Global Correspondent #3 - Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar (Budapest)

An important thing to know about Budapest is that many of its bars and clubs are actually fronts for organized crime. The way they work is that entry is free, and drinks are usually a set price, but they slap on potentially hundreds of dollars on top as a 'service fee' and can potentially threaten you with physical violence if you don't pay up.

That said, on our first night in Budapest, we were looking for a good place to have a drink. A quick search online revealed a long list of places to not go to, so we made careful note of what was safe and what wasn't. Most of the unsafe places had girls out the front who would invite you in with offers of company, but they're in on it. Sometimes, even taxi drivers are part of it too, bringing unwitting customers right to their doorstep.

Keep safe if you go out at night in Budapest!

Despite all of the lists that named clubs that were to be avoided, many also offered clubs and bars that were safe, as reviewed by lots of travelers.

The one that stood out was unanimously recommended by every site. It's name: Szimpla Kert.

Szimpla Kert is many things. It's a pub and a club by night, a cafe and a farmer's market by day, a shisha bar and a general local hangout that's the hottest place to be in Budapest.

To be specific, Szimpla Kert is specified as a "ruin bar", which are old, abandoned buildings and spaces that have been transformed into a modern entertainment area, but whilst retaining the general vibe and aesthetic of the state of the structure. It's not uncommon to find pieces of mortar breaking off the walls and open holes in the roof at a ruin bar.

We got into the club at about 1AM on a Friday night with minimal wait. Entry was free and security was plentiful. Upon entering, the club was full of people and the music was pumping.

There are two floors to the club, and about three bars, one a cocktail bar, and a cafe/restaurant area (which was closed at the time). Drinks were unbelievably cheap and the service was prompt. The bartenders could all speak English. About $2.00 USD for a Jägerbomb. There was a huge menu of drinks on offer, including a range of special local Hungarian beers to choose from on a separate menu. By the time we got there, though, the upstairs cocktail bar was closing up, so it may have an evening-only bar.

There was also free wifi. The password was "szimplakert" and the reception throughout the club was very good!

Going upstairs, there were plenty of interesting pieces of furniture. Every chair was unique, and there were even park benches and a cut out barrel on legs. Colored outdoor lights light up the various rooms of the club in shades of blue, red, green and yellow. It was easy to get a view of everyone down below, and lots of people were hanging out and mingling. We couldn't see where the DJ was located, if there was one. Some areas of the club were quite dark, whilst others were quite well-lit.

There were numerous statues hung up and floating in the air above the crowd. They seemed to watch down on us, making sure everyone was safe and having a good time.

We passed through archways and down narrow walkways to reach the more remote areas of the club, but not before passing by a very interesting suspended garden that grew out over a huge metal mesh that made up the roof for part of the level below.

Some rooms had some artwork and posters pinned up on the walls, as well as some memorabilia of Szimpla Kert itself. It was very common to see scribbles and graffiti drawn on the walls. There were even markers around the club inviting you do leave your mark!

All in all, a must-see location to experience Budapest nightlife. I and my friends had a wonderful time at Szimpla Kert and we recommend it fully! 10/10!

Szimpla Kert website: https://szimpla.hu/