Buda is the hilly west bank of the Danube, quieter and greener than Pest, with the Castle district above and the river below. Its bars run from a moored concert ship to old cellars under Castle Hill and the bar strip of Bartok Bela ut. The list below covers the rooms our editors return to across the Buda side. Compare them with our best wine bars in Budapest and the full Budapest bar guide.
Petofi Bridge · $$
A38 is a former stone carrier moored on the Buda bank by Petofi Bridge, now a concert hall, bar, and restaurant. The deck looks back across the river to Pest. It runs live music most nights and draws a music-led crowd.
Castle Hill · $$$
Faust Wine Cellar runs through a vaulted cellar under the Hilton on Castle Hill near the Fisherman's Bastion. It pours guided flights of Hungarian wine and palinka. Book a tasting and treat it as a sit-down session.
Bartok Bela ut · $$
Hadik Cafe is a literary café and bar on Bartok Bela ut that dates to the early 1900s. The writer Frigyes Karinthy kept a regular table here. It works from morning coffee through to evening drinks.
Bartok Bela ut · $$
Bar Palack pours Hungarian wine by the glass on the bar strip of Bartok Bela ut. The list favours small Hungarian growers and changes often. It suits a wine-led night on the Buda side.
Obol utca · $
Durer Kert runs a music garden and club on Obol utca near the river. The courtyard holds concerts, club nights, and long outdoor tables. The drinks stay cheap and the crowd young.