers aside, of course.
NIGHT CLUBS
Zöld Párdon, XI Íriní József, Large summer-only club with live music and two dance floors. Entry 100HUF, www.zp.hu
Cha Cha Cha Teras, Margitszigeti Atlétikai Centrum, Outdoor bar with wooden shack dancefloor and cheesy tunes. Full of girls up for a dance, www.chachacha.hu
Gödör Klub, Erzsébet Square, Large underground club with eclectic live music which attracts a mixed crowd. Erzsébet Square, www.godorklub.hu
Piaf Klub, 0036 1312 3823, Grungy but memorable underground club decorated like a brothel and keeps the party going long after everyone else is in bed, www.piafklub.hu
Café del Rio, 0036 1312 3823, Tropical-themed outdoor club attracting a young, lively crowd with its palm trees, cocktails and top-name DJs, April-September, www.rio.hu
DECENT PLACES TO GET A BEER
Columbus Pub, 0036 1266 9013, Cold beer and Hungarian wines served on board a permanently moored boat with lovely views. www.columbuspub.hu
Fat Mo’s Speakeasy, 0036 1266 9013, 1920s themed bar offering a long list of beers and a great cocktail selection in classy surrounding, www.fatmo.hu
Cactus Juice, 0036 1266 9013, Contemporary bar serving over fifty different whiskeys and a range of cocktails while a DJ spins the tunes, www.cactusjuice.hu
Sark, 0036 1328 0753, Small but funky bar with a great selection of spirits and an international up-for-it crowd.
Bar Domby, 0036 3370 0262, Often touted as Budapest’s best cocktail bar this hip hangout attracts a chic crowd and is open until very very late.
A38, 0036 1464 3940, Floating bar/nightclub with three floors including a roof terrace and lounge bar. Great for sipping a cold, cheap beer in summer.
Old Man’s Pub, 0036 1322 7645, Irish pub and live music haven, this buzzing joint offers live pop, soul and blues tunes every night. All bar staff are female – and fit enough to make a calendar of every year, www.oldmansmusicpub.com
Gerbeaud Pub, 0036 1429 9000, Rustic, atmospheric pub serving a range of pale and dark beers, www.gerbeaud.hu
Irish Cat Pub, 0036 1266 4085, Small traditional Irish pub serving the usual Irish beers and whiskeys www.irishcat.hu
Ellátó, Good-value bar on the main square of what used to be the Jewish ghetto. A great place to start the night with a few well-priced beers.
STRIP CLUBS
Mambo, 0036 1279 0286, Arranged over two floors and with three stages this stripbar offers affordable drinks and striptease with whipped cream and ice cubes as props. Free entry, www.mamboclub.hu
4play Lounge, 00363 0349 9103, Continuous on-stage stripping, table dancing and private lap dancing in a safe environment, www.4playlounge.com
Marilyn Table Dance Bar, 00363 0238 0844, This relaxed strip club has three dance stages and offers a variety of shows including the “surprise show” which prioritises participation by stags, Free entry, www.marilynbar.com
RESTAURANTS
Bambi Presszó, 0036 1212 3171, Traditional place serving breakfast all day long as well as beer and great coffee. II. Frankel Leo út 2-4
Bagolyvár, 0036 1468 3110, Old-fashioned Hungarian restaurant with an all-female staff and hearty food. Expect higher prices but impeccable food, XIV Állatkert út 2, 0036 1468 3110
TGI Fridays, The popular US chain has three outlets in the city, all serving large portions of filling American classics, open late, Oktogon tér 3, Lövőház út 2-6 and Váci út 1-3, www.fridays.hu
Kis Italia, 0036 1269 3145, Friendly, low-price Italian with a Hungarian twist. Expect quirky pizza topping combos. Szemere út 22
King Arthur’s, 0036 1437 8243, Huge portions of international and Hungarian cuisine complete with live music and sword fighting, Bécsi út 44
LATE NIGHT FOOD PLACES
McDonalds The branch at Régiposta út 10 was the first McDonalds in Eastern Europe and serves the usual burger meals until midnight every day while the branch in Oktogon Square is open 24 hours.
Söröző a Szent Jupáthoz Hearty Hungarian dishes served 24 hours a day, II Retek út 16
TRAVEL
Budapest (Ferihegy) International Airport is ten miles south-east of the city centre. Buses 93 and 200E both go to subway station Kőbánya-Kispest from the airport and take about 25 minutes, but the easiest way to get to your hotel is on the Airport Minibus for which tickets can be bought in the arrivals hall.
Getting around is easy thanks to the metro and an extensive network of buses, trams and trolleybuses. Buy a three-day turista pass for unlimited travel on all of these.
Taxis are apt to overcharge so book over the phone with a reputable company such as City (0036 1211 1111) or Radio (0036 1222 2222) and never get into a cab without the official yellow license plate.
Tourist Information: www.budapestinfo.hu/en, 0036 1438 8080
Airport: www.bud.hu/, 0036 1296 7000
Metro: www.bkv.hu
ESSENTIAL VOCAB
Hello Szia
Thank you Köszönöm
Do you speak English? Beszél angolul?
Where is the pub? Hol van italbolt?
Go away! Menjen el!
ESSENTIAL TRIVIA
Film star and former beauty queen Zsa Zsa Gabor was born in Budapest in 1917. She is currently on her ninth husband.
Budapest allegedly holds the key to becoming a better writer: just touch the pen of the Anonymous statue in the park near Heroes’ Square. We’re not convinced.
Budapest boasts the oldest underground railway in mainland Europe (London’s is older) which dates back to 1896.
Budapest is a massive city – and it also has no obvious centre. If you know where you’re going you’ll have an amazing time – if not then you’re likely to be stuck in the hotel bar at 2am! Last Night of Freedom have a team of amazing guides for your Budapest Stag – they’ll get you into all the pubs/clubs, keep you out of fights and make you fall in love with them too!
