Editorial
The best bars in the Balkans remain among Europe's most underwritten drinking experiences. Budapest and Krakow attract the budget travel crowd, which means their reputations have calcified around ruin bars and stag parties rather than the genuinely excellent bars that locals actually use. Our editors spent time in both cities and came back with a corrective opinion. The good news: the region is far more rewarding than its reputation suggests.
Budapest's ruin bar scene is real and genuinely impressive when you encounter the original concept rather than its mass-market descendant. The city has used derelict buildings and forgotten courtyards as bar spaces since the early 2000s, and the best of them remain worth visiting. But the more interesting development of the past five years has been the emergence of a serious cocktail bar scene in the 7th and 8th districts that operates entirely independently of the ruin bar phenomenon.
Krakow consistently surprises visitors who arrive expecting a smaller, less sophisticated version of Warsaw. The city's Kazimierz district has developed a bar scene that is among the most creative in Central Europe, fuelled by a large student population and a local economy that keeps prices at a level that allows independent bar owners to take risks. We found 18 bars worth recommending within a 20-minute walk of the central square.
Budapest has more range, more serious cocktail bars, and the original ruin bar experience that still earns its reputation when you find the right venue at the right time. Krakow delivers more surprises per square kilometre in Kazimierz, charges considerably less for the privilege, and rewards the visitor who explores beyond the obvious listings. Both cities are worth extended visits. Neither is as well-served by travel writing as they deserve.
Practical note: both cities are significantly cheaper than Western Europe. A cocktail in Budapest or Krakow costs what a beer costs in London or Oslo. Plan your budget accordingly and you will find that both cities reward three-night visits far more than the standard two nights most travellers allow.
Sofia covers Northern, Eastern, and Western Europe for barsforKings. She has spent significant time in both Budapest and Krakow and regards them as two of the most underwritten bar cities on the continent.