A Guide to the Ruin Bars
Budapest’s nightlife is globally famous, and its epicenter is District VII, the historic Jewish Quarter. Here, you will find the “ruin bars” (romkocsma). These bars are built inside derelict, pre-war buildings and abandoned courtyards, decorated with mismatched vintage furniture, wild graffiti, and eclectic art installations. A night out here is mandatory, but what do you wear to an abandoned building?
1. Embrace the Grungy Aesthetic
Ruin bars are the exact opposite of upscale, VIP nightclubs. The dress code is extremely casual, slightly edgy, and entirely unpretentious. Leave the high heels, sequined dresses, and formal button-down shirts in your hotel room. If you look like you are going to a fancy cocktail lounge, you will feel entirely out of place. Instead, wear a cool vintage t-shirt, a leather or denim jacket, dark jeans, and comfortable sneakers.
2. Footwear for Unpredictable Floors
The floors of ruin bars are exactly what you would expect from an abandoned building: uneven, made of cracked concrete or loose cobblestones, and often sticky with spilled beer. Do not wear open-toed shoes, sandals, or your brand new, pristine white sneakers. Wear a pair of dark, comfortable, closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. Combat boots (like Dr. Martens) or dark skate shoes are perfect.
3. The Crossbody Bag
Ruin bars (particularly the famous Szimpla Kert) get incredibly crowded on weekends. You will be bumping shoulders with people as you navigate the narrow hallways and crowded courtyards. To protect your belongings from pickpockets and to keep your hands free for holding your local craft beer, wear a small crossbody bag worn securely against your chest. Do not bring a large tote bag or a backpack, as they will constantly bump into other patrons.
4. Cash for the Lángos Window
After a few hours of drinking, you will need a late-night snack. Many ruin bars have small windows serving lángos (deep-fried dough topped with sour cream and cheese) or slices of pizza. While cards are increasingly accepted, having a few thousand Forints in cash makes late-night snacking much faster and easier.
