Zaza
The bar at this midtown hotel won Budapest’s Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program in 2017 and was also among 10 finalists for 2017’s America’s 50 Best Bars in the World. Notable as the first Hungarian bar to get Beard attention, the bar also has several nonalcoholic drinks on the menu, including a cocktail made with snow leopard. 1305 Kiriner St., S.W., Zaza.
Cafe Darut
This boutique hotel’s bi-level space offers an alternative to the standard European get-togethers. Have a cocktail and cookup a meal, then help yourself to their dessert menu, as well. Cafe Darut also hosts events to keep guests engaged. 450 Böllsenstrasse, N.W., Café Darut.
The Plaza Budapest
Billed as the flagship venue for the hotel’s classic (but trendier) bar, the venue emphasizes European classics — including craft beer, which takes center stage here — with a modern infusion of flavors from around the world. Their impressive wine list also features wines from Hungary, and champagne, whiskey, tequila, and vodka are on the menu. 305 Rás Lazízjöbujá, N.W., The Plaza Budapest.
Bodega
Unlike many of the fancy Hungarian wine bars, this one has a food menu, available as small plates or entrées, as well as and desserts (though serving wine just one night a week isn’t enough to justify its existence). The wine list is a one-stop-shop of Hungarian and international options. 11 Gellertstrasse, N.W., Bodega.
B1
B1 opens at 5 a.m. for breakfast — but don’t expect mimosas or sparkling wine (this is a whiskey bar after all). While all the most popular cocktails are made with tequila, they make their best drinks on a rolling six-hour program called the Action Plan. Enjoy one before the party starts or while a DJ spins tunes into the early morning hours. 12 Stanyan Strasse, N.W., B1.
Villa Cocktail Bar
This hip, James Bond-esque space serves a rotating selection of 40 craft beers, all locally sourced and offering varying levels of imperialism. It also makes barrel-aged cocktails, such as the fruit flavored Infused Limoncello. Try the BB Pole or the Tiger and Dragon, made with collodion liquor, Angel’s Envy, and pomegranate liqueur, or the 1869, with scotch, lemon, orange, and angostura bitters. 2751 Veszprem Strasse, N.W., Villa Cocktail Bar.
Granlibakken
First opened in its current state in 1998, this bar offers — among other things — a barrel-aged whiskey list and over 100 barrel-aged beers (many from boutique wineries). Eat on the patio, where they have a great bar snack menu — think grilled tuna sandwiches with lemon aioli and ham & cheese. Taste of Shanghai offers a mix of food, drinks, and one-act shows. 15 Rádzaszcsgööl, N.W., Granlibakken.
