Four nice bars in Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and visitors could spend weeks admiring its gothic architecture and sampling its bars. But if you are only there for a short time and want to find a good place to drink, then head to the maze of streets to the north-west of the Astoria Metro station. The four pubs listed here are all in that area as are many other bars to try.

Kék Ló Fashion Pub, Kazinsky 11

This delightful combination of a bar and a clothes shop specialises in locally produced beers, usually bottled but sometimes on draught. The owner – Tóth Virág – is a fashion designer but struggled to make enough money from her designs, so she decided to open a bar from which she could sell her creations. On offer during this visit was the microbrewed Keserü Mez in bottles. Also bottled was the 4.5% rather malty Foti Pils and the 5.5% Rizmajer Cortez Kukorica Sür corn beer, a slightly sweet lager. On draught was the Rizmajer Konjakos Meggy Sör cherry beer, which had notable bitterness despite its cherry flavour.

Sympla Kertmozi, Kazinsky 14

The Keserü Mez 6% local beer is available on draught almost opposite Kék Ló at this enormous bar nicknamed the Factory Pub. The beer is very bitter with an underlying sweetness, but if it is not to your liking many other beers are on offer from the multiple bars within the building. Different areas offer different themes, from chilling out to dancing to live bands. It is noisy and often crowded but a pub that should not be missed.

Walhalla Club, Doháng Utca 1/a

Specialising in German beers, this bar has a few tables and chairs outside but the main area is downstairs where customers can be entertained with pool, bowling and darts. Alternatively, they can try some of the German beer. During this visit, St Michaelsberg dark beer from Bamberg was on offer as well as the Walhalla Viking Beer.

Füvescz Bar, Nagydiota Str 25

Next door to the King’s Hotel, this backstreet bar serves the local Arany Aszok on draught along with the Czech classic Pilsner Urquell. The basic Dreher is also available bottled.

Also in Budapest

Kazinsky has a number of other bars to explore as do many of the smaller streets leading off it. However, for lovers of Belgian beer, head for the Cathedral and almost opposite is Zrinji Utca where you will find Deluxe and Café Montmartre next door to each other. Good reasonably priced food and a wide range of Belgian beers make this worth a visit.